Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1877-10-27

A''N''' '''''' ''N'' wv NNllllI b1 way mn
now comes her beautiful surprise the
hoary old steeple, that gave in solemn
glory to Dolly's garden that which given
to her room in radiance by the stained
window 1t is great thing to come iu-
to possession Of bits Of church it you
have medieval tastes, Dolly had she
never ceased to rejoice that nobody at
tempted to pull down the steeple.
There it rose over her garden, up, up,
grand and cool like the shadow Of a
great rock. How she loved it? She
knew how it looked, soft and gray,
against the pink clouds at daybreak.
How cool and massive in hot noon-times
when gay breezes came behind it to
dance with her saucy sweetpea vines
And often at midnight, when pains kept
her awake (for old Dolly was not well)
she watched it, huge and black, among
the stars, the moon stealing from clouds
over it. Perhaps Jacob enjoyed the
steeple as much as Dolly, for one,halt
his life was in contrast to elevate things
was spent down below, among the rag
men, fsh-markets and people fighting for
sixpence, but it was not his way to talk
much. Tonight, after supper they
went out, and Dolly planted the tea-rose,
with enthusiastic little shifts at the per-
iume and a great deal Of expressed
rapture generally. Folks had called
Dolly, years ago when young, little
foo" ," because she had fasion Of looking
for sweetness everywhere-and finding
it, too, as honey bees can among the
commOnest flowers. She had white hairs
now, but was not wiser than then.
Jacob brought her the box and dirt and
water, watching while the rose was
planted. Then, walking across the
hower,bordered space, his foot fell upon
something soft. He stopped to pick it
up what he thought q ball of Dolly's
yarn; it proved to be chiId's red shoe
"a little, worn one, wrinkled with use.
He held it for an instant, turned toward
Dolly, and, as she covered down trem-
bling, asked sternly:
Has she been here again"
II made her stay just little while.
She feared | was sick, Oh Jacob Jacob!
can't you remember she was our own lit
tie Jane " "Was. Yes, was" said
Jacob between a growl and groan.
"And she brought that here-that-that
~
Something in Dollys white face made
him mutter a word; then his voice
grew louder again: Didn't | forbid
her ever to set her foot in the nome
again? and twice she has done it.
He raised his hand and flung the wee
shoe far out and oft into the street below,
as he would have thrown a live thing
with cruel wish to kill; then turning,
he shut the door behind him harshIy.
She dared not 90 in, and he did not wish
her TO follow. He sat down and Ind his
face in his shands enraged at fate. Dolly
had loved her pretty daughter. Jacob
had idolized her. She belonged to pros
porous days wnen he had been gardener
in the country. Yes, this little Jane
that was" seemed to belong entirely
there, among simple, sweet scenes, fitted
by her lite and gayety to 90 along with
birds, butterflies and spring blossoms.
Was she dead? Oh, worse to him .--she
was lost to him, in anger, not in sorrow.
Down mesowhere, this hot night, in the
surging life of the great city was wo.
man and a child; all color gone from the
the cheeks and the life OF the one-the
other shame-branded by its birth. She
was noe in actual want; a pittance had
been left her; but she had sinned-she
had fallen and so he had said she was no
child Of his. The Christ who had COM
passion on one like her might as well
never have lived, for any plea OF like pity
in Jacobs heart for his little Jane that
was.
Outside, Dolly watched the stars com.
ing out one by one; could not let herself
do anything else for awhile as she pressed
both hands over her heart. To think or
to pray made it sometimes leap, ilutter
and then seem to stop beating, so that
Jacob and Jane and the little baby all
faded, faded from like phantoms. Dolly
had heart disease, and many a time was
aware Of the death angel passing
Swiftly by
With the gladnoss OF one who goeth
In the light of God most high"
and any time she knew that he might
stay for her. When she had been alone
half hour Jacob opened the door tC
say she would catch cold 1t was quite
dim, but away to one side the lights OF
the water twinkled like fire flies. The
air was heavy with the perfume of Dolly,
lilies-she herself unseen; but her voic,
fell on his ears painfully:
go Lord, in much patience must my
peace be; SO held me not to think all il
lost when a thing falls out against me
Let me abide in Thee and the darknes
cannot tread me down. Let Jacob know
how God loves him and think if he de
serves it. Have us live in faith, wall
in love and be taught by the Spirit hov
to have our corner of earth little lik
heaven. Oh, wash her poor soul whit
and give the baby an angel to watcI
over it. Put evil far from us, 70
Christ's sake.
Dolly was still for a few moment
before Jacob said
"Come in now; you'll get over tired;
and when she came in he made unusua
efforts to be gentle. Dolly might hay
done a good deal more with Jacob if sh
had known Der power. As it was, sh
made master stroke that night by eS
claiming, before she fell asleep:
How tearsome lonely ye'd be, Jacol
with nobody to be good to. Ye've
will of rock, but ye remind me often {
the stone tower-a shelter to the pun
things under it; always similar to
strong father in storm to the roses an
the lilies"
"a father-a father!" Jacob role
and tossed all night in troubled though
Only once he slept and then dreamed h
saw the little red shoe in the mud
the street, torn and trampled by horse
feet. Now things fancied at midnigl
are so vivid that all at once Jacob r
alized.how hard and cruel he had grow
how bitterness and revenge la
possessed his soul. But toward mornir
God did not let Jacob think how
loved him, and after that he fell into
deep sleep.
The next day was Sunday "a day Il
old couple always enjoyed. Jacob coul
be at home all day and they planned
have some little treat, for during IL
week Jacob acted as janitor in the bull,
ing. 1t was in this way he earned h
rent and trife besides. They had,
the past, known more prosperity, bl
had not yet come to dire Povert,
Dolly never expected to. Every sparro
; nnder tho old church roof nnhnnh To hI