The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-04-30
THE COLUMBIAN, VOL. TX, no. 1
COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT, VOL. XII, NO. II

you re going away Wltn tne grace OF pOl
in your heart you've got the old Ridgely
muscle, and the marrow of the spirit is in
your bones, and your feet are well shod, but
you lack one thing, you need n helpmate.
Aye, my boy, you're not complete. You'll
find it out some day, and when you do, fol-
low the leadings of your heart. You've got
an honest Ridgelv heart, my boy, and it'll
not lead you amiss."
Why did the roses make him think of
Melissa? Why did the thought of her bring
his aunt's words to his mind? He certainly
could not have loved when he had only
spoken to her once, did you say? No,
suppose not believe it isn't called love in
the beginning.
Johnnie and the minister became very in
innate after that night. Johnnie liked him
because he had once been little boy, and
he often went to the widows to visit him.
He told him about Melissa's crying the
night he was at their house to tea, and he
also told him that she had lot of books in
her bedroom that used to belong to her
father--he guessed there was rs many as five
hundred altogether.
One day the minister plucked two or three
posies, a rose and few geranum leaves
from the widows flour bed, and sent the wee
bouquet to Melissa by Johnnie. Johnnie
told him the next day that she kissed it
after she thought he was out of the room,
but he peeped through crack in the door,
and saw her do it. He went to the Deacon's
often after that but he never could get a
chance to talk to her alone.
One night, when none of the family was
to prayer meeting but her and the Deacon
he undertook to go home with her alone, but
before they had gone two squares the Dea.
con came putting up to them, and tai kcd
"new pulpit" until they reached the gate.
BY the last of September the minister,
like everything else, had ceased to be new.
Martha Janson had tried to get him, but
failed; Fannie Gauss had tried and failed
and he was looked upon as belonging to the
Church"
But he was not the church's. lie was not
his own. Next to the Master he loved and
served, he belonged to Melissa Perry. But
he did not know it then.
One bright October day the knowledge
came to him with its burden of sweet homes
and trembling fears Would Melissa take
what belongs to her, he wondered. How
could he ever find out? The Lord through
the mouth of Johnnie Osgood told him
how.
One morning he went to the widows and
stayed with the minister until the clock
struck twelve when he caught up his hat
and started for home.
"Stay and eat dinner with me- Johnnie"
said the minister.
81 can't" said Johnnie; 81 have TO get,
| have to wipe the dinner dishes for Mclis-
sa, she's goin to the butter-woman's this af-
ternoon. Why don't you go and see herr"
81 will" said the minister
Johnnie meant the butter.woman, but the
minister meant Melissa.
He went to the butter-wOman' (she was
member of his church), and had been there
an hour when Melissa came She wore a dark
calico dress and carried a bright tin pail on
her arm. On her way out to the house lit
was more than mile from the town, she
saw a little bunch of scarlet berries lying
in the road There was no bush near them !;
they were alone in their warm, bright beauty
and she picked them up and fastened them
in her dress at the neck, wondering where
they came from ust rs the minister often
wondered where she came from. The min
lister saw the berries, and he forgot whether
her dress was calico one or not.
After she purchased the butter she took
the tin pail on her arm again and went out
at the kitchen door. The minister saw her
90 and he went out at the front door and
soon overlook her and insisted on carrying
her pail They talked in general way un-
til they reached bit of woods through
which they had to go, and then he persuaded
her to sit down by him on an old log and
rest. Something-perhaps it was the bright
day or the Independent autumn air-madc
her forget that she was Deacon Osgood's
"help" and she talked unrestrainedly and
with an intelligence that surprised him. At
last with delicate tact, he led her to talk
about herself, and she told how her pareuts
were both buried in one day leaving her
penuiless and iriendlcss and. how she had
been bound to Deacon Osgood until she was
eighteen years Old
"They are kind to you are they not?' h.
asked.
"Yes, they are kind, but" and she
stopped abruptly.
"But what? Tell me all about it," he
said encouragingly.
"Thcy do not care for me, she answered
with great tears in. her violet eyes--"rhcy
do not love me-and nothing can live with
out care and love, she added.
The minister's heart was swelling ualer
his coat but he kept very calm.
"How old are you?" he asked quietly.
Il am nineteen."
"Why not leave them? You are moi
obliged to stay"
Il have no home, no place to 60 to-" she
answered sadly.
"Comc to nae" said the minister.
She looked at him wonderingly moment
then she understood and went to him.
When she lifted her head from its nest il
his gray coat her cyeswere glowing, and the
sweet, pale face was beauti6ed, transfgured
Where did you get that bunch of berries!
he asked, touching it caressingly, as littl
CLEAN of sunlight looked through an open
ing in the trees and feasted moment on il
warmth and brightness
Il found it lying in the road and took
up as you have taken me" she answere,
softly.
The bright tints were gathering in tn
west and warned her that supper time wa
approaching, aud the minister took tn
pail of butter from its resting place at tn
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