The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-07-23

the memory OF the gentle Wne VINO nau
been lying under the flowers since Jen-
MES birth.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen Jennie was
tripping about, engaged in some house
hold work, and Harry was watching
her with love-lit eyes, and could not
make up his mind to tell her he loved
! her.
The Rev Mr. Walker, of the Ortho-
dox Church of Bolton, had prepared a
discourse for his sinful congregation,
upon the subject of endless punishment.
The parable of the rich man and Laza-
rus was his basis, and he hurled the
anathemas of wrath at the black sheep
of his flock as though he were an
avenging angel, and many members of
his congregation felt guilty terrors.
| Little Tim Bates shivered in his shoes,
and thought of the pie he had taken
| the night before and then told his
mother lie, and debated whether he
should confess, or run the risk of the
punishment Illuminated by the parson.
But he did not settle the matter that
time, for the minister was suddenly
brought to a full stop in the midst of his
discourse, and the congregation electri-
fed, by tremendous crash and report
in their midst, as if heaven and earth
had come together.
Farmer Evans rose to his feet stimuli
taneously with his frightened daughter
and the rest of the congregation, and
poor little Tim was not sure for the
moment that his future had not begun.
L Il, l.,
an explosion in the stove, through the
internal agency known as gunpowder.
How it came there was a mystery to all
except Farmer Evans. Harry Bailey,
who made the fires and found the wood
for stated sum, came forward with a
white face and explained that the thing
was unknown to him. The farmer
walked homeward thinking, bad, bad
I'm very sorry that he's that sort |
never suspected him of all Others and
Jennie likes him.
The farmers first impulse was to nip
in the bud the acquaintance between
Jennie and young Bailey but his natu-
raj kindly feeling ultimately prevailed
over his anger, and on his next meeting
with the delinquent he abruptly adj
dressed him
g You are counting mydaughter ?"
Harry Bailey admitted the fact bash
fully.
q" And you make the fires for the
Orthodox Church ?" continued the old
man.
Harry assented.
- And furnish the wood ?"
q" Yes, said the young man, growing
red and white by turns.
& Perhaps you would like to have the
mysterious explosion in church last
Sunday explained? I knew my wood
pile was going somewhere, and put
small charge of powder in one of the
sticks. l need not say l was surprised |
to find you were the thief, and you
dared to come counting my daughter !"
Harry quailed before the stern, clear
glance Of the old man.
81 know I'm too mean too live, much |
less to love her." he broke out. Il
don't expect you to overlook it. II |
had a hard year on the farm you know
what losses / met. | meant to pay it |
back again, but | don't expect you to
believe me. One thing | beg-don't
tell her anything about it; | couldn't
bear to have her think so badly of |
me-"
The old man regarded the ashamed,
repentant face with pity.
''Look here, Harry" he said; ''Tll
forgive you and will not mention it to
soul if you'll look me in the face and
promise solemnly to be strictly honest
from this time forth"
Bailey caught his hand gracefully,
and he felt his reward begin as he saw
the show of new hope dawning on the
troubled face. 81 solemnly promise"
he said, ''never again to touch penny's
worth that is not lawfully my own"
At the end of the year you can have
Jennie if you want her, and we'll unite
the farms"
With an overlooking heart Harry
stammered his thanks, and the farmer
never regretted that had give him a
chance to redeem his selfrespect.