There are many scriptural truths which we 

 may not here and now comprehend; the ful- 

 fillment of which we see daily before our eyes. 

 That the ^'Potter hath power over the clay, of 

 the same lump to make one vessel unto honor 

 and another unto dishonor/' is one of these 

 scriptures. On the one hand we see individuals 

 born with millions in money at their command ; 

 rocked in the cradle of ease and refinement; 

 brought up under the tutelage of masters of 

 art and intellect, a ^^by-word and a hissing" to 

 the world about them, and sometimes a dis- 

 grace and a failure ; again we see others of the 

 humblest birth, enshrouded in adversity and 

 discouragement, who begin early in life to 

 climb the ladder, round by round, and ascend 

 through adversity and opposition, step by step, 

 until they reach the illustrious heights; em- 

 blazon the pages of history with their name 

 and fame, and like the ''Gentile Apostle" ''look 

 back on a life well spent" ere they enter their 

 blest abode in heaven. Such is the life, labors, 

 and end of Augustus Shepard. 



