Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-07-16
CHAPTER II.

AT the beginning of tho next sum-
mer, James was engaged in the services
Of Farmer Green, one of the most ire
ligious and miserlye men in the whole
parish, -:
| 1t was the moving season, and in the
broad fields Of .Greenside, men, women
and children were 4busily engaged in
turning the fresh cut grass. Saturday
night had come ]; all day long the busy
laborers had worked INCREASINGLY, and
now, as the setting sun dyed the wost-
ern horizon, the farmer came among
his men, urging them on to increased
diligence, as he pointed to the lowering
aspect of the sky.
"Going to have foul weather before
long, I fear, sir, said James. .z.-.
A dark frown gathered over the grim
visage of the farmer, and he muttered
q fearful oath and stamped impatiently.
The heat grew intense a lu1id glare
seemed to burn behind the massy folds
of ominous clouds that rose, tier above
tier, in the distance. Not a breath sof
wind stirred the parched, dusty leaves,
and natures Thousand signs .foretold
the cosaing Of a mighty. thunderstorm.
And still the busy laborers rested not,
but on and on they toiled till night had
closed around, and tho broad light of
the full moon began to burst through
the, vast cloud embankments that
spread until they seemed to envelop
earth and sky in one great gloomy pail.
Suddenly through the solemn mid
night sounded the hour of twelve.
"Work on, my men work for your
lives /" shouted the farmer: "Let no
one stay to rest till the hay is in the
rick yard. Delay is dangerous. A
fearful storm is coming. Work on, I
say" ~ ~--.
But two there were, who, like the He
brews of old, choosing the wrath of
man rather than the indignation of
God, stood amid all that increasing ex-
citement fixed and immovable. The
farmers quick eye soon detected them,
and with another fearful oath he urged
tlemsOn to increased energy. #
sir, " said James, respectfully. -
The farmer stamped with rage, while
James clasped Mary's hand tightly in
his own, aa il to shield her from his
mastet's fierce fury. So s=&fz@ i sss5Str
"Dare to disobey my orders again,
and you will leave my employ for ever.
On with your labor, I soy, OF, by
heavens! you shall have Just cause to
suffer for it. -
James trembled as he thought of the
consequences which might ensue if he
were thrown out of work, and his wife
and little ones left penniless, but'a gen
tie whisper came to him thatrevived his
fainting spirit, and braced him up to firm
resolution. It was this:s "Be not
afraid of sudden fear, neither of the
desolation OF the wicked, when it
cometh, for the Lord shall be thy con-
fidence, and shall keep thy food from
being taken." Fearlessly he looked
into the dark, frowning face of the far
mer, and answered with unwavering
tone: .4Sgfs*s ,s@aAsssa ~ = - ~aS~ -s,*sss
ss%..I dare not lisobey my God, sir;
and He has commanded, Remember
the Sabbath day to keep it holy"
'"N Not another word! Here, take
your wages and be off my grounds, both
of you and never set foot OH them
again. BcgonG;I say!"
Slowly and silently they walked away.
careless of the SCOTS and sneers of their
fellow -laborers. But when their little
cottage home was reached, they knelt
down. hand in hand, and committed
their cause to Him "who judgeth His
people with righteousness, and the poor
with. judgment;' who de ivereth the
needy when he crieth; the poor, also,
and him that hath no helper" And
even rs they prayed the thunder's
mighty crash burst above them; the
vivid lightning CLEAN illumined their
pale faces, and the tempest began to
rage furiously around.
"God be praised that we are safely
sheltered, dear wife," said James ten.
derby, "We can never be poor whilst
we are left to each other, Mary. Lot us
trust to our Fathers love dearest, and
he will provide. The promise stands
firm rs the everlasting hills to us and
our children. All thingswork together
for good to them that love God.
The storm at lsngth ceased the sun
slione ont clear and bright, but the
farmer, who had been exposed to all the
fury of the tempest, was laid low on a
bed of sickness. Fever-tossed and I'M
patient, he turned from side to side,
and MS the hours and days passed on,
remorse gnawed like a worm at his heart.
The bold, resolute conduct of the
man who lad dared to disobey himl
haunted him from morning till night
the sins of his past life rose up in nj
their fearful enOrmity before him, unit
existence became almost int0lerable.
The medical attendant shook his
head, and listened with q puzzled ex-
preston to the old mans almost inco-
herent ranblings, and great was his
astonishmcnt rs the farmer, suddenly
starting mp in bed rs though an unseen
hand had graspetl him, shouted, ''Send
for James Thornton, that may make
amends to him before I die."
In q short time James was standing
by the bedside of his master. The
farmer grasped his hand convulsively.
"3end them all away, James" he NUT
tered, pointing to the attendants. II
want none but you."