Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-12-10

| she was born, ana QlQ all cOulu 10 CneeT
up her poor, broken hearted mother. Hope,
she didn't forget these things, though it's
no more than l have done for many others,
and it's no more than Christ tells US to do"
| She paused a moment as though lost in
thought
"But as was saying, little Hope heard
what was going on, and she came up here,
through the dreadfulest storm, to say it
shouldn't be. And when she went away
was richer by twenty dollars than when she
came And it isn't the last she's done.
But bless me promised not to tell where
the money came FROM"
"Have no fear, Robert Dean replied,
your secret is safe"
II hope so, and anyway feel better to
tell someone about it, for have felt so gull
wearing her old clothes, when all the rest
of the girls were having pretty furbeloWs.
But she would have it so, and it would have
been dreadful hard to have left the old
place, poor as it is. You can't think about
the hopes that lie down among them old
craggy lilacs in the yard. For when /
planted them had my children with me,
dear little creatures running about as hap.
py as birds. But what's the use of crying
I shall have them again before long"
When she talked, it seemed to Robert
Dean that the room was full OF Hopes pres
ence Ittouched the smoke-soied walls and
the plain furniture with strange kind OF
glory, as the brush of the artist transforms
the unsightly canvas into thing OF living
beauty.
He was strongly moved. He could have
knelt at this old WOman'S feet and thanked
her for the words she had uttered
But he did what was infinitely wiser
he left in her hand at parting that which
kept her for many day, and hiding his
ioy away in his heart he only said:
''Do not trouble yourself about the fu-
ture for you shall never want while live"
The Sunday evening following, his SER
mon grew out of this text: "Pure religion
and undefled before God and the Father, is
this: TO visit the fatherless and the wild
ows in their affiiction, and to keep ones self
unspotted from the world"
A new meaning lay behind his words
which thrilled the hearts of his hearers.
He had been, cleaning in the great field OF
life and had come back burdened with
sheaves. His vision of life and its labor
had widened-the worker was growing with
the work.
When Hope reached the outer door of the
church, she was aware that a severe storm
was almost upon them.
She hastenened her steps, but suddenly
voice that set her pulses beating, said
close beside her:
"Take my arm, Miss Whitney the storm
comes on rapidly"
Even as he spoke the rain dashed in tor.
rents Hope turned her face, with little
gasp, and laid it against his arm, as vivid
! flash of lightning illuminated the earth.
He forgot the storm; forgot everything
but the woman beside him and the love
that mastered him.
, He stood STILL and gathered her to his
heart, with swift passionate movement.
"Oh, Hope, if may always shelter you
Can you trust me, dear?"
cannot tell you her answer, for the
winds blew her low words away from all
ears save his own.
But this much can tell you, that when
May-time hung her blossoms upon tree and
church one sun-flled day. And among all
envyings, and regrets, and rejoicing, no
heart of all the lockers on beat with such
deep Joy and blessing as Grandmother Har-
ris', as, in her best black dress, she sat in
an easy chair near the altar, where stood
the dainty white-robed bride, taking upon
herself the responsibility of minister's
wife.
Years have passed since that bright day.
Grandmother Harris is with her children,
and her little brown gabled house has given
place to nicer new one. And the lilacs
with the dear hopes hidden among the
roots have longs been consumed to ashes.
Through all the changes, and into the
high places where the hearts Of the people
have placed him, Robert Dean has ever
been able to say of his wife as did Wendell
Phillips of his-"She is my inspiration"