The Republican journal., 1876-11-09

The Minister of Montclair.
BY LOUISE CHANDLER MoULToN.

ms eyes. llle WllOlc WOTlu SeCllleu WdttI-
ing and uncertain in those days He laid
his book down, and began to think OF the
great trouble which was shutting him in
When the black specks first began to
dance between him and his paper. months
ago. he had not thought about the matter.
1t was annoying, TO be sure, but he must
have taxed his eyes too severely. lie
would work Il little less by lamplight-
spare them awhile-and he should be all
right. So he had spared them more and
more, and yet the specks kept on their
elhn dance; and now tor weeks the con-
viction had been growing on him slowly
that he was growing to be blind. lie had
not told his wife yet. nor could he bear to
lay on her shoulders the burden of his
awful calamity o it was too hard!
And yet lc0s it too hard Dared he say
so? he, Gods minister - who had told
other sufferers 50 many times that their
chastenngs were dealt out to them by
their kind Fathers hand, and that they
should count all that brought them nearer
to Him rs 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? lie must give up his work
in life-let another take his ministry-st
helpless in the darkness. Heaven only
knew how long Could he be thus re-
signed?
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. lie
called his wife, and told her with a man
ner which he tried hard to make calm,
that he was going ont of town the next
morning on little business She Won
dered that he was SO uncommunicative-
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 some
thing strange ia his way Of speaking.
The minister strove hard for the mas
terry of his own spirit, as the cars whirled
him along the next morning towards 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 and over, as simply as child, one
form of words:
Father, whichever way it turns, O,
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
so much at home, where it had come on
him gradually; and all objects We're so
familiar Still, with an effort he could
see the signs on the street corners, and
find his way.
He reached at last the residence of the
distinguished oculist ter whose verdict he
had come. lie found the parlor halt-tilled
with people waiting like himself lie was
asked for his name, and sent in card on
which was written .'Rev. VIM. Spencer,
Montclar" Then he waited his turn
He dared not think how long the time
was, OF what suspense he was in. He
Just kept his simple child's prayer in his
heart, and steadied himself with it,
The time came Tor him at last, and he
followed the boy who summoned him into
a little room, shaded with green, with
green furniture, and on a table a vase
Of flowers. The stiffness, and the cool
scented air refreshed him. He saw dim
ly, rs he saw everything that morning, a
tall, slight man, with II kind face and
quiet manners, who addressed him by
name, invited him to sit down, and then
inquired into his symptoms with mach
tact and sympathy that he felt rs if he
al 1act 10
doctor asked him to take Il seat by the
window and nave his eyes examined.
His heart beat chokngly, and he whis-
pered under his breath:
Thy will, 0 God, be done; only give
me strength"
DR. Gordon was silent for a moment or
two = it seemed ages to Mr.. Spencer,
Then he said with the tenderest and sad
dest voice, rs if he felt to the uttermost
all the pain he was inficting;
Il cannot give you any hope. The
malady is incurable You will not lose
your sight entirely, just yet; but it must
come soon"
The minister tried TO ask how long it
would be before he should be blind but
his tongue seemed to cleave to the root
OF his mouth, and he could only gasp.
DIR. Gordon understood; and answered
very kindly that it might be q month,
possibly two.
He stood up, then to 90. He knew all
hope was over. He paid his fee and went
out of the room, and out of the house.
1t seemed to him things had grown dark
er since he went in He hardly knew
how he found his way to the cars. 1t was
two hours past his dinner time, and he
was faint for lack Of tood but he did not
know it. He got to the station some how,
and waited for the train to start for Mont
clair All the way home he kept whis-
pering to himself-"One month, possibly
two as if it were lesson on the get
ting by heart of which his life depended
He heard the conductor call out Montclair,
at last and got out of the cars mechani
cally His wife stood there waiting for him
She had been anxious about him all day
''Oh, William ]" she cried, and then
she saw his face and stopped. There was
look on it of one over whom some awful
doom is pending; white fixed look that
chilled her. She took his arm, and they
walked on silently, through the summer
afternoon. When they reached home
and she had taken off her bonnet, he
spoke at last
Mary, come here and let me look al
you. | want to learn your face by heart.
She came and knelt by him, while he
took her cheeks between his hands, and
studied every lineament.
"Are you going away?" she asked, af
ter a while, for his fixed, silent, mysteri
Gus gaze began to torture her.
Yes, dear. | am going away going
into the dark"
ITO die ?" she gasped.
Yes, to die to everything that makes
up mans life in this world" he answer
ed bitterly.
MARY l am going blind. Think what
that means. After q few more weeks,
shall never see you again or our children
or this dear beautiful world where we
have lived and loved each other. The
whole creation is only an empty sound
forevermore o. God how can bear it p
"Is there no hope?" she asked, with {
curious calmness, at which she hersel
was amazed
"None. 1t was my errand to town to
day to find out. I have felt it coming OF
| for months. but | hoped against hope. an(