Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-03-09

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might leave his money in charity or any
other dreadful way"
"Wcll, for PHYS sake" said Mrs.
Bixby, "let's get through with to-day,
and, thank Heaven, tomorrow he'll be
well on his way westward. / do hope
and pray he'll never come on here again"
Singularly enough, Mr.. Moody chose
for his text the subject of uncertainty as
to what day would bring forth.
They had not been able, after all, to
gain what Maria called the body of the
building. The vacllation and mournful
hesitancy 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 com.
Portable body Of the building that Maria
coveted, they were thrust into far-oh
gangliou or nerve of the monster.
So that half of the sermon was lost
upon Jane She could see the quick,
emphatic gestures of Mr. Moody, distn.
guish here and there whole sentences,
and then lost the thread Of it all. But
Joshua was fortunately one of the few
human beings-only one out of four of
the whole human Tace--who have their
full normal hearing.
Many time when sitting upon his
verapda away out in his Western home,
when the sweet summer day was sinking
dreamily into the tender arms of night,
in moment of sunset glow and hush
and intinity of solitude, when the frogs
ceased to croak and the crickets to chirp,
Joshua Flanders could hear the mournful
howl OF the coyote miles and miles away,
and the light tread of a rabbit close by.
So that he never lost word of Mr..
Moody's sermon. This practical and
plain but decisive preacher told Joshua
that there was no knowing what day
might bring forth in such graphic and
forcible way that the poor old gentleman
began to be invigorated with hope,
stirred up, worked upon by NJ. Moody's
earnestncss in something like the way
that q galvanic battery pours into the
deadened muscles short but strong dose
of life.
The religion of his life was to find his
poor, forsakcn 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 killed in a brawl at last
it was his religion to seek out and find
this bruised and broken reed; and in
spired by the words of Mr. Moody Joshua
began to look about him with the hope
that ne might find her there that very
day.
There were at least 5000 people gath
cred there, and among them many pale,
spiritless face caught fleeting glow of
relief and raised itself to the voice of the
preacher; others sunk trembling and
suppliant, and among these was one that
attracted Joshua. Her head was bowed
upon her thin and trembling hands-it
seemed as If she had scarcely 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 a
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 longlost Kitty.
The few hairs which struggled beneath
her bonnet, if they had been less gray,
would have exactly matched the lock
which he always carried in his pocket
book; and when at last she raised her
face, his whole frame trembled.
Don't 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 sister Jane,
"he's looking 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 to-
morrow
Joshua wiped the perspiration 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, un-
quenchably brilliant eyes, in the yet
graceful and shapely form, in the plead
ing and gentle expression, her face was
as familiar to him as his own Why,
there was even the old scar upon her
cheek, from the fish hook he had unwit-
tingly buried there.
A serene JOY began to beam upon the
fiorid face of Joshua Flanders. Mr..
Sankey sang 1.-THE Ninety and Nine"
and it was with difficulty Joshua could
be kept in his seat. Tears rolled down
his cheeks. g Yes, yes" he murmured,
" ! go to the desert to find my sheep"
"Good graciousr' said Mrs. Bixby,
nudging Jane with her umbrella, / be.
lieve in my heart he's going to do some
thing dreadful-get converted or some
thing. My life, what care he isl"
But Joshua was oblivious of the
ninety y-and-nine of his relatives among
whom Mrs. Bixby belonged. All that he
thought of was the one that had been
lost; and during the benediction he
kept his eyes firmly fixed upon the now
Veiled and dropping form. of the widow.
Alasi in one moment, in half second,
she was swept away out of his sight. !
The vast multitude heaved behind him.
He was pushed, driven, bewildered; he
hesltated, and WAS lost. Mrs. Bixby en-,
deavored in vain to reach him with her
umbrella; Jane beckoned wildly, called |
in vain. He needed not. They were
driven on, lost in the crowd, and still he |
was unmindful. What mattered it to |
him who was gone, now that he had lost |
sight of Kitty? But suddenly in the |
distance it seemed to him that he saw |
her; and now indeed he resolved that
come what might he would not lose sight |
of her again. He began to push his way
through the crowd, keeping his eyes |
steadily fixed upon the shrinking form,
and the people about him found out that
this old man had considerable push |
about him. He reached her side at the |
door, and they were thrust into the street |
together, but with desperate tenacity he
grasped the corner Of her shawl.
81 Don't be frightened, ma am, he stam-
mered; Il have business with you. /
lin fact, ma'am, IL am friend. Do
you know lady by the name of Kitty |
Murphy Mrs. Kitty MurphyG"
" Yes, yes, sir" said the lady; "I
know her well-as we'll as know my
SELF pIs-s no ~ DID
"Ahal" said Joshua, taking long
breath. "Thank God, have found you
at lastl Do you know that have come
a thousand miles to find you? Do you
know that for the last ten years it has
been the dream of my life to see you as
you are, before meS May go to your
home and talk with Won a little ont of