And now the victim of these adventures was
in a worse case than ever. Up to this time
neither religion nor its lack had played any
particular part in his being. He had been a
bad boy, truly, but in his former low estate
he had thought little of anything that
pertained to another world, or to the future in
this. Now he disbelieved all things--man,
immortality, heaven, God.
It is a condition which few fail to experience,
in a greater or less degree.
I wonder if it is necessary that I pause here,
just an instant, and interlard a remark
regarding the scene through which I have just
traced "Dodd" Weaver. I do so, in any event.
In what has been said, I would not have it
understood that I rail at, or deride, or
impeach the honesty of the men who tried to help
"Dodd" out of the sad condition into which he
had fallen. Neither would I underrate the
value of religion, in such experiences, nor
impugn its power to save sinking souls from
death. But I cannot help reiterating the fact
that multitudes of young men have drifted on
to the rocks of infidelity as "Dodd" did,
because they have been promised too much by
religious enthusiasts.
There is such an experience as genuine
religion, and it is the most blessed estate that a
soul can aspire to. There is a place for prayer
in the divine economy of God's providence.
But neither religion nor prayer can help a soul
that is sick unto death with the malady of
doubt. "Dodd" was thus circumstanced. It
was the zealous overstatements, the ultra
promises, the unwarranted inducements held
out to him, which, unrealized, threw him into
this condition.
And then doubt is such a breeder of its own
kind! As a single bacterium will, in a few
hours, under favorable conditions, develop
millions like unto itself, and poison a man's
blood to the last drop, even so doubt grows in
the soul, when once its germs are planted
there, and its noxious growth blights all one's
being, bringing death hurriedly, if its course
is not stayed.
"Dodd" Weaver was in a state of mind
highly favorable to the development of unbelief.
The false promises of his well-meaning friends
sowed the seed of distrust within him, and the
crop was not long in ripening.
The fact is, truth is so loyal to itself that it
will not suffer distortion, even for the
apparent purpose of doing God service. It can no
more be swerved than God can!
If that point is clear, I go on with this narrative.
But "Dodd" had seen enough to understand
that if he expected to live long he must stop
short of absolute debauchery, and he rallied
somewhat from the first awful overthrow that
came when the clouds burst over his head. He
drank more moderately, and was seldom
drunk. He returned to his old haunts,
however, and kept on in the main as he had before.
The only difference was that he loitered in a
way now where before he had rushed along at
top speed.
He began, too, to look about for something
to do. He was anxious for a job in a store or
an office, where be could wear good clothes
and not have to work hard at manual labor.
This is a common desire of country boys
who go to town to live.
The trouble was, however, that he knew
next to nothing of business of any kind. Was
this the fault of his education, thus far? His
school education, I mean. I ask the question.
He finally concluded to take a course in a
school that advertised to fit a person to
engage in any business whatever in three
months, without regard to age, sex, or
previous condition. He went to this school.
I have no quarrel with institutions that
make a business of fitting young men and
women to engage in commercial pursuits. I
know of many excellent institutions of this
kind. But I nevertheless submit the record of
"Dodd" Weaver in his connection with this
college, so called.
The man at the head of the institution was
a brisk, nervous sort of person, a shrewd
fellow, and given to much flourishing with a pen,
which was to him much mightier than any
sword. He could whirl off a scroll-winged eagle
on a blank sheet of foolscap, in a twinkling--a
royal bird, with a banner in his beak, on
which was inscribed "Go to ---- college," and
which the king of birds was bearing towards
the sun for advertising purposes. He could
also add a column of figures with wonderful
rapidity, and occasional accuracy! He was a
believer in lightning methods and processes
everywhere. His own education had been
wrought out on that plan. He was seeking a
fortune by the same route. He drew crowds
of boys into his school. It was through them
he made his money.
"Dodd" had much skill with a pen, as will
be remembered by his sketching Mr. Bright's
face on the board one afternoon. He took to
the practice in writing with some alacrity, but
for the rest of the work he soon did as the
others did--studied little, and in lieu of a
recitation listened to a long and disjointed talk by
"the professor." He was held to no account
for his work, and whether it was right or
wrong made little difference. He found that
his teacher would profess to know things of
which he knew he was ignorant, and, in a
word, that there was an air of shoddy, not to
say dishonesty, about the whole institution.
This did not trouble him greatly, however.
It was only in keeping with what he
conceived he had finally discovered the whole
world to be--a gigantic sham--and he
mentally remarked to himself "I told you so," and
drew an unusually large spread-eagle upon a
fresh sheet of foolscap.
He stayed three months in the school and
then graduated. His diploma was handed to
him by a venerable gentleman who delighted
in the appellation "president of the board,"
while an orchestra, composed of young ladies
of the school, all of whom were learning to
play the violin, by the "short method,"
discoursed most execrable music from an
improvised platform that had been built in the
church, for the occasion. Six other pupils
came through with "Dodd," and their going
out was used as an advertisement to lure still
another half dozen to fill the places left vacant.
The young man came forth from this
experience more the slave of doubt and distrust
than ever.
But the worst feature of all was that this
infidelity in "Dodd's" soul was poisoning his
whole life. Honor was to him now only an
empty name, but policy was a quality to be
held in high esteem. Truth was to be used if
convenient, but if a lie would serve a better
purpose for the moment, it would be brought
into service without hesitation or scruple.
Fortune was his goddess, if he did deference to
any unseen power; tricks and chicanery were
to him helps to rapid and boundless wealth.
"Let the sharpest win, and may the devil take
the hindermost," these were the tenets in his
creed, if he had a creed.
Armed with such ideas of life, "Dodd"
Weaver set out to battle with the world. He
had also his diploma!