Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-10-08


her. Il came To my ears only night befol e
last, md have driven all the diataDce t,
tell you. for her sake. mot yours, that she
i - Innocent and pure - I'd baby yon-
DER
This was spoken quickly. but decisive,
~. Ranse's hand dropped He stepped
wife. and then back again
The force Of brain over drawn had man
ifesied itself. IS it always will.
No one but brute, who measures the
actions Of every one by his own, would
have stumbled So" continued Mr.. Sly
Ranse just preeeptibly raised the scythe-
blade at this.
MY father came TO Kettle Greek that
night on his way home. with the intelli-
gence that my mother was lying at the
point of death, and If | could see her
alive again. must start instantly. lost
no time. and In less than half an hour from
his coming we were on the road; | staid
not even to bid nv friends here good-by.
The minutes were precious. More than
six miles from here, over tie Sand-hill
Creek. we saw in the road, in the dark
ness. a white object toiling on. 1t was
your wife
Ranse's hands dropped at his side, and
the scythe-blade fell to the floor.
''She had no clothing on but her night
dress, a shawl and skirt; and she was
! barefooted. her feet benumbed and bleed
ing. We took her in our sleigh. and
,und that she was entirely out of her head
in the first stages of raging fever. Win
this additional reason for haste, we made
our horse fairly fy, until We arrived at
Squire Holbert's. where We left her, sat
! istied she would be cared for until you
/ could be Informed. ! never expected TO
see her alive again. Here is my father.
who will substantiate every word that l
/ have uttered
/ It was rather pitiful than otherwise to
see Ranse now. lie was completely broken
down. Trembingly he turned toward
/ his wife he made no effort to touch her
or 10 speak. standing with head bowed
down. his attitude expressing more clear
/ " than any words could his AFFECT condi-
ton.
! But she would not have it so. She came
/ TO him. laid her hand upon his breast, and
her sobs were quoted Presently he
wound his arms about her and raised his
ewes toward heaven. Bv this time the
neighborly frankness OF the villagers had
manifested itself by their crowding up to
the doors and windows, and some OF them
had pressed into the room. They had
come expecting u tragedy. 1t would not
be fair TO them to say they were entirely
disappointed Those looking on said
afterward that they had never seen on the
face of man such q look of sweetness and
sublime confidence as came into that OF
10 7 b.. hald h;, mil plnsa Ia his
breast and looked upward.
Il thank Thee" he said. speaking AS if
addressing some real presence, invisible
to others. IL see it all now. Through
her am safe
Then. with the same expression OF low
ing kindness in his face. he turned to his
neighbors "Let me tell it that you may
all hear" he said. ''Let me, in your
presence, who know me So well, take my
stand now where shall henceforth be
found. | have been the enemy of the
Master, but for evermore shall bear His
standard. was on the bed of death. All
hope for me had fled In the midnight
watches He came to me with an ineffable
sweetness in His face and besceching
tenderness in His manner. Follow me,
He besought me. But / could not. and
turned my face from Him toward the wall.
Again the next night, He came, shining in
the glory of His raiment, with increased
tenderness and love. But again | could
not bear His smile and beseeching words
and again turned my face from Him. Yet
a.sain on the third night He came with
divine forgiveness in every feature, action
and word. My heart was melted. and !
welcomed Him. A calmness and freedom
from pain. such as had not known for
days, came upon me and the fever left
me. have given myself to Him. and l
am Ills servant and slave for evermore."
During this recital there was silence
upon the throng as though they had been
magnetized-even the two clergymen
being moved to tears.
Milicent looked up at her husband, and
certain words were on her lips. But she
checked herself, and they were never
spoken. She only echoed what he had
said, Eyes. you are safe through me-"
A fervent and successful ministry of
more than half century testified to the
truth of her remark, and to the reality to
him of what he had seen. and made the
name of Van Rensselaer, Loop, throughout
a large section of our country. synony-
nous with man OF Cod Chimney Corner