The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1872-01-04
THE REVEREND SANPsON'S
CHRISTMAS GIFT.

King.
THE REVEREND SAKPsoN's
CHRIsTNAS GIFT.
The Reverend Sampson Beatty
strobe about his study one cold morn.
ing Ia December, and looked threaten
ingly at his little wife. One would
have thought, from his manner, that
she had committed some grievous sin.
for she clasped her hands together
with o gesture Of entreaty, and follow
ed him about pleadingiy with her
eyes.
There had never been q missionary
for woman's rights up among those
bleak hills, and the little woman's
education in this way had been sadly
neglected. She never ventured upon
expostulation with her husband, and
when he was vexed, not only gave
him the first but the last word.
Fortunately for Mrs. Beatty, her
husband was as gentle In spirit rs he
was pure in soul, and would sooner
have cut of his right hand than added
one care to the many that beset her, SO
sorely against his will.
1T is bitter humiliation, he said
at length, the hot color flaming into
his cheek. - never thought should
descend quite so low as this, Lucy-to
have people going about with sub
scription paper in my behalf, A. II ]
were . very pauper! and IN the full
vigor Of manhood, with health and
strength and head to work. God
knows do work early and late am
no laggard in the vineyard. Is not
the laborer worthy of his hire ?"
but, Sampson" said the little wife,
you know 1t Is quite customary
around Christmas time; and they
mean It for the best-I am sure they
do. But if you feel % badly sboutit, !"
she sdded, noting the frown deepening
on his brow. II need only speak to
Mrs. Beverly, and It can be stopl ed !;
only"-the low voice faltered. The
minister looked down upon his wife,
An smoothed her hair tenderly-
"Only It would be . terrible disap-
pointment to you, dear; is It not 30 :?
No wonder your pride is crushed and
your spirit broken, my poor child.
Don't think for moment forget my
little helpmate, bearing the brunt Of
the battle and wearing cheerful face
to hide woeful heart. | know all the
patches in the wee jackets. dear. and
the skiIiful darning in the carpets, and
heard tha sad lament Of the little ones
over their lack OF sugar this morning.
Once for all, Lucy, don't think am
ungrateful or Indifferent enough to be
ignorant of even the details Of our
poverty. 1 know their full extent.
And now leave me to myself, little wo-
man. Let them do as they will. II
it will serve to make you happier, !
VIII tIy W NC COuscus'
Mrs. Beatty went quietly from the
study and left her husband to his rue
| full ruminatioDs. He bent himself
over his unfinished sermon with
heavy sigh, and felt in his heart that
his life had been . failure. When he
looked back upon his lost youth nc
wept in very bitterness over the hope
ful, vainglorious dreams that had van.
ished one by one, and left him upon
this wintry morning almost desolate
He had in that youthful onset pictured
to himself q life OF chivalrous strife and
glorious victory. and had entered upon
his ministry with burning zeal and
earnest self-sacrifice Of Savonarola
But he felt himself, as the years rolled
on, yeritable Don QuixOte, strug
Cling with windmills. Gigantic ant
powerful windmills surely, for the,
represented all the petty passions ans
meannessss of the human heart; bu
they were of that calibre that the.
blunted his weapons aud rendered hi
strife almost ridiculous.
Were all these years Of study, thes
baughty rssolves, and glorious deter
minasions, to be wasted in entreatinl
stupid clodhoppers to remain swak
for one little hour upon Sunday, or Il
endeavoring to reconcile Mrs. Jones t
her neighbours bay-window.
Not once did he see glimmer o
light in the faces Of his parishioner
when he expounded to them, with 81
the eloquence and force Of which b
was capable, the epistles Of the apos
ties nor did they show the least en-
thusiasm when lie read to them
sermon over which he himself ha
, wept with emotion.
"Can 1t be WE'LL" murmured tn
wicked parson, Ito people paradis
with souls like these ?"
It seemed AZ ii a gulf had widene
between him and his people day b
: day, and soon he should not even b
; able to stretch out his hand TO them.
In the mean time, however, Mr.
J Beatty went about tho house with
smile Of genuine Joy on her face. Mr.
Beverly had hinted that they woul
!. probably raise seventy-iive dollars Z,
]. the Christmas gift, and the little ",
mans imagination exaggerated th
sum Of money into fortune, and re-
eled in the abundance In store 4
them.
Oh, if-he could only have the spen
~ protractcd 81 nerself-she kne
sing; aM, Shey most needed! b
A 50 - -sf1s was out OF the question
I begssis could mt be choosen; u
Mrs. Beatty wsAt joyfuliy back TO b
,E,mpta6us visio,is- -rollA of nann,
E!Aaske' uaen, warm colored fnsil6o,
n. 10. is7s -ematic tea, the VII