River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-10-25
THE LILIES BY THE srEELPE:

run here and there. few stop long enough tC
study out the soul behind their neighbOr's
grimaces. II he smiles he must be happy
if he sighs ,dyspeptic, may be- And on the
whole, what a man is does not come into
account One-half so much as what he
does. Out in the world this IS: still there
are places where it matters what he
thinks of things. All the public wanted
TO know of Jacob Strong was that he sold
curtain fixtures and cord, KEYS and
screws, and that lac carried his stock in
trade about with him One afternoon in
June Jacob was going home. Business
after May was dull; then everybody was
moving or cleaning house md he reaped
his modest harvest. He used to shuddeT
as he passed the swarming, dirty tenc-
ment houses, for if his home had not
Glanced to be where it was he could have
afforded no higher rent than was paid
here. This hot day he threaded his way
through TIE narrow streets and past stalls
smelling Of stale fruit.stopping only once
at a flower stand. Here somebody iost-
led Ly the crowd had knocked OF a tea
rose, bruising the flower and breaking
the pot.
sell it to NE for ten cent,3" asked
Jacob.
The angry vender hesitaied a minute,
then rolling up dirt and roSebush togcth-
or gave the paper to Jacob. lie hurried
on, turned into un old square. through a
by-lane to the rear of an ancient brick
building. The first floor was used for
offices and a masonic hall, the second for
Il mission school and storing rooms. the
style Of architecture suggested a church.
and sdch indeed it had been
There was such brilliant sunset light
without; but here Jacob stumbled up
and through shadows until he reached a
familiar door which he opened with soft
eagerness. Such quaint room was dis
closed. The new partitions were of I'M
plas:ered planks now neatly covered over
with brown wrapping paper; above were
the rich old Oaken beams of the ceiling:
On the spOtlCss floor were rugs soft and
ld-fashioned, an antique chair,tall- back
ed and once richly cushioned, stood at
the end of the apartment, which. for some
reason was tive-sided. The pulpit chair
was little removed from the everyday
cheap furniture rs if ii were the only fl
companion for the other glory of the
place. which was a small round window
Of stained glass having in its centre an
Agnus Del. Everything else was hOmeiy,
hut sweet with cleanliness. 4 thick
white curtain cut oft one corner of the
room, and two doors opened Out-One in
To a tiny kitchen. where Jacob retired to
wash his hands aad put down the rose
paper With his forehead cooled and
his gray hair pushed of it, one had fair
look at the tall, thin man and could not
learn much more from his immOyable
face; but under black, shaggy eyebrows
were singular eyes-blue al q clear. like
child's. As Jacob turned back, the
white curtain parted quickly and small
woman in a short gown and striped skirt
seemed to have come suddenly out from
q nap and 70 be troubled on that account.
She tied a silk handkerchief about her
head which was covered with short hair
as white as Silver, and in CHEEKY voice
began To chatter. "Derrie me, Jacob. six
o'clock and no supper for you, And
living there like MaTjOTy Daw"
What We haven't been and sold yel
bed, have yel 1t appears 20 be there all
the same. There, there, old lady, dOht
hurry! Yc know we'll enough how il
takes the breath out of Sc" and Jacol
caught her by the Tuifie on her Jacket anC
held her still or a second not in play, bu
soberly to br TX up her speed, she having
started rapid toward the kitchen. Sh,
laughed. shO1 ng even teeth and gentle
good old fac only white-unnaturally
white.
Ye're right. Jacob; if l go bit slow
CT gain time in the end. was a littl,
more tired than ordinary"
Have We been down the long stair
this day.
She stammered like child before sat
confessed she had.
Well, if We 20 down tomorrow. DOlly
hereafter I'll fasten ye in-that Is if
haven't yer promise"
+" And if We have it,
Then what need Of "A lock T" and Jacol
luOscned his hold on her gown goin.
himself Ia fiji the tea kettle and set il 4
boil on the stove. Dolly drew out tn
liable. putting on bread, meat aud two o
three simple viands When the ten wa
made the old couple drew their chairs 4
the table and Dolly bowed her heal. say
ne aloud;
:. We confess our unwOrthincSs. we &C
knowledge Thy goodness. we praise Tn,
tender mercy and give Thee thanks.
She could not see that Jacob locke,
opeu-eycd At the blue and crimson win
dow. She turned his tea from funny
brown carthen pot round like a canunnball
and suddenly cried.
WeH-a-day, Here We lie a oatin,
away and the door not opened"
81 she emphasized the words that real
Iv they must be put in italics-Qujtc a
II there had been but one out Of the room
not three Ii was plain what she mean
when she flung il wide open, Tor If thei
home was queer. this outlook was queereT
I'm adapting the old church 10 Its prcsen
uses all sorts Of cxcresceEces had arisel
out of and Overran it. Their own snug
gerry was fitted into its topmost unavails
bls corner, and this door opened into a
uraceOuntable bit of flat root, away. ava,
upaI,vc the roar of the city, under tn
glowing sunset sky, SO high that distanc
softencd picturesquely all ugly sight
below, and the eye could take in at
sweep. the waters of the bay returning +
rest lust here again in the delight of Dol
iy's hearts garden; for garden this was
That very moment the soft June air stu
rel lilies and roses, ana violet and goidel
palsies. all planted in broad boxes O
earth and tended by Doily's own hands
She had bit Of rag carpet out here, am
her work basket by her rocking chair
where she sewed when alone. You thinl
Il must have been too sunny by day! Al
now comes her beautiful surprise-th
hoarv old steeple, that gave in solemn
glory to Dolly's garden that which va
given 10 her room in radiance by tn
stained window. Ii Is a great thing {
come into possession of bits Of church
YOU have medieval tastes. Dolly had
She never ceased to rejoice that nobOd,
attempted to pull down the steeple. Their
1t rose over her garden, up, up, grand am
cool, like the shadow of a great rocs
How she loved it. She knew how
locked, soft and gray. against the pinl