The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-11-15
paused, and bent to pick rose Of grea

paused, and bent to pick rose Of great
beauty.
al we could only be like this rose,"
she said, "as fair within as without
"You forget" said Mr.. xLawton; chow
very often we see worms eating into the
heart of the most beautiful roses."
els nothing true, then?. Are we new
er to be able to put faith in the outward
seeming of anything OF anyone?
'Those who make the loudest probes
sions are often the most corrupt" said
the minister, ''and, as I was saying a
moment ago, there are SO many oE, so
very many, who think themselves Chris
tians because they go regularly to church,
teach in the Sunday-school, use no pro-
fame language, and give literally to the
missions. But they do not think it nee
essary to guard their thoughts, to ill
their daily life with little acts of kind
ness. Now, you are a stranger here,
and are to leave us to morrow; SO cal
speak to you as could not to one famll-
lar with the people " no make up my
congregation. ! will give you case in
point. | have in my church a woman
a farm a couple of miles from the vii
Iage. She is very active in church af
fairs, and is always ready to
poor, or give to charity. She has pro-
vided for the education Of several hea-
then in Africa, and has taught class Of
men in the Denitentiary, visited the jail,
and made herself generally useful. But,
nevertheless, she is selfish, narrow and
sordid to pitia"le degree. She does
nothing without MAKING show about it.,
so as to be we'll regarded among men.
For years she cherished feelings of en-
nifty toward an only brother because,
forsooth, he did not marry to please
her, and I was told not an hour ago that
she has declared her intention not to
help in any way that brothers sick and
pennies widow and children. She
speaks of them with bitterness, and
even seems to rejoice that at last they
are forced to appeal to her for aid. |
VAS asked to speak to her on the subject,
but she would be highly insuned,
know, if I ventured to- call her to &C.
count for her want ofcharity ana natural
affection. She thinks herself Christian
but in my opinion she is very far from
being anything Of the kind. She will
come into churc:. next Thursday night
and pray earnestly for the forgiveness OF
her sins, and tor help to walk in the
rightway. Bst she prays only with her
lips; her heart has nothing to do with
it. She thinks and cares only for out
side seeming and -"
At tins moment little Lulu Lawton in
te,rupted the conversation by running
DO Hn the path with the announcement,
that tea was ready; and the minister
said no more.
But Miss Sarah had heard quite
enough. She was pale and trembling,
and so greatly disturbed that when she
hurried from the arbor as soon rs she
could without being perceived, she left
her pail of berries o hind her.
She met several of her friends on he1
way home, but she did not even bow to
Them, so absorbed was she in the recol-
lection of what the minister had said.
Reaching home she Sat down in her
big rocklny-chai by the kitchen stove,
and, leaning her chin on her hand,
stared before her with eyes from which
the scales had fallen. And she was look
ing inward-for the first time in her life
"Only the outward seeming" she
murmured, over and over under her
breath, as if the sound frightened her,
s'and after all these years I've only just
found out that [ haven't been Chris
ia H."
Contrary to the expectation of Mr.
Lawton, Miss Sarah did not appear at
PRAYER. meeting on Thursday night; an
when he called to see her on Friday he
was surprised to find three curiy-h AIDED
children making mud pies in the front
yard, who Informed MIN. IN a loud cho.
rus that they had "come to live with
Aunt Sarah forever"
Miss Sarah welcomed him very cor
daily, and though she looked tired and
warm after her journey from Milford,
she seemed as happy as possible.
"This is q great surprise, Miss Jen-,
kins," said the minister, as he followed
her into the parlor and took a seat.
eyes, 1 reckon it'll be surprise to
most 70 ks. But amt afraid but they'll
live through it."
"I think you will be we'll rewarded
for bringing your sister and her children
here. Your life has been very lonely
one," said Mr.. Lawton.
Yes, I rec on I'll take considerable
satisfaction out o. it, and it does seem
sort O. pleasant to have 'en rou nd.
they're we'll hammered children. SUI
sans been mighty particular about them
Did you notice the Roy as you came i'll!
He's t.e very moral o. Tom"
As Mr.. Lawton walked back to the vii
lage he wondered what had walked Miss
jenkins up to sense Of her duty. Blu,
he never knew.
Early in til following winter Miss
jenkins invited her pastor and his wifi
to tea. The table was well supplied Will
cake, pickles, and preserves. glas
dish OF blackberry jam occupying DO
sitiOn lust before Mrs. LaWtOn.
II am so fond Of blackberry jam
said that lady, as she helped herself tt
the article in question, "and put up ,
great deal last summer. But the very
incest made was from some blackber.
ries my little girl found in the arbor il
our garden. We never knew who had
left tnem there, but took it for granted
they were meant for us, and so took pos.
session of them, pail and all. Lulu call:
it my mystery JAM l have often won
dered if the mystery would ever be ex'
planned"
But it never was.