The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-04-19

'Unheard no ourdened hearts appeal
Means up to Gods inclinng ear;
Unheeded by his tender eye,
Falls to the earth no mourner's tear"
ooh it cannot be that we are to give
up our home, that all our furniture must
be sold, and we are to be homeless" The
words came with an agonized sob from a
tall handsome young lady, as she entered
the cozy morning room, where her calm
elder sister sat at work.
But it is only too true" responded
her sister. Papa says the sale of his
business will barely realize the sum re-
quired to free him from debt, and every
thing must go; and, Barbara, we must
bear it bravely. You know what Sc
we're blow it is to papa. All his hopes of
spending his old age in peace and plenty,
and leaving US provided for, have been
shattered so suddenly We are strong,
no expense has been spared on our ed
ucation, and surely we can utilize it in
some way"
1 am not afraid of that. 1 love to
work. But dread to give up the home
in which we spent all our happy young
lives and where dear mamma died. Her
presence seems to hover round it yet, and
every nook and corner in it is as closely
woven into our lives, as the woot into
the warp. OH l cant believe it, she
reiterated
The foregoing conversation took place
between the two elder sisters of large
family of children. Mr.. Lea, the father
had married against the wishes of his
family, and for this reason had removed
from his Southern home to Connecticut,
where, in the lovely Connecticut valley,
he had purchased large old-fashioned
homestead. The rooms had wainscoted
walls, polished oaken floors there were
deep seats in its many low windows, and
it was surrounded by ample grounds,
sloping down to the beautiful Connecticut
river.
Five years before our story opens the
mother died very suddenly. Mr. Lea s
family were still estranged, and, as Mrs.
Lea was an orphan, without brothers or
sisters, there was none to leave in charge
of the motherless children but the two
eldest daughters, who were still very
young.
With the fearlessness that belongs to
youth, the elder sister, Mary, at once left
school and assumed the care of her faith
ers house and younger brothers and sis
ters A year later Barbara graduated,
and since then she and Mary had divided
the cares and responsibilities of house
keeping between them.
They had been very happy minister
ing to their fathers wants coaxing back
the smiles into his face helping the little
sisters with their lessons counselling the
brothers away at college like sage grand
mothers, and making their holidays hap
ply and merry, so that home would al
ways be the centre of their affections.
For year Mr. Lea had borne sue
ces8ion of reverses but when this final
and unexpected loss came, it completely
stunned him, and at times his reason
tottered on its throne. Do what he would,
he could not rise above it.
No wonder poor Barbara felt well nigh
broken-hearted. After giving vent to
her feelings before her sister, she went to
her room Sinking into chair she
snatched up her Bible, certain there
would be words of comfort in it for her.
Letting it open where it would, the first
words she saw through her binding tears
were: Call upon me in the day of
trouble, and l will deliver you" Firmly
believing that message was intended for
her, she went down on her knees and
sent up such prayer to God as only such
an impetuous nature as hers can pour
forth. Then, reading further, she felt
the peace and calm come over her which
God has promised to those who come to
him for he'll and trust him
With her strength renewed, she went
back to her sister, and they quietly laid
their plans for the future These two
girls seemed to have to bear their trou-
bles all alone they had no relatives to 60
to for advice Although they had many
friends, they lived great deal alone.
Always the centre of whatever society
they happened to be in, still they were
girls who were looked up to for sympathy
and aid, one guessing how much they
often longed for that which they 50 gener-
ously gave to others.
AZ the days went by, Mr.. Lea's affairs
became more and more involved The
younger members Of the family must be
called home from school and college. 1t
was the beginning Of the term, ndthere