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

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At the beginning Of tho next sum
mer, James was engaged in tho services
of Farmer Green, one of the most ire
ligious and misery men in the whole
parish.
It was the moving season, and in the
broad fields of Grcenside, men, women
and children were busily engaged in
turning the fresh cut grass. Saturday
night had come !; all day long the busy
laborcrs had worked increasingly, and
now, as the setting sun dyed the west
crn horizon, the farmer c:.mo among
his men, urging them Oh to increased
diligence, as he pointed to the lowering
aspect Of the sky.
"Going to have foul weather before
long, L fear, SIR said James.
A dark frown gathered over the grim
visage Of the farmer, and he muttcred
q fearful oath and stamped impaticntly.
The heat grew intense a lrllid glare
seemed to burn behind the massey folds
of omino,,s clouds that rose, tier above
tier, III tho distance. Not breath of
wind stirred the parc}led, dusty leaves,
and natures thousand signs foretold
the corning of mighty thunderstorm.
And still the busy lal,orers rested not,
but on and on they toilcd till night had
closed around, and the broad light of
the full moon began to burst through
the vast cloud embankmonts that
spread until they seemed to envclop
earth and sky in one great gloomy pail.
Suddenly through the solemn mid
night sounded the hour of twelve.
| "Work OH, my men work for your
lives !" shouted the farmer "Lct no
one stay to rest till tho hay is in the
rick yard. Delay is dangerous. A
fearful storm is coming. Work on, I
say"
But two there we're, who, like the He
brcws of old, choosing the wrath of
man rather than the Indignation of
God, stood amid all that increasing OK
element fixed and immovablc. Tho
farmers quick eye soon detected them,
and with another fearful oath he urged
them on to increased energy.
II do not work on the Sabbath day,
sir, !" said james, respectfully.
The farmer stamped with rage, while
james claspcd Mary's hand tightly in
his own, as if to shield her from his
mastet's fierce fury.
"Darc to disol"y my orders again,
and you will leave my employ for ever.
On with your labor, say, or, by
heavens! you shall have just cause to
suffer for it..
james trembletl rs he thought of the
consequences which might ens,1e if he
wero thrown out of work, and his wife
and little ones left penniless, but Il gen
tic whisper came to him that revived his
fainting spirit, and braccd him up to firm
resolution. 1t was this: ''Be not
afraid of sudden fear, neither Of the
dcsolation Of the wicked, when it
cometh, for the Lord shall be thy con-
tidcncc, anil shall keep thy food from
being taken." Fcarlessly he looked
into the dark, frowning face of the far
mcr, aud answered with unwavering
tone:
II dare not disobey my God, sir
and He has commanded, Remember
the Sabbath day to keep it holy"
"Not another word! Here, take |
your wages and be off my grounds, both
of y"u and never set foot on them |
again. Bc,onc,, say!'
Slowly I'LL" silently they walked away, |
careless of the SCOTS and sncers Of their |
fcllow-laborers. But when their little
cottage home was reached, they knclt
down. hand i'll hand, and committed |
their cause to Him "wlo judgcth His
people with righteousness, and the poor
with judgment; who lie ivercth tho
needy when he crieth; the poor, also,
and him that htth no helper" And |
even as they prayed the tllundcr's
mighty crash burst above them; the
vivid lightning CLEAN illumincd their
pale faces, and tho tempest began to
rage furiously around.
"God be praised that we are safely
dear wife," said James ten
DERBY, 1--WE can never be poor whilst
VIC are left to each other, Mary. Let us
trust to our Fathers love dearest. and
he will provide. The promise stands
firm us the everlasting hills to us and
our children. All things work together
for good to them that love God"
The storm ut longth ceased; the sun |
shone ont clear and bright, but the
farmer, who hal been exposed to all the
fury Of the tempest, was laid low Oh Il
patient, lie turned from side to side,
and rs the hours and days passed on,
rcm"rsn gn;.wcd like worm Mt his heart.
Thc bold, rcsolute conduct of the
man who had dared to disobcy himl
haunted him from morning till night
the sins Of his past life rose up in III
their fearful cnOrmity before him, unit
existence became almost nstolerallc.
The medical attendant shook his
head, and listened with u puzzled OK
preston to the old mans almost inco-
llcrcnt rambiings, and great was his
establishment n* the farmer, suddenly
starting up in bed :,s though IN unseen
hand hal gr:,slcd him, shouted, ''Send
for james Thornton, that I may make
amends to him before die"
Tn % short time James was standing
ly the bedside Of his master. The
farmer gr;,sln,l his ln,,.l co,,vulsivcly.
";%''d them I'LL away, James, he NUT
tered, pointing to tho attendants. 81
want none but You"
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