The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-08-28
jealousy for her fatberless ones. And
NJ.

once, when Mr.. Powers struck Harry
because the baby was hurt in their play,
the mothers anger famed out-sWhat,
is she better than my boyp I wish that
she had never been born.' And never,
in her fathers sight, would she bestow
a caress upon his child; when he was out
of the way, she made up for all.
At fifteen months old the child fell ill /;
it was bad summer for babies, and she
was teething; it was only weeks sick
ness, and she died. As they were put
ting her into the little casket, her father
turned to his wife, and said, This is as
good as what you wished Susan dared
not ask if the grave we're to be made in
her lot, but she hoped, till the very mo-
ment when the carriage turned to the
opposite path, and the whole breadth of
the cemetery lay between.
I will never 60 there when he can
know said Susan to herself. And in
this frame of mind, filled with anguish
for her loss, with remorse for what she
had allowed herself to say and feel while
the child lived, and with anger toward
her husband, she went to church, on the
Sunday after the funeral, more for the
sake of getting away alone than for the
hope that any word could help her there.
| She had never been in the same place
before.
1t was Friday morning, and the Rev.
Mr.. Stanfield sat in his study, attempt
| ing to write sermon of consolation.
Two of his parishioners had died that
week, one old, the other in the prime of
life; he must say something of comfort,
something of heaven, to the mourners.
IL |, lo-, al
in God, believe also in Me. In My
Fathers house are many mansions.'-
But that was as far as he could 60; the
words that he wanted would not come.
He walked out, to try and work himself
into the mood, when instead OF it there
fell upon him such sense OF the worth
of man as man, such vision of his capac-
tiles, such wonders at his possibilities,
there came upon him such realization
of the soul, apart from conditions, that
he felt it must be written. What waste
Of time, with the work which must be
done yet on his hands! But he put at
the top of his paper, 'Ye are of more
value than many sparrows,' and For
we are also His offspring Writing was
no labor then, and before he thought of
it, there was sermon. 4 must pick
out an old one for Sunday he thought;
but OIL Saturday night he determined to
preach that. It's the word Of the Lord
to me for this hour, and will gay it,
Susan Powers heard that sermon; and
it was the word of deliverance and
peace to her soul. She sat like one
in dream, till the service ended; then
rose and went out of the house, just
casting one backward glance at the man
who had spoken, to see if he were not
indeed an angel; then with fixed pur-
pose in her heart, turned toward her
home. i will try and keep my sight
she said; I will not become blind again.
For she Was like one who had just re-
ceived his sight. How all her life, to
this hour, she herself had been the CEN
ter around which the universe revolvedl
her rights. her comfort, had been the
important matters, and people were
good or bad according to their treatment
OF herl And yet life, her life, had SEEM
ed only poor and mean.
No word of upbraiding or of warning
or threatening could have touched her
as this thought of the value of man had
done.
But how can I let him know of this
new light that has come to me2 she ask
ed herself. If were to begin talking
kindly, he would think there was some
purpose in it, and despise me. If I tell
him that have been wrong, he will not
listen, or will say some cutting thing
What shall do?' She thought of the
children; but since the baby's death. he
had never spoken, not even to scold
them. He went in and out Just as
though they were not in the world. At
the table, their mother gave them food
which his money had purchased, know
ing that he hated them, and feeling as if
each morsel they ate was choking her.
Then the thought came of the little
grave, and how he would go there alone
at sunset: would she dare offer to go
with himp No, her courage was not
equal to that. But there was something
she could do. She found that her hus-
band was busy writing in his own room;
and quickly gathering her best, loveliest
autumn flowers, she went to the ceme-
terry; tenderly, with tears that fell not
merely for her loss, she laid the Offering
on the new grave. That little mound
was an altar, and this was an offering of
love and peace, and of hope too.
That night, when Mr.. Powers came
home, his wife scarcely dared raise her
eyes to his face; though she longed to
know if her repentance were accepted.
He said nothing, but she fancied that
his movements were gentler than usual,
and he actually picked up one of the
children's toys, and put it away; he was
not used to touch anything of theirs
All through the week Susan watched to
do kind things, without being obtrusive;
and when Sunday night came. as he was
leaving the house, her bonnet and shawl