The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-10-25

she sewed when alone. You think it
must have been too sunny by day? Ali
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 a great thing to come in
to possession of bits of church if YOU
have medieval tastes. Dolly had she
never ceased to rejoice that nobody st
tempted to pull down the steeple.
There it rose over her garden, up, up,
grand and cool, like the shadow of
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 gav 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-half
his life was in contrast to elevate things
was spent down below, among the rag
men, fish-markets aud people fighting for
sixpence, but it was not his way to talk
much. To night, after supper, they
went out, and Dolly planted the tea-Tose,
with enthusiastic little shifts at the per
fume and a great deal of expressed
rapture generally. Folks had called
Dolly, years ago when young, Ga little
fool, because she had a fasiOn of looking
for sweetness eveTywhere-and finding
it, too, as honey bees can among the
c0mmOnest 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
AOwer-bOrdered space, his foot fell upon
up what he thought ball of Dally's
yarn; it proved to be a child's red shoe
"a little, worn one, wrinkled with use.
He held it for an instant, turned toward
Dolly, and as she covered down tFem-
bling, asked sternly:
. Has she been here again?"
. | made her stay just a little while.
She feared l was sick. Oh jacob Jacob!
can't you remember she was our own lit
tie janet" "Was. Yes, was" said
Jacob, between a growi and a groan.
And she brought that here-that-that
-
Something in Dolly's white face made
him mutteT a word; then his voice
grew louder again: Didn't l 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 off into the street below,
as he would have thrown a live thing
with a cruel wish to kill; then turning,
he shut the door behind him harshly.
She dared not go in, and he did not wish
her to follow. He sat down and hid his
face in his hands, enraged at fate. Dolly
had loved her pretty daughter. Jacob
had idolized her. She belonged to pros
porous DAYS wnen he had been q 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 go 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 mesOwheTe, this hot night, in the
surging life of the great city was wO-
man and a child; ali color gone from the
the cheeks and the life OF the One-the
other shame-branded by its birth. She
was not in actual want; Il pitIanCe 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
BStSSlOn OAl OLAC llhC AACt LAAiEib do "Nll
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, futter
and then seem to stop beating, 80 that
Jacob and Jane and the little baby all
faded, faded from like phantOms. Dolly
had heart disease, and many time was
aware of the death angel passing
"swiftIy by
With the gladness Of one who goeth
In the fight of God most high"
and any time she knew that he might
stay for her. When she had been alone
a half hour Jacob opened the door to
say she would catch cold. 1t was quite
dim, but away to one side the lights on
the water twinkled like fire flies. The
air was heavy with the perfume of DOlly's
lilies-she herself unseen; but her voice
fell on his ears painfully:
80 Lord, in much patience must my
peace be so held me not to think all is
lost when a thing falls out against me.
Let me abide in Thee and the darkness
cannot tread me down. Let Jacob know
now NTDu loves Iiul anu Ilitl4h II llD AAN-
serves it. Have us live In faith, walk
in love and be taught by the Spirit how
| to have our corner of earth little like
heaven. Oh, wash her poor soul white
and give the baby an angel to watch
over it. Put evil far from us, foI
| ChTists 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 unusual
efforts to be gentle. Dolly might have
done good deal more with Jacob if she
7 had known Der power. As it was, she
made a master stroke that night by ex
claiming, before she fell ssleeP:
% How fearsome lonely ye'd be, Jacob
with nobody to be good to. He've
will of rock, but ye remind me often o
the stone tOwer-a shelter to the puny
| things under it; always similar to Z
strong father in a storm to the roses anC
the lilies"
"A father-a fatherl" Jacob rollec
and tossed all night in troubled thought
ONLY once he slept and then dreamed h,
saw the little red shoe in the mud 0
the street, torn and trampled by horses
feet. Now things fancied at midnigh
are 80 vivid that ali at once Jacob re
allied how hard and cruel he had grow
how bitterness and revenge ha'
possessed his soul. But toward morning
God did not let Jacob think how b
loved him, and after that he fell into
deep sleep.
The next day was Sunday-s day tn
old couple always enjoyed. Jacob coul'
be at home all day and they planned L
have some little treat, for during tn
week Jacob acted as janitOr in the build
ing. 1t was in this way he earned hi
rent and a tri1e besides. They had, il
the past, known more prosperity, bu
had not vet come to dire poverty
Dolly never expected to. Every sparrow
,, under the old church roof echoed to he
| ,t,,;st's words of trrst On this SUNDAY