Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-04-18
AS iTIIERS SEE US.

BY ROSE TERRY COOKE.

country store and addressing a person
I who was evidently a clergy lyman, though
his worn clothes and shabby hat showed
that he was Of the class denominated
"poor ministers"
You see, Mister Knight, he is one OF
them happy creturs who know they re all
right always; I've found it isn't any use
todeal with such folks against their
grain. He's no thought but what it's
just as right for him to smoke up half
bis months wages, and let his childreH
want for food and his wife want. clothes
fit to go to meetin' as 'tis for you to
preach"
Perhaps you are right, Deacon Peck, p"
said Mr.. Knight sadly. ,s# i.5.g ~ 49,.
"There are some people the Lord only
eau awaken to sense Of need and duty.
Ii they could see. themselves as He sees
them they would be startled enough"
"It would do most as we'll, L guess, if
they could 'see themselves as itters see
em, as that Scotch feller&said, )" replied
the deacon.
REALLY, Mr.. Peck, that is nonsense"
said q grim dry voice behind the minis
ter; a voice proceeding from, the lips of
Artemrs Hough jan elderly man, with
the long, hard faces half shut supercilLii55
ious eyes, stiff, high nose, narrow head
and harsh mouth drawn down at the
corners with sanctimo nious contempt,
which swesee in pictures Of old Crom-
wells counsellors and fuglemen. "The
idea that a person OF average mind and
education and a processing Christian
does not understand himself better than
outsiders can is truly absurd" and Mr..
Hough's gray whisRers seemed to bristle
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. @3#
I'm half of his mind, ~too," said Joe
Packer, the village lawyer, a stout, good
looking young man of twenty eight,
whose handsome face and broad shout
ders, twinMing blue and gray eyes and
full lips betrayed a man who loved his
ease and his pleasure, and enjoyed
NIGHTLY the good things of this life; o
man who would have hard fight with
the world, the flesh and the devil, if he
felt like fighting them, And there were
times when he did: for he was member
of Mr.. Knights church, and taught a
Bible class Of young men, and was
earnest In good works-spasmodically.
Every little while he had an attack of
courage, resolve, and strong intent to
live up to the Bible, and he would run
we'll till something came in his way,
which he .was,too easy and lazy to fight,
and then he "let it slide," to use his
favorite phrase. He considered him
self a pretty good fellow, not censorious
or'hard on other people, fairly good
Christian example, all acute lawyer, a
first rate Sunday School teacher, and
general gain of some Importance to
Stamford.
II don't always agree with Mr..
Hough," said, rising from the arm
chair where he was smoking pipe, land
stretching his muscular arms out as if
to try their easy strength, ''but it does
not seem reasonable that man should
understand himself better than people
who only see the outer demonstrations
of his personality"
"And yet our lord said by their
works shall We know them, said Mr..
Knight. gently. 7.'
Artemus Hough walked home across
the street, swelling his inward self-im-
portanrs: if his thoughts had been spok-
en- out they would have run in this
wise: "As if anyone in Stamford could
disapprove Of me, except the sinful and
evil. A man as orthodox as I am, O.
strict LIE and conversation, church
:goer, protester against lax modern
thought and practice, virtuous, up
right, deyout person, family prayers
always and blessing every meal, a
leader in prayer-meeting anda con-
scentious Sabbath school teacher. I
should like. TO know what any person Of
brains could see in me that don't see
myself" 49,
Suddenly in that, lightning flash way
peculiar to Scripture texts, the words
glittered across his mind, "These things
ought We to have done and not to leave
the others undone." "Odd!" he thought,
why should that text come into my
head ?" but there the thought ended;
his armor of self-complacency was proof
even against this divine arrow, and all
undistulbed he opened the door Of his
house and found his wife, a fair, pale,
sad faced woman, Just making the tea
"a 4 She turned her frightened blue eyes
at him as he entered. .-@
"Tea's just ready!" she said, in, an ap-
prehensive tone, casting afurtiveEglance
at the table. g.ts 9Th E..g
He also looked that way, and his face
hardened. 49, &. ,s,s -se4 r. .s,,. q
tsBaled apples, and cake, too! Eliza,
replace that Loaf in the locker. T can,
not have such extravaganza. We shall
come to poverty if you are so reckless.
= "Mrs. Gooaenough sent it in, Mr.,
Hough." simidly answered his wife,
and she said IL oughtstos be; eatt right
away ; it's feather cake, and amt good
after q day. s s d NJ iA Il, @ Nh
well, we2al ,ssllat alters the matter
some. but set away the backed apples.
Cake and bread and butter is plenty,
plenty; think of the starving heather. !"
What good her baked apples did Or
/ would OF. could do to She famished mill !
ions of India had nev,sr.been quite clear
ito Mrs. Hongh, but she was too we'll
ssabdued 10 ask questions. Artenus
4 Hongh believed IN his headship III the
family, as Nero believed in his head
ship Of tlle emp only Artemus never
relaxed his 50 far as 4, fiddle under any
circumstances. The frugalsupper over,
! Mr. il. worked IN the garden as long as
4 he could SEQ, came In and held family
prayers in the tWiilig ht repeating a