West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1884-11-26

pendent even on child of your
own-and I'm awful afraid they
don't none of 'em want us, they're
all 80 silent lately. WE'LL" taking
down the old family Bible, "the
Lord never has forsook US, mother,
and his promises is certain. We've
got dreadful load of trouble to
carry, but we'll ask him to help US,
and give as strength"
The old mans voice ceased tc
tremble as he began to read the
chosen chapter. For nearly hasf
q century he had read and prayed
morning and evening in that lew
rooted kitchen, and now with locks
bleached to silvery whiteness fall-
ing over his brow, and hands trem-
bling with age and emotion, The
called again upon the Lord, and
for the FIRST time, except in secret
prayer, he besought help in this
great extremity.
Let us glance into the homes of
the four children, whom this ,wor-
thy couple had reared and sent out
to all their chosen places among
the worlds workers.
Ezra, the oldest, was minister
in town sixteen miles from the
old home. 1t was to complete the
payment of his college bids that
his father had borrowed money,
and he always intended to help
pay it up, but his small salary WAS
just sufficient to "bring the year
round"
Two weeks before the hoaely lit
tie inciden is just related took place,
the minister received a long letter
from his oldest sister, Hannah,
which set him to thinking.
She had the true New England
gift of going straight to the point
when she had anything in particu-
lar to say. She reminded him of
his superior educational advanta-
ges directly, and of the cost of the
same Indirectly, and then Dnfolded
her plaasthus:
Now q propose that we all go to
fathers Thanksgiving Day, and
each of us four carry one hundred
dollars toward the debt of four hun
dred, and present besides from
every child and grand child.
If you're short of means I will lend
you yourypart, and you can pay me
ten dollars month until paid, and
no one but us two need to know
anything about it. I've written
to Abe and he consents, andlLydia
will put dc one hundred, though
expect it will cost her some pinch
ing to do 1T, you know her husband
is rather close with money!
The minister thought long and
sadly of the winters needs, and
finally called his sweet, patient
little wife into the study a0d told
her all abant it. She looked sor-
rowful bat brave as ever, and re-
piled, 'It is only right, my dear
we can andsznust trust the Lord to
supply our actual wants. q can
easily give up the new winter
dress and cloak l had planned to
buy, and perhaps your oveacoat
would last another winter"
Chow maay times have you
given up that self-same dress and
cloak ?" he asked, smiling rather
\ sadly.
"Only three,7' she replied, "bnt
never mind that. We've two weeks
10 get ready, and we'll bend all Our
,energies to 90 cur part handsomely
and we'll. Dear Grandpa, how
thappy he will be-"
So an answer was speedily seae
to Mrs. Ayres, who lived twelve
miles from her early home, but ia
an opposite direction. She was
very busy, but falnd time to drop
them a hasty note to make no
preparations for the table. Lydia
and 4 will attend to all that-liv-
ing on farms as we do it will be
nothing for US, and I've written
the same to Abe. Just see that
you're there with wife and child
rem, and we will see to the rest"
Abrann, the second son, lived in
the city hundred miles away.
He had married a fashionable wife
and had four children. His wife
had never met her husbands rela-