The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-12-17
"As Ithers See U.s.
BY ROSE TERRY COOKE.
[congregationalist.l

~NNS~@ NOS~N~~s
[Congregationalist.l
81 don't know about itr' said a shrewd-
faced man, leaning over the counter of the
country store and addressing person who
was evidently clergyman, though his worn
clothes and shabby hat showed that he was
OF the class denominated "poor minister's"
"You see, Mister Knight, he is one Of
them happy creturs who knows they're all
right always; and I've found it isn't any
use to deal with such folks against their
grain. He's no thought but what it's just
as right for him to smoke up half his months
wages, and let his children want for food
and his wife want clothes fit to go to meet
in, as It's for you to preach y
perhaps you are right, Deacon Peck"
said MIR. knight, sadly.
''There are some people that the Lord
only can awaken to sense of need and
duty. If they could see themselves as He
sees them they would be startled enough"
"'Twould do most as well, guess, If
they could see themselves as itheTs see 'em,
as that Scotch Teller said, 2 replied the dea-
con.
'Really, Mr. Peck, that is nonsensep
said grim, dry voice behind the minister;
a voice proceeding from the lips of Arte-
mus Hough, all elderly man, with the long,
hard face, half shut supercilous seyes, stiff,
high nose, narrow head, and harsh mouth
drawn at the corners with sanctimonius con-
tempt, which we see in pictures of old
Cromwells counselors and fuglemen.
''The idea that a person of average mind
and education and professed Christian
does not understand himself better than
outsiders can is truly absurd" and Mr..
Houghs gray whiskers seemed to brisrle
with Indignation, and his white hair stand
up more like shoe-brush than ever, as he
perked up his long chin and strobe out of
the door.
s'Pm half of his mind, too" said Joe
Packer, the village lawyer, stout, good
looking young man of twenty-eight, whose
handsome face and broad shoulders, twink
ling blue eyes and full lips betrayed man
who loved his ease and his pleasure, and
enjoyed nightly the good things of this
life; man who would have a hard fight
!. 9TH the world, the flesh and the devil, if he
u like fighting them. And there were
times when he did, for he was member of
Mr. Knights church. taught Bible class of
young men and was earnest in good works
systematically. Every little while he had
an attack of courage, resolve, and strong
intent to live up to the Bible, and he would
run well till some hindrance came in his
way which he was too easy and lazy to fight,
and then he ''let it slide," to use his favor
lite phrase He considered himself pretty
people, fairly good Christian example, an
acute lawyer, a first-rate Sunday school
teacher and a general gain of some impor-
tance to Stamford.
81 don't always agree with Mr. Hough,"
he said, rising from the armchair where he
was smoking pipe, and stretching his mus
cular arms out as if to try their easy strength,
shut it does seem reasonable that man
should understand himself better than peo-
v,Io wi orlu enp thu OI1fnr demonstrations
of his personality"
"And yet our Lord said, s'By their works
shall ye know them," said Mr.. Knight,
gently.
ARENAS Hough walked me across the
street, swelling with inv self-import-
ance; if his thoughts had been spoken out
they would have run on this wise: EAs if
anyone in Stamford could disapprove of me,
except the sinful and evil A man as Or
thodox as am, of strict life and converse
ton, church-goer, protestor against lax
modern thought and practice, a viftuous,
upright, devout person, family prayers al
ways, and blessing every meal: leader in
prayer meeting and a conscientious Sabbath
school teacher Lshould- Ike to know what
any person of brains could see IN me that l
don't see myselfr'
Suddenly, in that lightning-fash way pc
culiar to Scripture texts. the words glittered
across his mind, "These things ought ye
to have done and not to leave the others I'M
DONE" 'Oddp' he though, "why should
that text come into my head?" but there
the thought ended; his armor of self-com-
placency was proof even against this divine
arrow. and all undsturbed he opened the
door of his house and found his wife, a fair,
pale, sad-faced woman, just making the
tea.
She turned her frightened blue eyes at
him as he entered.
s"reas just readyp' she said, in an ap-
prehensive tone, casting furtive glance at
the table.
He also looked that way and his face
hardened.
''Baked apples and cake too! Eliza, re-
place that loaf in the locker | cannot have
such extravaganza. We shall come to pow
erty if you are so reckless.
s'Mrs. Goodenough sent it in, Mr.. Hough,'
timdly answered his wife, 'sand she said II
ought to be eaten right away; it's feather
cake, and amt good after day."
ssWell, WE'LL that alters the matter some
but set away the baked apples. Cake and
bread and butter is plenty. plenty; think OF
the starving heathen."
What good her baked apples did or would
or could do to the famished millions OF India
had never been quite clear to Mrs. Hough
but she was too well subdued to ask ques-
lions. ARENAS Hough believed in his
headship in the family as Nero believed il
his headship of the empire, only Artemas
never relaxed his so far as to fiddle under
any circumstances. The frugal supper over,
Mr.. II. worked in the garden as long as ht
could see, came in and held family prayer:
in the twilight, repeating Psalm instead
of reading it, and went straight to bed t
save lamp-light; while his wife stole into tn,
shed on some pretext of getting kindling
for morning, and sat down upon the door
step for little peace and refreshment from
the cool night air and the shining march Of
the STARS across the moonless, purple sum
mer heavens. She felt so safe, so rested, a
this lonely hour, that she was almost happy
But ARENAS went TO sleep at once
Neither teeming brain nor uneasy consclenc
awakened him. 1t was one OF his boast
that he ''slept the sleep of the righteous
always. Tonight, though, he grew rathe
restless. Perhaps the unusual cake dis
turbed his digestion. He began to hear !
the air about him busy whispers. ii
thought, as the visions crystalized int
shape, that he was going about the street
of Stamford as usual, bnt nobody seemed t
notice or even recognize him. Then III
whispering became audible; he heard
mans voice say: "Well, old Hough! If eve
there was glum old hgpocriie goin, it
+ he. y He's tighter barrel hoop. Neve
gives a cent for any public object, and the
do say nalI sIarVeS mis- houSu W ooo'.
tell We, don't take no stock in him. Talk
EASY; professign is smooth enough; but | G
for practice above preachin'."
"He is mighty small, that's a fact; but
don't mind that SO much" put in anotht
voice, "as do his underhanded ways. La
him geea grudge against anybody, don
care who It's, an HEN undermine, and plo
and sneak around just like mole to do Eel
harm and trip 'em up, an if he's found OF
81
bein' fer the good of religion That Peep
should be showed up
ARENAS Hough swelled with anger, bn
alas, the dumbness of dreams held him! i
could not speak. "Well," said a third speal
er, 81 do mo- as I care SO much about the
things as 1 do about the way he acts to Mi
Hough; do despise man thatl brownies
woman who can't get away from him, an
she's afraid as death of him; We can see
o,aru lima HAN % nnuurharp- He's a re