Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-12-06
TIL E He RIA Id.
BETTER THAN OUR FEARS.
BY t. s. ARTHUR.

sJohnp His wife laid her hand or
his shoulder. He moved slightly.
1T is very dark I know, husband
dear. But night does not last for
ever. Morning always comes.
'We have waited long time fol
the day to break, Hetty-a long, long
time =
Mr.. Archer lifted his bowed head
and looked at his wife drearily.
"a long. long time, Hetty,' he add
ed, land the night is still black
But the earth turns steadily. II
cannot be long from daybreak.'
Maybe not, but | have lost heart
and hope. Oh, if could but die 7
and Mr.. Archer threw up his hands
with despairing gesture.
And leave me helpless and friend
less said his wife.
five could both de- be answered
mournfully. We are not fitted for a
world like this. We cannot keep step
with the eager, selfish, INSCRIPTIONS
crowd. We are jostled, and hurt, and
driven to the wall
God made it, and takes care of it,
said Mrs Archer, IN confident tone.
If be so clothe the grass of the field
which to-day is, and tomorrow is
cast into the oven, will he not much
more clothe us? Let the past give
us confidence for the future. Up to
this hour he has led us by safe way
But such dark and strange way,
returned her husband. at scarcely
any time during these past ten years
have | been able to see a hands
breadth before me; and when the
cloud did lift for moment, it was
that / might see some impossible
mountain, or some frightful precipice.'
'And yet, spoke the wife cheerily,
the mounts and precipiees are behind
us. Though we have come thus far
On Iife's journey by ways that we
know not, we haYe come safely
sIf there were no more steep noun
tains to climb no more precipices to
threaten destruction said Mr.. Archer !!
Il am weak and weary
'As thy day is, SO shall thy strength
be. Has it not always been so, my
husband ? When was the burden
God gave us to carry too great for
our strength :--or the way by which
he lead US, impossible =? Then think,
dear husband !! how much better it is
with US than with many others whom
we know. There is poor Mr.. Edgar.
It is now nearly two months since he
was able to do stroke of work and
his wife is weak, sickly thing, If
you are in doubt and despair, how
must il be with him?'
Poor fellow said Mr.. Archer, with
a touch of sympathy in his voice.
Ills case is bad, indeed. l don't see
what is to become of him and his
family. The neighbors should look
after him.
'Who are his neighbors2' asked
Mrs. Archer
Her husband did not answer the
question.
Are you not of the number p she
queried.
yes, l suppose SO. But if all are
as badly off as we, there is precious
little help in them
There is refreshment in cup of
cold water said Mrs Archer. Many
life has been saved by so small an
Offering. Let us give the water if we
can do no more. While brooding
over our own troubles. we have for
gotten those of our poor neighbor
who is far worse off than we are.
Come. John, let us go round and see
after the Edgars.'
You 60, Hetty ; l don't feel like it,
replied Mr.. Archer. If there is any.
hing | can do | will try and do it.
Yo 60, and talk with Mrs. Edgar. ]
don't doubt but you can say some.
thing that will give her comfort
john, said Mrs. Archer. Sod is
the great comforter of us all and il
we would have his blessing, we must
be like him. Give, and it shall be
given unto you. Let US try to forget
our own troubles in an effort to ease
the troubles Of those who are in more
difficult places. Come! Mr.. and Mrs
Edgar may be in sore need of just
such help as it is in our power to
give
A little way from the Archers lived
Mr.. Edgar lie was mechanic with
q wife and three children. Two
months before be had injured him.
self in lifting a heavy piece of timber
and had not since been able to do any
work. His wife, who was in delicate
health, had taken in sewing since that
time, and earned with her needle, two
or three dollars week. But the
strain of overwork and anxiety was
too much for Mrs. Edgar. While in
the act of setting the table for their
scanty meal on this very evening, q
sudden faintness seized her, and she
Tell insensible to the floor.
Her husband had barely strength
enough, with the assistance of hel
Oldest child, girl ten years OF age
10 lift her upon settee that was il
the room. While in the act of doing
so, Mr.. and Mrs. Archer entered. He
who cares tenderly for all His children
had sent them in this time of sorest
need.
In lis strong arms, Mr.. Archer
carried the insensible woman to hel
chamber. All his own cares anG
troubles were forgotten in a moment
For nearly half an hour this faint
ing tit continued; then conscious lift
slowly returned.
4 knew it would come to this
Mr. Edgar had exclaimed, in q voice
so full Of misery and despair that i
aroused in the heart of his visitor
feeling of deep commiseration.
Your wife is not strong he ssid.
Strong! No, sir" the man answered
In tone of bitterness. 'She hasn'
the strength OF child
His face worked painfully-h
clinched and unclinched his hands il
a helpless kind of way-there was
desperate look in his eyes.
No, sir, he added, mot the strength
of a child +; and yet burdens tina
strong men find often too great to bea
Il II