Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-10-08

i
or Brilfs ears and at the same instant al
other voice reused him TO another pres
ence. 1t was that OF his wife.
How sound asleep you were, Andrew
| don't like to have you sleep SO heavily j
the daytime. 1t isn't good."8
The farmer started up with bewildere
air.
"Why, Andrewl What ails you? Wins
have you been dreaming aboutg"
"Ohi itDG5 dreaml Yes, l see. Dream
are strange things" n
And the farmer settled himself back 4
his chair and dropped his chin upon hi
bosom, not to sleep again, for he wa
very wide-awake now, but TO ponder oI
what he had heard from the lips of th
monitor, who had come to him in
vision.
As his wife went back into the hous
Farmer Brill heard the sound of a horse
feet in the road, and looking up saw on
of his neighbors little way off. 1t wa
now over five years since he had denie,
some trifling favor TO this man, and Their
had been GOODNESS between them eve
since. At sight of him the farmer had al
uncomfortable feeling, and dropped hi
| eyes, intending not to see him. But thi
only made him feel the more uncomfOrta
bic. So, with a self-compelling effort, ht
rose from his seat and, walking ou
through the gate that opened unon the
road, met his neighbor, saying in as cor
DIAL o tone as he could introduce into his
Yolce' = Gnod morning, Mr.. Holden"
Good morning, Mr.. Brill" returned
the neighbor, little surprised at this un
usual friendlincss. He drew up his horse
and leaning down took the farmers of
fered hand.
How is Mrs. Holden?'
Well, thank you! And how is Mrs.
Brillr'
" Hearty for one of her years."
And your own health?'
"Can't complain. A little stiff with
rheumatism sometimes; but suppose
ought to be thankful that my limbs are
not all twisted out of shape like poor John
Gardner's. By the way, how is Gard
ner?"
"Very badly off" replied the neighbor,
with pity in his voice. "Has not been
able TO do days work these two months. -
as that so? Poor fellowW Farmer
Brill dropped his eye to the ground and
stood thinking. And then the words he
had heard in his dream began repeating
themselves in his thoughts:
1IC SlNNo W Ills DlOdu ETdlH-
fields and fruitful orchards, that they NAV
fill barns and storehouses and lay up
food for the hungry and seed for the
sower, that His people die not for lack of
bread. God has given thee of His earthly
bounties more than hundred-fold be-
yond thy own need, and leisure to care
for thy neighbors, and health in thy de-
clining years. And yet thee is not happy,
for thee is still trying to live for thyself
alone"
How does he live?" asked the farmer,
raising his eyes from the ground and look
ing up into his neighbor's face.
His family would have suffered in
many ways and his children gone often
hungry to bed if some of us had notlooked
after him."
" had no idea it was so bad" said the
farmer. Hungry children! can't stand
that. must go and see him.
81 wish you would. It's real case of
charity" h
"I'fl go right off," said the farmer,
turning away and going back into the
house.
81 wonder what's come over the old
nan?" So the neighbor mused as he rode
AWAY. "Hope he is not going to die. l
always thought he had tender place
in his heart if one only knew
how to find it. He was right generous
sort of fellow when a young man, but
he was thrifty, and thrift seemed to harden
him.
Half an hour afterward Farmer Brill
drove off in his light wagon. There was
a marvellous change in the expression of
his fine old face. His eyes had new
luster in them, and the kindlier temper of
his blood was softening and warming all
the hard lines thath compressed them
selves about his mouth and cut down
rigidly between his brows, giving them a
nobler and deeper human sentiment. In
his wagon was bag of flour, bushel of
potatoes, side of bacon and twenty
pounds of saltpork, besides corn-meal and
apples.
When Farmer Brill returned his heart
was so light that it gave a new buoyancy
10 his body, and instead of moping about
or sitting halfstupidly in his armchair
he went bustling in and out in a CHEEKY
way, and talked to his wife of this neigh
Dor and that with kindly interest alto
gether new.
at is more blessed to give, sometimes,
han to receive" said Mrs Brill TO her
husband, as he told her, with a new quail
NY vi Hlo NOlCC, aDOul Ills
visit to Mr.. Gardner and his family.
IT may be aloays," he answered, to
her surprise. Z" 1t must be-" he added
after II hesitating pause, " if our Savior's
words are true, for He puts in no qualify
ing sometimes"
The old man sat very still, with sober,
expression on his face.
"He knew best, Andrew; but very few
Of us live as if we thought He did,
The farmers sleep was not so sound
that night as usual; thoughtwas too busy.
Not that he was troubled, for the pleasure
that came with ministering to his stricken
neighbor had gone too deep and filled his
heart too largely to leave room for trouble.
lie was thinking out of himself-a rare
experience for Farmer Brill; thinking of
some of his neighbors, and how he might
serve them at little cost to his boarded
substance. 1t was too early in the new
state upon which he had really entered TO
count much cost against himself.
The farmer rose on the next morning
feeling like a new man. The rest and
comfort of mind which had come as the
reward of kindness to John Gardner
still remained. Goodwill TO others
is rarely satisfied with single service. 1t
was so IN this case. The family of his
sick and helpless neighbor had other needs
than that Of food. He had seen the half
clad children and the wife's worn and
scanty clothing, and the picture remained
with him.
"Can't you send Mrs. Gardner an old
dress or two?" said Mr.. Brh TO his wife
as they sat at the breakfast-table. "She
needs them badly If you'll make up a
bundle of things for her and the children
I'll hitch up and take them over. You'll
know what they want"
Mrs. Brill was not the woman to say
No" to a suggestion like this. She soon
had bundle of clothing ready for her
husband, and off he went again on his
errand of mercy with glee and warmth
In his bosom that sent a feeling of delight
along every nerve. How cordial were all
the greetingshe gave to passing neighborsl
He forgot old grudges and cOldnesses, and
drew up his horse more than once to have
a chat with the individuals whom he had
passed the dpy before with only an indif
ferent nod. sHauW atI
IL eat g.. o.,o. I,,,,, i'll, ~.