The Columbus journal., 1883-04-18
Written for the Journal.
HER STORY.
BY "MARULA."

| HER STORY.
BY "MARULA."
Well, it isn't much of story,
But thought it over O.day
As listened to that sermon:
A powerful sermon you say?
l thought %, but maybe I'm partial,
You're . stranger, sir, and don't know
That the preacher you heard this morning
IL my boy, my Oldest, my Joe.
Twas . dark. dresry night in November,
| Tho inside twas all warm and bright,
And the children had played by the fire,
TIL ! tucked them up snugly for the
! night;
And william dozed over his paper.
| The warmth made him sleepy, he said.
So he wound up the clock slow and reg'lsi
And started of early for bed.
had worked hard all day ana was tired,
But didn't feel ready to 60,
So thought would finish my mending,
And keep up the IRE for Joe.
| mended, and listened, and waited,
With prayer in my heart for my child,
For Joe was so kind and good hearted,
But the neighbors said be was wild.
mended, and listened, and waited;
AuC SAVSA SASACu SuC uVuA0 o"Oy
And spite efully rung out reminders
Of the time and how late Joe did stay
Only five minutes till midnight!
My heart with fear almost stood still,
drew back e window curtain
And placed the lamp on the sill.
utside, it was dark "a pocket
The light sh0ne out full and clear,
For thought, il he only sees it,
uo xrill kn0yv aifinn horo
Then made some nice fresh coffee
And got the bread ready to toast
And some Of J0e's favOrite cookies
And some bits that were left from the
roast.
You may think it is strange I remember
Such tribes through all these long years,
But it comes to me now SO clearly,
That night and my anxious fears.
Ny Joe was uneasy and restless,
Quick.tempered and passionate too
And what in the heat Of the moment
Might he reckless, defisntly dol
/ watched, and listened, and waited,
Till at last, on my eager ear,
Fell the welcome sound Of footsteps
So slowly drawing nesr.
At the gate they halted q minute,
Ny heart felt like stone;
For what IL the worst had happened
Ny boy couldn't come home alone.
I seemed 80 long as l waited,
And everything seemed to spin,
When the door swung hastily open
And Joe and three others came In.
There was pretty Fred Howard, an orphan,
And George, from the houfe on the hill,
And the Descon's boy, smart, clever
They came In, all sober and still.
Well, l tried to act easy and natural,
And got Fred to toasting the bread
And gave them Q cup Of hot coffee,
The best In the world, Charlie said.
But Joe said he didn't feel hungry,
knew be had something to say;
So when they had finished their supper
l started to clear 1t away.
He said: 81 was down at the Syren,
Twas where I'd no business to be;
But nothing can alter or change 1t,
Iplayed with that scoundrel, Bill Lee.
We play ed fair and square, was winning
Bill suddenly rose to his feet,
And hissed out the words 80 Insulting,
NO wonder you're lucky-you cheat
l couldn't stand that and knocked him;
For . minute felt like Cain,
But soon the confounded coward
Was up on his pegs again,
But he had had one lesson,
SO he didn't wait fore more,
But sneaked along shamefscedly
Aud sidled out the door.
Then all at once remembered
How long had been away,
And thought perhaps you were waiting,
As you often do when stay:
So found the boys and We started
And as We came up by the mill
The blessed light from your window
Shone out o'er the long dark hill.
1t seemed as il there was one more chance
To do what I knew was right,
And resolved right then and there
To try with all my might"
He stopped, his voice all choked with
tears.
Poor Fred was sobbing outright,
While Charlie and George looked pale
As if ready for fight.
Well, never was much at speeding,
And said few words, though broken,
TO One who always hears.
tried to comfort and soOthe them,
Then sent them of to bed,
And at last on my own soft pillow
lay my weary head.
Next morning remember
felt so sick and weak,
Not able t0 rise or move about
Too tired to think or speak;
But twas worth hundred anxious nights
Or . hundred years Of woe
To think that now in Gods good way
had helped those boys-and Joe.
There was many hard fought battle
And many . victory won
As the noble work was carried on,
Which they that night begun.
Well, it isn't much Of q story.
But, yes, you may write 1t down
For some bright boy may read it
AS he starts to 20 down town.
And il he will only remember
The ones who watch and wait,
Who watch and wait and pray and weep,
When he stays away too late!
Report Of the BlsDaFk Sch00l.
School at this place closed on the