Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-09-03
THE FOREST FUNERAL.

Walter Learned, in Century.
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THE FOREST FUNERAL.
You are to imagine deep. ferny
forest; tall pines scaled by sunshine
and buried in emerald; the cool winds
dipping down through their branches
and little brooks that here and there
overflow their banks and ripple in
childish glee
On road that winds through miles
OF this unbroken forest scenery. on a
beautiful day in early summer, comes
q solitary horseman. He has not rid
den out OF one of James novels, as YOU
were going to exclaim, but has Just
left behind him the wide, old-fashioned
farmhouse where he was born. His
mothers kiss and fathers blessing are
fresh upon him. He was the younges
and slightest of the boys at home and
no match for them either in labor or
spirit His pale face and slight form
were often subject of good-natured Jest
where Drawn and muscle counted for
so much. Though he tried to take his
share of the farm work he succeeded
but poorly.
He could not pillow or eow or reap
Or daily tend the her and swine
Ills shtp icrd SOU was otherW here,
Tue nCcss he tended were the birds
And s.irs that the folds OF air.
From childhood he was dreamer
ami heard voices. like Joan dare, call
ing him TO the battle field. But the
warfare he was to wage was spiritual
So he rode out, not to u siege of Or
leans. but the voice said, go We into
all the world and preach the gospel"
The church sanctioned the call, so he
went forth.
His ambition o,erlcapcd the little
things in his way. In dreams he had
brought multitudes to the foot OF the
cross He was going to storm the
world for Christ, bat he was going to
do it in his own way
All the har'ships of pioneer preach
cr's life lay before him. He was to
1--we in the saddle, to have no settled
home, to travel muddy roads and ford
swollen streams, his saddle-bags con-
tanning all his worldly goods. His COM
panlons were TO DC the rude but kind
settlers the latch strings OF whose cab
ms always hung out for him.
i his was the frontier lie that lay be-
lore the young preacher who rode out
through the forest He who was not
equal to do the work ut home, was he
To- do al this? Aye, and mitch more,
Lut he was to do it in Gods way. In
reaching after grand results he was not
TO dcspise the day Of small things. This
first sermon and its lesson were near az
hand.
lie had just reached 8 turn in the
road and stopped to look back on the
glory OF the sunlight through the trees
when ne hears strange sounds First
low wall of grief then a shrek as of
despair. Mingled with this were the
dccp-toned voice Of man and the cries
OF children. He listened for moment,
tnen followed the sound around the
foot OF the hill till he came full upon
the scene. In this opening, surrounded
by tall trees. was the strange group
the cmigrants' wagon with all their
household goods. The horses, free
from the harness, were feeding on the
long grass. Tho COW, the foster moth
cr Of the family, but happily uncon-
sc.ou, Of its grief, was browsing near.
Two barelootcd children stood under
the branches Of a spreading oak, at the
foot of which was little new made
grave. Close beside it, worry c.osc,
rocking TO ana fro in an agoay Of grief
which she made no effort to coalrol,
was sickly-looking woman holding ia
her arms dead baby. a stalwart
man in coarse clothes, brown with sun
and toll, was trying vaiuiy ia his rough.
Kind way to comfort the stricken wo-
man, while the children cried conFul-
slyrir because their mother did.
The little dead hing with its pinch
ed and waxen face, which seemed light
eu with something like a smile. was
Leaut FIJI as it lay IN its last sleep. lAe
father had dug its grave The motacr
had adorned ii for burial. A white
handkerchief was folded about its lite
form and bunch of wild flowers lay
on lis breast. Yes, death was the only
love y thing in al that group.
The Young minister who came upon
the scene unuoticed so absorbed were
thcy-was deeply touched. Dismount-
ing and with uncovered head he drew
near and said: Friends, | am min
lister Of the gospel. Can help you in
any way?'
MAY be it would comfort the old
woman If you would pray a little, said
the man.
A prayer was said and few words
OF comfort spoken and the stranger
took the baby from its mothers arms
and placed it in its rude caskot upon
its last couch.
The father took earth in his large
hands, placing it tenderly around the
little coffin, while the BIC tears found
their way down his brown cheeks.
During the burial the mother contin-
ucd her sobs. still rocking herself to
and fro. When all was over she lean
ed forward and Selling conyulsiyely the
young preachers hand, she said: "Oh!
it was God who sent you. We hain't
lived just as we ought to, but could
not bear to put it away without Chris
tian burial. lis so hard to 90 on and
leave it alone in the forest.
you are leaving it with God, +" said
the preacher. You are moving to-
ward the sunset, but the little one will
meet you in the morning land. ~
While the evening shadows gathered
about them, he put forth his hands and
pronounced benediction, and with
fearful eyes turned away from tho sad
group.
In the early morning the movers were
TO take up tHelT Journey 4taNluS INC
little grave for the wild flowers to COW
er. Miles away in the great green
forest by winding river they would
JOIN a few more pioneer families, and
as Il lark drops its nest in the grasses
they make their simple houses and rear
their families.
The young man who had ridden out
of the sunset splendors in among the
sorrowing scene, rode out into the
gathering shadows with his life work
well defined; he had preached his first
sermon; the audience was different
from what he had pictured in ambitious
dreams, vastly different.
With voice clear and strong lie has
since held and swayed tie multitude,
keeping them by the power of his mas
terly eloqucncc for hours together, But
he learned by the side OF the little
grave in the forest TO do the Masters
worl in the Masters way Ltzsie lors
Case, az Dcuod F}ce Press
smart"