The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-01-06

-
| is at It's close
50 laid aside my sermon and began my
lobor Of love Need / say my sermon was
laid aside, for what nobler sermon can there
De than good mans lie?
| must ask your patience while 60 back
long way TO begin my story promptly
How ike picture galleries seem the years
| as we look back upon them. Here an open
meadow with the sunlight; sleeping warm
and bright upon ii: there a bit OF rocky
| coast, on which the long line OF breakers
crash and thunder, the only hint Of life a
tiny sail far out to sea; and as We grow CID
er we see more and more plainly that to
learn the real beauty Of the pictures, the
light must come FROM above.
Oae evening abont ten years ago, was
sitting in my cherries, unhomeiike hotel
parlor, when T. letter was handed me bear
Jag the postmark Of a remote little village
among the Connecticut hills. ] had neen
there once long years before, aud as | took
the letter d wait from the breezy hills and
fragrant woods swept over my remembrance
causing again the thrills OF pleasure with
which first welcomed them.
! opened my letter, the writing was
familiar. | glanced at the signature. Il
was that OF my old college friend, Phil.
Rodent.
shut my eyes AMI thought while. The
tide Of memory was too strong for ne, had
to let it float ne away. Twenty-six years
before, Phil and | had clasped hands over
our farewell, he to finish his medical studies
abroad, and to enter theological semn-
airy. And now here was an old man with
falling health, and he the physician OF the
quaint little village where we had once idl-
ed away our summer vacation, with many a
Jest at the old time ways and customs Of its
primitive inhabitants. Are lives ever what
they hope to be? How many tired feet fail
and falter how many eyes grow dim with
watching for the dawn that never breaks.
Oh, may we not hope that in the great here
after, blighied buds may swell and bios
som into the perfect flower
II have heard OF You, my frind, wrote
Phil. You are out of health and spirits.
Come tie me, win cheer you up. | have a
room ready for you in my bachelors half
and we need you here. Our minister, good
old man, has gone TO his well-earned rest,
, and we are shepherAless flock We have
had young man preaching for us, talented
and good iutentioned. but he scared among
, the clouds too much for us; our heads grew
dizzy watching his aerial flights. shut
our eyes and left him, thinking that, as he
seemed TO know the way, he would some
time reach terra firma again. But that Is
not what We want. We want to be baptized
aud married in the good old way, and YOU
must do 1t fer us. Say when @iil you come,
and Ned (my horse) and | viii meet you Al
The station"
Kind aud hearty as ever "if any man
can give me strength It is Phil Rodent"
said to myself
, Early in the next week the train left ne
at The quiet station, little different FROM
what romem oered; and no sooner had
stepped upon the platform than cherry
voice exclaimed: ~ elcome, old fellow
come a, last, f" and Phil grasped my hand in
both Of his. | saw the brakeman smile a
we two old men walked off together, Pills
arm thrown across my shoulder bcyish
trick OF his---but thanked G cd in my heart
for this strong, faithful friend, VINO had
kept the memory Of our boyish days still
| fresh and green amid he frosts of age aud
The chilling winds of change and absence.
One baliny September morning | was in
stalled pastor Of the old-fashloned liitls
church, and thea went to house keeping
Phil ard were busy MI one week getting
1 my house ready, aud then | wrote to Abby
who. poor girl, was glad enough to leave
: aS.. a::Eysa..or ::s :l:s CURED be-
.h.a.l .s+elps: ali .fss: ia: h.rlif.: *
- be:n rather c::s.e.s .o.e :Ws rr..: =:
!b<oihsis tiarfiit'I. bi, i'hoiigh "Aun. Abby
was very useful il the children bad neasle
or scarlet fever, there was no place she eoui,
=, call her 'home;" 50 now we two, the OF,
~ ones in the family. planned TO end cur day
e together Phil and were mach with eacl
other, aud one evening in the beginning Q
: December We were sitting in his sanctan
smok king quiet pipe together. and be va
telling me Of some improvements he mean
to make co his place. when ! said Iestingiy
'Hhat pity i. is you haven't ulsde som
woman happy with the gilt OF ycur hand aui
= pleasen, home. with ali ia etcsts.as OF lam'
is horses and charity patients.
"a Phil puA ed cloud Of smoke into the air
aud sat watching the soft rings IN sllenc
t for seine moments: then he said quietly;
e II have been waiting these twenty years
n Archie. fer my wife, and | stsl believe TIA
II she will cesne, though lis u long time h
repeated.
y Was ny friend dreaming | said nothing
.e but 81. waiting some further enllgh enmeui
= ..Yoa never knew my brother Paul. dl
you. Archies' Phil commenced, IN MS full
10 quiet voice Poor fellow, he met with =
9. accident when a child when famed him IL
q life When he was--lef Ee see-aoou
a twenty-five The was eight years yocrge
=. than rlyselfi tcok him to Germany 20 cor
is sult q famous physician, in whose SAIL ha
Ii great faith Jus, before our sailing thrs
&, passeagers came on board. who sitracsa
N attention and interest from the first On
e. was man between forty and SHY, hand
!" some and stylish locking, but with al vi
Ia nIeasanl air Of bravado about him. anu
lur,ye way OF watching reoile, which IL
IL pressed ne very aniasorshly. tie was so
, lowed by man some years younger ina
e hirvseH, on whose arm leaned young az
IN very pretty lady. As they passed into u
: eahla many eyes were turned npos then
be The nen were talking wholly N Frenel
Id ana having little or no attention 10 their =
ext companion
i, paul had his meals brought Up en- decl
ae | ana Al dinner found myself seated aexs