He Kept the Watch

1895

"I was at Old Orchard one time and attended one of the meetings led by Rev. Stephen Merritt," said a Lewiston gentleman to a Lewiston Journal reporter. "After a short address the people were invited to lay their jewels on the altar for missions. Women wept as they tore off earrings, bracelets and gold rings. Diamonds were given freely. Mr. Merritt himself placed a gold watch on the altar. Finally up rose one man with a ponderous frame and slowly pulled from his pocket a shining gold watch. It was worn, but was still a handsome thing. He held it in the palm of his big hand as he looked at it. 'I have lost that watch,' he said. 'It has been all over the world with me.' Like Mary's little lamb, it was always with its owner. It was the parting gift of a dying mother. To part with it would be like the giving up of a brother. 'Yes, I love it, and I'm going to keep it,' and he sat down like a stone, with never a particle of humor in his face."