The Press., 1884-01-17
Issued Every Thursday Evening.
[Contributed.]
HOME MISSIONS.
BY DELLA ADALAIDE.

" WIS 1Wo CLOCK or nay october al
 ternoon. All day long the swish swhasl
 of scrubbing cloths and brush had beel
 heard in the large farm house where Mrs
 Kent, with the assistance of neighbor
 was busy with her semi-annual house
 cleaning.
 Everything above stairs was in the mos
 approved state of disorder consequent LID
 on such occasions, and only faith in pas experience prevented a feeling of un
 certainty as to whether anything ik,
 order could ever again be evolved iron
 the domestic chaos which reigned. Stil
 all was progressing fayorably to that end
 when 8 loud ring at the door announced
 callers, and with rueful glance and .
 smothered exclamation of impatience. Mrs
 Kent disappeared into the precincts of he,
 own room. "}
 A few moments later and Willie Ken
 came bounding up the stairs into the room
 where Mrs. Warner was still busy with
 the cleaning and inquired, "Wheres Moth CT ?"
 "Just. gone down stairs.' replied the
 woman, without stopping her work.
 Turning, he descended the stairs and meeting his mother remarked,
 "You have callers mother-Miss Fulle, and Mrs. Allison, sE-.
 "I heard them Willie, replied his moth. or, as she entered the room. Excuse me ladies. I'm sorry to have kept you wait ing." 4sr as.. -io&'
 You are quite excusable, for I kpow you are busy replied Mrs. Allison, ssand we will detain you but moment. We are on missionary work this afternoon You know Miss Chapin leaves us next week for India, and we are trying to raise one hundred dollars for her as a gift from her immediate friends, and as token of our appreciation of the work to which she IS deyot1ng herself. See, we have more than half of the amount already subscrib- ed and would you not like to give some thng? You are interested in our Indian are you not. 1"
 "Oh, yes 1T will give five dollars. "re- piled Mrs. Kent, taking the paper. .a
 We are having excellent success" ," said Miss Fuller. "For Miss Chapin is such favorlte here that everyone wishes to as slst her Tn her work and this is pleasure as well as duty in which all can share, Stlll we can hardly realize that she has been called to this great work, and mus, soon leave home and friends to carry the Good tidings' to benighted people.
 !"Yes," chimed in Mrs. Allison, s'and the that one from our own church IS in the field will tend to strengthen our interest iu foreign missions. Indeed. if I had no family, I think I should be willing to go. with her. or to some other place where might be the means of leading the poor deluded heather out of the dark ness of idolatry into the pure light of Christianity, How thankful we should be hat eur lot was cast in civilized land. md among gospel privileges, which they are totally ignorant of
 "We should be thankful, certainly" :" re- alied Mrs. Kent. "But we are very apt 0 accept such privileges as matter of 'ourse, and enjoy them iu an indolent sort # way !; keeping our obligations as far in he background as possible, except when are instances like the present creates pasmodc interest which, though real while it lasts, dies away with the occasion, 1 nd we sink into lukewarmness from which we do not arouse for months per- laps, and then only to rehearse the same experience" a ETTT z-sF gTN E }'"I suppose you arc right" said Miss fuller, thoughtfully, land I am at loss o account for it, unless it is that perhaps 1 is not good for us to live always on the nountain we must go down into the val ey at times, so that we may realize the difference, and also that we may more full l 7 appreciate the collaborating atmosphere f the high places, But, she continued, | s the ahanp strokes of the bell sounded | pon the air, sthere is the bell for Thurs. ay afternoon prayer meeting. Were you oing Mrs. Kent ?''
 "Not today" replied that lady, as her isitors departed, leaving her at liberty to eturn to her neglected duties. ,e
 For some moments previous to the Ia ies departure an unwonted stiffness had eigned, where hitherto had been heard lndry sounds which her experienced ear ad been able to note, and wondering not little at the sudden cessation, she hur- edly aseended to the upper rooms where he had left the charwoman at work.
 Hanging upon the wall of one of the hamhers not yet given over to the general were two pictures represent lg the crucifixion and ascension of our avior, and standing enraptured with her ands upon her lips, gazing steadfastly pon them, was Mrs. Warner. Her brush nd pail were forgotten her unfinished lsk matter of no moment in the fascina- on with which she regarded the beauti- Il features of the Messiah. As Mrs. Kent pproached, she started quickly, as though etected in some overt act, and with an udible sigh as she reluctantly withdrew CT gaze, she said: r
 "What booty picters never seen en- ything like em they fairly tux my breath way. specially that one where he seems, , be in the cloud of fire. Who be they ?''
 Don't you know ?" replied Mrs. Kent. I should think you would know what icy represent if you ever read your Bi-
 Claws, I can't read, and if IT could, louldnt have time. But who did you " twas P repeated the woman, still azing as though some special attraction , cid her eyes to the pictured face.
 "I did not say but they represent the 'ucifxion and ascension of our Saviour, piled Mrs. Kent, a little impatiently. "Our Saviour who is he ?'' demanded I le woman, turning suddenly and facing ( ITS. Kent, who in some surprise replied I You know whom I mean-Jesus, our der brother, who died upon the cross as ,u see him there. 2 ' Your brother Why, he, don't favor ,u mite. Elf he'd brother as harm. { m as him should be prouder'n a pea ok. But our folks was all on em as q lmbly as hedgehogs, and Warmers too. r that matter. But what was he hung r? What did he do?" The woman's manner which was ,,a,