Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-08-22
ly sympathy than under such a
Bereavement as mine."
DILL. ~ Al,ck ss,H -, =, ,

Foil felt that q man ought not T.
cut himself off from supporting in
huences because of the speech o
a carping, ungodly world.
"WOman seems to. possess an in
tuitive knowledge of the nature an,
and needs of sorrow, and it seem
ordained that a man in the darl
hours of life should turn to her TO
light"
Polly thought so, too.
"The consultations of religion are
to our weak faith, sometimes vagu,
and unsatisfactory, and we YEAR,
for the sweet ministrations of hu
man sympathy"
Polly didn't doubt it.
81 hold it a mans duty never tt
yield to dark despair, but to seel
out a way through the furnace o.
affliction, and therein gain strength
for the future"
Polly approved that doctrine.
On the third prayer meeting
evening quoth the pastor: "You
little realize what a precious source
of consolation your sympathy has
been to me, Miss Plum"
Polly made little noise in hel
throat. AS a sound it didn't amount
to much; as an expression she
meant she didn't see how that could
be-she so weak and unwor thy
but if she was source of consola
tion to him, she was SO glad!
"When a man loses his partner"
continued Titus, "what he most
misses isis a certa in responsive.
ness the world can never give. Fig
uratively speaking he finds himself
thirsting and alone in a land OF
sand and thorns."
Polly hadn't any idea that it was
so bad as that.
BY the sixth Thursday evening
the sympathy, responsiveness and
general softness filled the moon, and
the climax was attained in accord.
ance with convenient statutes.
1T isn't that 1 love Dolly and
Molly the less, but you, Polly, the
more," said the Rev. Titus, looking
on the tops Of the cypress, alias To-
Gusts, that waved over the village
cemetery. ~ don't think those two
sainted women wish me to travel
the remaining way through the des-
ert world alone. l don't doubt but
that could they speak they would
approve of my course. Even now
they are joyfully looking down up
on us from yon starry realm"
Polly shud dered and looked up
through the maple leaves apprehen-
sively.
Thereafter the Rev. Titus not on
ly saw Polly home, but every other
Friday evening gave her a species
Of 'preparatory lee ture," his princi.
pies not allowing him to attend to
secular business on Sunday even.
lngs. AS the Rev. Titus difficult
Ties amended, his bronchitis, owing
to his taking his consolation in too
much evening air, rather increased.
One Friday afternoon he was oblig-
ed to send for his physician. PLY.
sician forbade his going out door,
out as evening advanced he felt
that he must have q word with Pol
Y.
Titus had found these Friday even.
ng exercises with Polite very help
ful to him in his ministerial labors.
His sermons during these days had
\ great deal to do with leading the
children of Israel out of the plague
stricken land of Egypt to a land
lowing with milk and honey; lift
ng Joseph out Of the deep pit (of
'orrow) to make him chief steward
If all Egypt (all joy). The services
,f Jacob in the Padan-aram was
lwelt upon with a wealth of image
v. The experiences of Isaac and
Sampson were touched upon. A
strain Of music, mostly of the So
,rano kind, ran through these dis
Miriam sang and played
Judith sang; the daughter Of Ju-
ilith sang by the river Of Babylon.
And o, if they could thus sing
While in captivity, pursued Titus,
What rapturous hosannas must have
'urst from their lips when they came
orth on the Judean plains, and felt
hat for them the night had forever
'ast, and that far above in the vic.
ct depths of the oriental skies,
'eamed their day star! (Pollie had
J kind of "violet" eye.) The sim.
of the discourses was
lnifnrmlv fn the effect that men