Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-15

w. AT ILLS Uofueut she might De sldIN-
ing. she and her children, for perhaps
there was this addition to her wretched-
ness-mght be dying of want only few
blocks away. And poor Joshua sat down
on the bed, and plunged his hands in his
scant gray hair and groaned in spirit. de
could sec the wretched garrett in which
they lived, the dilapidated walls that shell
tered these loved ones, its broken and de-
cayed appointments he could see Kitty.
once SO beautiful and rosy and blessed.
now well on in years, pale, cadaverous,
horror-haunted, desperate woman.
He got upon his feet and walked up and
down.
me to find my poor sister, my long-lost
Kitty p
And Mrs. Bixby, who had gone up to
see II he was ready, turned ON her heel
and went down stairs again.
"If he was worth the mines of Golcon-
d." said Mrs. Bixby TO her sister Jane.
when she reached the back parlor again,
| should have had to tell him what
thought of him-what poor miserable
fool of an idiot be was"'
~ hope you'll remember, Maria said
Jane, ''lhat the welfare of my children de-
Pcuus upoh jun lie III tiidt
state OF mind now that he might leave his
money in charity or any other dreadful
way"
swell, for PHYS sake" said Mrs. Blk
by. lets get through with to day, and
thank Heaven. tomorrow he'll be well on
his way Westward. l do hope and pray
he'll never come on here again"
Singularly enough Mr.. Moody chose for
"a - he, - ..,.t,,
what day would bring forth.
They had not been able. after all, to gain
what Maria called the body of the build
ing. The vacilation and mournful hesi-
fancy of Uncle Joshua had delayed them
in various ways, so that when they reached
the big edifice the doors were already
open, and instead of the comfortable body
OF the building that Maria coveted, they
were thrust into far-off ganglion or
nerve of the monster.
So that half of the sermon was lost up
on Jane. She could see the quick, emphat-
ic gestures Of Mr.. Moody, distinguished
here and there whole sentences, and then
lost the thread Of it all. But fortunately
one of the few human beings-only one
out of the whole human race-who have
their full normal hearing,
Many time when sitting upon his ver-
anda away out in his Western home, when
the sweet summer day was sinking dream
lily into the tender arms of night, in mo-
ment Of sunset glow aud hush and infini-
ty of solitude, when the frogs ceased to
croak and the crickets to chip, Joshua
Flanders could hear the mourniul howl of
the coyote miles and miles away, and
the light tread of q rabbit close by.
So that he never lost word of Mr..
Moody's sermon. The practical and plain
but decisive preacher told Joshua that
there was no knowing what day may
bring forth, in such graphic and iorcible
way that the poor old gentleman began
to be invigorated with hope. stirred up,
worked upon by Mr.. Moody's earnestness
in something the like way that galvan-
ic battery pours into the deadened muscles
short but strong dose of life.
The religion of his life was to find his
poor forsaken and widowed sister she
that was abused and cast forth from her
fathers house. and her name unknown
there for years she that was the victim of
this Miserable politician and wire puller,
who was fortunately killed in brawl at
last--it was his religion to seek out and
find this bruised and broken reed and in
spired by the eloquence of Mr.. Moody,
Joshua began to look about him with the
hope that he might find her there that
very day.
There were at least five thousand peo-
pie gathered there, and among them many
a pale, spiritless face caught feeting
glow Of relief and raised itself to the
voice of the preacher. others sunk trem-
bling and suppliant, and among these was
one that attracted Joshua. Her head was
bowed upon her thin trembling hands
it seemed as if she had hardly strength
enough to hold it upright. Her shawl of
rusty black, her shabby Grape veil, the
darned and faded gloves upon her hands,
gave Joshua to believe that she was q
widow and miserably poor. Something
in the turn of her shoulders had seemed
familiar to him her height as she stood
TO sing, was that of his long lost Kitty.
The few hairs which struggled beneath her
bonnet, 1t they had been less gray, would
have exactly matched the lock which he
always carried In his pocket-book and
when she at last raised her head and JOSH
ua looked full upon her face, his whole
frame trembled.
''Dont look back so much" said Mrs.
Bixby. "What on earth ails you ? There's
nothing to be afraid of. / do believe"
she added. TO her ster Jane, "he's look
ing for the way out; he's afraid of one of
the beams falling. or something. Dear
me what blessing it will be when he's
safe on his way tomorrow ~
Joshua wiped the perspration from his
streaming brow. Yes, he had found her
at last, worn and stricken with sad years
OF sorrow, of poverty, of bitterness OF
heart and spirit yet in the dark unquench-
ably brilliant eyes, in the yet graceful and
shapely form. in the pleading and gentle
expression, her face was as familiar to
him as bis own. Why, there was even the
old scar upon her cheek from the fish
hook be had unwittingly buried there.
A serene JOY began to beam upon the
horid face OF Joshua Flanders. Mr.
sankey sang THE Ninety and Nine" and
It was with difficulty Joshua could be
kept 10 bis seat. Tears rolled down his
cheeks. Eyes, yes" he murmured, II go
10 the desert TO find my sheep"
Good gracious y said Mrs. Bixbv.
nudging Jane with her umbrella; IL be-
lieve In my heart he's going to do some
drna 1f.xt