River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-04-17
As ITHERS SEE Us.
BY ROSE TERRY COOKE.

--~-NA -A-eeA43 AtthAlAAE OhEI IAt tOtlAlttI Vi q
country store and addressing a person
who was evidently Clergyman, 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
to deal with such folks against their
grain. He's no thought but what it's
just as right for him to smoke up half
his months wages, and let his children
want for food and his wife want clothes
ct to 60 to meetin' as It's for you to
preach"
Perhaps you are right, Deacon Peck, "
said Mr. Knight sadly
There are some people the Lord only
Fan awaken to a sense of need and duty.
If they could see themselves as He sees
them they would be startled enough"
1t would do most as well, l guess, if
they could see themselves as ithers see
en-, as that Scotch Teller said, /" replied
the deacon.
Really, Mr. Peck, that is nonsense"
said a grim dry voice behind the minis
ter; voice proceeding from the lips of
Artemus Hough, an elderly man, with
the long, hard face. half shut supercih-
ioHs eyes. stiff, high nose, narrow head
and harsh mouth drawn down at the
corners with sanctimcnious contempt,
which we see IN pictures of old Crom-
wells counsellors and fuglemen The
idea that a person OF average mind and
education and protesting Christian
does not understand himself better than
outsiders can IS truly absurd, aud Mr..
Hough's gray whiskers seemed to bristle
with indignation, and his white hair
stand up more ike a shoe brush than
ever, as he perked nj his long chin and
strobe out Of the door.
I'm half oil 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, twinkling blue and gray eyes and
full lips betrayed man who loved his
ease and his pleasure, and enjoyed
nightly the good things of this life;
man who would have a hard fight with
the world. tn flesh and the devil, if he
felt like fighting them, And there were
times when lie 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
well till something came IN his way,
which he was too easy and lazy to fight,
and then he let it slide" to use his
fayorite phrase. He considered HIM
self a pretty good fellow, not ceusorlous
or hard on other people, d fairly good
Christian example, an acute lawyer,
first-rate Sunday School teacher, and
a general gain of some Importance to
Stamford
u don't always agree with Mr..
Hough," ne said, rising from the arm
chair where he was smoking pipe, and
stretching his muscular arms out rs 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 vet orr Lord said, By their
works shall We know them !" said Mr..
Knight. gently.
Artcmus Hough walked home across
the street, swelling his inward self-im
portance; If his thoughts had been spok
en- ont they would have run IN this
wise CAS- il anyone i'll Stamford could
disapprOvc of me-, except the sinful and
evil. 4 man as orthodox rs | am, O.
strict life and conversation, a church
goer, protester against lax modern
thought and practice, a virtuous, up
right, devOut person, family prayers
always and blessing every meal,
leader in prayer-meeting and con-
scentious Sabbath school teacher. |
should like to know what any person OF
brains could see in me that don't see
myself"
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
undisturbed he opened the door OF his
house and found his wife, ii fair, pale,
ad-faced woman, Just making the tea.
She turned her frightened blue eyes
ut him as he entered.
Teas Just ready" she said, in an APP
prehensiye tone casting afurtlve glance
at the table.
He also looked that way, and his face
hardened.
Baked apples, and cake, too! Eliza,
replace that loaf in the locker. | can
not have such extravaganza. We shall
come to poverty if Won are 50 reckless.
Mrs Goodenough sent 1t in, Mr..
Hough" timidly answered his wife,
and she said it ought to be eat right
away; it's feather cake. and amt good
after day"
well. veil, that alters the matter
some, but set away the backed apples.
Cake and bread and butter IS plenty,
plenty; think of the starving heather. p"
What good her baked apples did or
would or could do 10 the famished mill
ions Of India had never been quite clear
to Mrs Hough. but She was too we'll
suhdUed 10 ask questions. ATtemus
Hough believed in his headsmp III the
.lmilv. as Nero believed IL his head
ship of the empire. only Artemus never
relaxed his SO far rs 10 fiddle under any
circumstances. The frugal supper over,
Mr.. Fl. worked in the garden as long as
he could see. came in and held family
PRAYERS in the twilight, repeating a
psalm instead of reading, aud went
straight TO bed to save lamp-hght,
while his wife stole into the shed on
some preteuce OF getting klndlings for
morning. and sat down upon the door
step for little Ieace and refreshment
from the cool night air and the shining
march of the stars across the moonless,
purple summer heavens. She felt so
safe. so rested. at this lonely hour that
she VAS almost happy.
But Artemus Went to sleep at once
Neither teeming brain nor uneasy con
science awakened him. 1t was one Of
his boasts that he slept the sleep Of the
righteous" always. Tonight though
he crew rather restless. Perhaps the
unusual cake disturbed his digestion,
He began to hear in the air about him
busy whispers. He thought. as the Wis
ions cryStalized into shape, that he was
going about the streets of Stamford as
usual. hut nobody seemed to notice or
even recognize him. Then the whis-
pars became audible, he heard man 5