Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-09-28

another presence. 1t was that OF MS
wife.
"How sound asleep you were, An
drewl don't like to have you sleep
80 heavily in the daytime. 1t isn't
good"
The farmer started with a bewil-
dered air.
"Why, Andrew! What allies you
What have you been dreaming
about?"
"Oh! it was dreaml Yes, I see.
Dreams are strange things
And the farmer settled himself
back in his chair, and dropped his
chin upon his bosom, not to sleep
again, for he was very wide-awake
now, but to ponder on what he heard
from the lips of the monitor. who had
come to him in a vision.
AS his wife went back into the
house, farmer Brill heard the sound
Of a horses feet in the road, and look
ing up saw one Of his neighbors lit.
tie way off. 1t was now five years
since he had denied some trihing
thing to this man, and there had been
coldness between them ever since. At
the sight OF hin the farmer hal an un-
comfortable feeling, and dropped his
eyes intending not to see him. But
this only made him feel the more un-
comfortable. So with a self compell-
ing effort, he rose from his seat, and /,
walking through the gate that opened
upon the road, met his neighbor, say
ing in as cordina tone as he could
introduce into his vclce: Good
morning, Mr.. Holden"
Good morning, Mr.. Brill" re-
turned the neighbor, little surprised
at his unusual friendliness. He drew
up his horse, and leaning down took
the farmers offered hand.
"How is Mrs. HoldeH ?"
"Well, thank you. And how is
Mrs. Brill?,'
Hearty for one Of her years"
"And your own health p
Cant complain. A little stiff with
rheumatism, sometimes, but | ought
to BE- thankful that my limbs are not
all twisted out of shape like poor
John Gardners. By the way, how is
Gardner
VERY badly off," replied the neigh
Dor, with pity in his voice.--"He has
not been able to do days work,
these two months.
as that so? Poor fellow Farm
er Brill dropped his eyes to the ground
and stood thinking. And then the
words he had heard in his dream be-
gan repeating themselves in his
thoughts.
"He gives to some his broad grain
fields and fruitful orchards, that tLey
may fill their barns and storehouses,
and lay up food for the hungry and
seed for the sower, that His people
may not die for the lack of bread. God
has given thee of his earthly bounties
more than hundred-iold beyond thy
own need, and leisure to care for thy
declining years. And yet thee is not
happy, for thee is still trying to live
for thyself alone"
"How does he live? ?" asked the far
mer, raising his eyes from the ground
and looking up into his neigLbors
face.
His family would have suffered in
many ways, and his children gone Of
ten hungry to bed, if some Of US had
not looked after him.
II had no idea it was so bad, said
the farmer. Hungry children |
can't stand that. l must 60 and see
him.,
II wish you would. It's real
case OF charity"
"I'll go right off," said the farmer,
turning away and going back intot
house.
II wonder what's come over the old
man p
So the neighbor mused as he rode
away. Hope he is not going to die.
l always thought he had tender spot
in his heart if one only knew where to
find it. He was right generous sort
of fellow when a young man, but he
was thrifty, and thrift seemed to har-
den him.
IJ.1r 90, In,,u oclo,u-o,1 IT, ,roor