At first his voice was low and trembling, but as he proceeded it gathered strength, so that his words were audible even in the corner pew, whose little shrivelled occupant was eagerly listening, in the hopes that another person's experience--and he a good man--might throw some light upon her own difficulties.
"Good people all!" said the old man, "will you bear with me for a few moments, while I unburden my mind of a weight that is pressing sore upon me?
and God grant that none of you may suffer what I have suffered lately! but justly--remember justly am I punished.
"You think you know me well, my dear friends.

'There is Ebben Owens Garthowen,' you say, 'our deacon,' and perhaps you say 'an upright man and honest!' But I am here to-night to tell you what I am in truth.

I have stood before you dozens of times, and told you of want of faith--of cold prayers--and lack of interest in holy things.

I have asked for your prayers many times, and have gone home and forgotten to pray myself! Yes, I have been your deacon for thirty years, and all that time I have deceived you, and deceived myself.

I never told you about my real sins, but you shall know to-night what Ebben Owens is.