The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-11-30
THE MINISTER of MONTCL.AIR

1t was no use the letters danced be
fore his eyes, the whole world seemed
wavering and uncertain in those days
He laid his book down, and began I,
think of the great trouble which wa
shutting him in. When the blacl
Specks first began to dance between
him>and the paper, months ago, he hat
not thought about the matter. 1t wal
annoying, to be sure, but he must hav,
taxed his eyes too severely. He woult
work little less by lamplight-spar,
them a little-apd he should be al
right. SO ho had spared them NOR,
and mora, and yet the specks kept OF
their elfin dance and now for weeki
the conviction had been growing on hin
slowly that he was going 10 be blind
He had not told his wife yet, nor coult
he bear to lay on her shoulders the bur
den of his awful calamity. Oh, it was
too hard
And yet was it too hard? Dared he
say sos he, Gods minister-who had
told other sufferers SO many times thai
their ohastenings were dealt out to them
by their kind Fathers hand, and that
they should count all that brought them
near Him as joyous, not grievous?
Yet, speaking after the manner of this
world, his burden seemed greater than
he could bear. What could he do-a
blind, helpless man? He must give M
his work in life-let another take his
ministry-sit helpless in the darkness.
Heaven only knew how long. Gould he
be thus resigned2
: Then, suddenly flash of hope kindled
his sky, there might be help for him.
This gathering darkness might be some
thing which science could remove. He
would be sure of that, at least, before he
told Mary. And then he became fever
ishly impatient. He must know at once,
it seemed to him-he could not wait.
He called his wife, and told her with,
manner which he tried hard to make
calm, that he was going out of town the
next morning on little business. She
wondered that he was 80 uncommunica.
tive-it was not like him-but she would
not trouble him with any questions.
She should understand it all some time
she knew, still she thought there was
something strange in his way of speak
ing.
The minister strove hard for the mas
terry OF his own spirit, as the cars
whirled him along the next morning to-
ward the tribunal at which he was to
receive his sentence. He tried to think
of something else, but found the effort
vain; so he said over aud over, as sim
ply as a child, one form of words:
"Father, whichever way It turns, oh,
give me strength to bear it."
Holding fast to this prayer, as to an
anchor, he got out of the cars and went
into the streets. What curious mist
seemed to surround all things The
houses looked spectral through it; the
very people he met seemed like ghosts.
he had not realized his defective vision
80 much at home where it had come
upon him gradually; and all objects
were so familiar. Still, with au effort,
he could see the signs on the street COR
ners and fad his way.
He reached at last the reside ce of
the distinguished culist for whose YER
dict he had come. He found the parlor
half filled with people waiting like him
self. He was asked for his name, end |
sent in a card ON which was written
" Rev: VIM. Spencer, Montclair." Then
he waited his turn. He dared not think |
how long the time was, or what sus-
pense be was in. He Just kept his sim
Pile child's prayer in his heart. and
steadied himself with it.
The time came for him at last. and he
followed the Ooy who summoned him
INTO little room, shaded with green,
with green furniture, and on table
7ase of flowers. The stiffness and the
,ool scented air refreshed him. He saw
iimly, as he saw everything that morn