Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-03-19

cause Oh Ills buhugc COuouSt. Al AZ
vanced, / was again the intruder on .
scene not prepared for my inspection. In
an agony of hesitation fell TO brushing
my hat with my elbow; but not finding
the expected relief In the occupation 1
was about to desist, when my hat decided
what my head could not, by falling with
q crack on the floor. The effect was cleo
trical. Without one glance at the intru.
der the philosopher made a grab ut the
nearest book. shelf, dragged out volume
which had not been touched for half q
century, and hunted for nothing In it's
pages with frantic eagerness. He was
still at 1t when / stood over him and
noted without wonder that he held the
book upside down; then with the poorest
imitation of surprise which have ever
seen he rose and grasped my hand. "You
found me on the track Of something" he
said: 81 was looking it out in--in-"
Here IL occurred TO him that he did not
know the name of the venerable tome
which ne had so rudely disturbed; and
with heightened color and sudden
change Of manner he turned quickly TO
me and said, My child is ill.," felt
positively guilty. / had been angry with
that baby for making my wise friend fool.
ish, for not being boy, for being called
noble woman" Was it not shameful
that great hulking brute should sneer at
q weak thing that could not even answer
with taunt, Were net my clumsy sar-
casms enough to crush so delicate plant'
The poor little "noble woman" was In
danger, and could do nothing 10 help
her. There were tears in the eyes which
were looking into mine for comfort; but
had nothing ready TO say.
81 could not stand being alone" he
muttered after short silence; the doc
tor is with her now, and In moment /
may hear that my little daughter muslin
fact may hear the worst"
While he was speaking / seemed to
have fifty consoling remarks to offer; but
when he stopped no one sentence would
disengage itself from the rest. What /
blurted out at last seems almost ridicu.
lous as look back on 1t.
"You must hope for the best" said
"you know she has youth on her side"
The words were scarcely out of my
mouth when l heard measured step
upon the stairs; presently the door was
opened by the noiseless footman and
the most famous of London doctors en-.
tered the room. Ny friend leaned heavily
on my arm, but looked ut the man of
science with seeming calm.
IL am happy to say" said the ply.
stefan, cheerily, " that our little friend Is
going on as well as possible"
"And she Is opt of dangerf"
"Shc never was In 1t"
Never In dangery" cried /, almos,
"She has nothing the matter with her"
he replied, shut slight feverish cold. /
have seldom seen finer or more healthy
child. Good morning"
/ never was more annoyed. Here was
u waste Of my finest feelings. Here was
| stirred TO the depth, wellnigh moved
to tears by baby's feverish cold. OF
course / was very glad that II was no
worse; but my friend was too absurd, and
would not spare him.
won't you resume your studies 2" |
asked, sarcastically, pointing TO the dis
turbed book, which was lying on the
ground at our feet. His humility might
have disarmed me; ~ am afraid I've
been FOOL he said; "but If you had
seen her all flushed and breathing hard;
uid tbCh buS Wuo bo buuutl buo ~ ukbp,
Yes, for noble woman" remarked;
he received the dart meekly. "Philoso-
pher, said 1, suddenly, determined 70
rouse him at any cost, "when / entered
this room, you were engaged In prayer"
His color certainly deepened. May l
ask" inquired, with an appearance of
Difference, whether you were addressing
yourself to the Personal First Cause, or
to the Unknowable--but perhaps you
were merely bowling to the rational order
of the Universer"
He made gesture of impatience, but
still with studied moderation,
was alone and In trouble"
"And the efficacy of prayer'" asked.
For heavens sake" cried he, bursting
into excitement, "stop your jargon!
shows such ignorance on sub
ject as having all Its cant phrases on the
top Of your tongue. Can't speak to God
without expecting TO be paid for its"
This was turning the tables. Ii he was
going to take to questions knew should
end by admitting myself a fool. So TO
avoid Socratic dialogue / put my hand
on my friends shoulder and said: /" You
are good man, philosopher; may you
and the noble woman live thousand
years."
THANK YOU" he said, simply; "and
now you must let me go and sing pecan
with the Robler woman, my patient Pen
elope, my sweet wife,"
So he went with long strides over the
asphodel meadow, and betook myself TO
my tent full of pleasant thoushts.-Btack-
GOODS Magazine.