Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-08-03

terrified.
Hush, child!" she exclaimed, in
alarm. ssHe sometimes takes us at our
word"
"Let Him take me-" she replied, with
a prophetic gesture toward the fading
splendor of the west. ''It would be q
greater sin to marry when-''
She left the sentence unfinished and
covered her crimson face with her
hands.
go! Johanna, Johanna! What is the
matter? This is not like my gentle girl.
What has happened to my child? Has
one of the young brethren been speaking
to you on this subject? or can any one
without the Church have gained access
to your pure mind and tempted you with
the worlds false views?'S
"Mother," replied Johanna, in a re-
proachful tone, edo [ not know the
rules of our Church? Can you not trust
meP"
"My darling!" replied the fond
mother. ''Distrust you? No, no; but
you frightened me with your fierce
words. Child, you almost defied your
Maker
go! no, MOTHER" said the girl, cross
ing to her mothers side and throwing
her arms around her. "You did not
understand me. I would rather do some
thing that seemed wrong to everybody
and right to myself than to do what
seemed right to everybody and wrong to
my own soul.''
"And, in so doing, you would be
pleasing God," said voice near them.
And, looking up, Johanna beheld Bar
tholomew Richter standing before her,
with the sunset light shining full upon
his fine, manly features.
He fastened to apologize for his sud
den interruption, and said that, over
hearing Johanna's last sentence, as he
passed, he felt constrained to voice his
approval.
Johanna is getting strange thoughts
into her head" said Mrs. Rothe. ca
nineteenth century mother would have
said: Johanna is girl of opinions.'O
81 sometimes feel apprehension for her
future,'' she added, with sigh.
Trust the future with Him who Or
ders it." said Brother Bartholomew, in
a low, earnest voice.
"But herein lies the trouble" replied
the anxious mother. Johanna does
not seem willing to abide by the Lords
will"
Smother does not understand me-"
exclaimed Johanna, in selfdefense. 81
say that l can never do what other peo-
pie may say to be the will of God, when
down deep in my heart 1 feel that it
would not be right for me to do 500
"You know that in such a case we
would try the lot," said the young man.
"Even then 1 would not go against
this conviction of my own soul, if all
the lots that ever were cast should de-
eide that l should" she answered, with
decision.
"You are decided?'
eyes, fully. What would you do?"
Bartholomew Richter was a man of
strong and vigorous thought and action,
and, consequently, had always been
able, by prayer and meditation, to see
his way out of a difficulty, and so had
never reached that critical, wavering
uncertainty when he felt that he must
trust to the lot for the necessary decis-
ion; and now. when this young girl put
the question to him so suddenly, he felt
such doubt and uncertainty as he had
never experienced before, and he an
swered, honestly:
81 do not know. God has always
made plain to me the course He would
have me take without seeking His will
in casting the lot, and 1 trust He always
will
The glory was gone from the west;
only touch of gold low down on the
horizon left from all the wealth of
splendor which a few moments before
had been piled up mountains high above
the purple hills. Mrs. Rothe rose, and,
with glance toward the darkening
sky, held out her hand to her young
pastor. His eye followed the direc-
ton of her glance, and Johanna muir
INJURED:
"'Beyond the sunset are the hills of
Then they turned from the sunset and
from each other; the mother and
daughter going down through the valley
to the pretty cottage home, and Brother
Bartholomew away to his hillside re-
treat, where he might spend the twilight
hour alone in communion with his
God. And the night came down about
the cares of men, and hushed their toll
and tumult; and the busy hum of life
ceased in the valley meath the hills,
and
" Evening stood between them like a maid,
the smooth rolled clouds
Her braided hair; the studded stars the
pearls
And diamonds of her coronal; the morn
Her forehead jewel and the deepening dark
Her woven garments"
An hour later, and the sound Of bell
and trombones summoned the mountain
worshiper from his retreat to the village
church, where the evening service was
just beginning.
"I have sad news for you, brother"
said the old clergyman to Bartholomew,
at the close of the service. ''Brother
Weisser has departed this life.''
Brother Weisser in ST. Thomase"
Yes. He has left a most interesting
work. A laborer is needed"
1t was enough. 1t is said of the Mo
ravians that they never wait to be called
into the service of their Master. They
are always ready with the words: ''Here
am / Send metz
81 will co." said Bartholomew, in a
low, steady voice.
"God bless you, brother" said the old
man, placing his hand on Bartholomew
shoulder. ''But he who goes should be
~,