Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-04-17

the corner Of her blue bingham apron; st.
Clair's face-usually his black eyes were
dancing with mischief-WOre a solemn,
wistful look that / have never seen on 1t
before. Nat Green had his back to the
school and was looking out Of the window
across a rolling stretch Of prairie, motion
less as stone. knew some other hearts
were made tender as well as my own.
This knowledge only tended to enhance
the effect on myself i could bear it no
longer. My eyes were already overflow
ing. 1 leaned my elbow on my desk
and dropped my face in my hands, while
the big drops fell in a little, pitiful pool
at my feet.
was not conscious OF the lapse Of
time till a soft hand was laid on my head
and her yoice-that diyinely inspired
voice--said with thrilling eamestness:
And as He saw Matthew sitting at
the receipt Of custom, and said unto him,
follow Me. And he arose and followed
Him Be as ready, my boy, as thy name
sake Of old to follow the Master"
If she is living anywhere in the wide
world and reads this story, 1 would like
her to know that date my first call to
an evangelistic life to her timely drop
| ping of those words. 1t was seed sOwn
IN good ground, and am thankful to
know that it has borne some fruit. ''PauI
may plant and ApOuus may water, but it
Is God that giveth the increase.
She passed so quietly and so gently
from one to another, saying Just the right
word In the right place, talking little Of
/ books, but much of what was, oh, so
wonderful, interesting and instructive
that the forenoon slipped away almost
before we knew it.
81 see 1t is high noon" she said, look
ing at her watch-a tiny affair as though
made expressly for her. "NOW Wen ad-
journ to that uObles ycamore yOnder and
have a picnic together Nathan" turn
| ing on Nat Green a face ike sunbeam.
She invariably called US by our right
names, and it was always a mystery how
she knew so much about us from the
start; but 1 knew now that on that day
of the meeting father in a few words ex-
planned to her where the difficulty lay.
Being gifted with wonderful intuitive
powers and a strange, but vital mag
netisn, she was mistress Of the situation
from the moment we came within her
presence. Father was keenly observant
and must have detected this, for he gave
her to understand also that day that she
was to make our house her home as long
as she remained, which she always did.
Nathan ! viii you be good enough to
assist me with this basketY
1t was a large one, and filed to the
brim, as we could see from the bullying
lids.
Nat looked embarrassed but pleased
with the Difference showed him, took the
basket from her hand and led the way.
Well We had q feast nit or a queen that
noon from the substantial down to the
most tOOthsome French caramels. And |
all the time she kept up a running flow of
anecdote and story, both humorous and /
pathetic. '.Isn't she Just splendid p was |
the verdict Of all when she had withdrawn
and left us to ourselves. Even Nat Green /
was so far drawn out Of himself as to ex-
claim with some show Of enthusiasm: at
ISN'T IN a Teller to fight a wee thing like /
her nohOw, an specially when she's so /
Jolly, too"
In the afternoon classes were organized
and the terms work outlined; the whole
was seasoned with more interesting talk, |
and when the first school day closed we
were all agreed that We had never spent |
a happier day in our lives. The three
outlaws skulked home; but the next
morning they were punctually on time,
and under her wise management they be-
came not only the best behaved boys, but
the best scholars in school.
Before the term was half out the new
teacher was known far and near as little
Miss Joyce, and there was not a boy
among US that wouldn't have fought for
her as zealously and died for her, if need
be, with as chivalrous a devotion as
knights Of old In the lists. st. Clair's
summing up Of the day to mother con /
tanned the root Of the whole matter
''She jes' looked and talked an we got
gOoder and goOder an didn't want to do
nothin' bad"
Just before the close Of the term an
event occurred which lifted Miss joyce
at once to the front rank Of herOines and
canOnized her, at least In our family. |
Father had been absent several DAYS on |
business and came home about dark one |
evening with several thousand dollars in |
his possession, which he locked up in /
the safe. He intended to go to town the |
next morning and deposit it In bank |
Between 9 and 10 o'clock the same even |
ing mother was summoned by telegram |
to the bedside Of dying sister in a dis /
tant state. 1t was necessary to leave /
home by daybreak to reach the station in .
time for the early morning train. Father |
decided to 60 with mother, as he disliked [
to have her travel so far alone. To do /
this he would be obliged to leave the
money IN the safe at home until his re-
turn. He was not, however, a man to
borrow trouble. There had been no rob
berry Of any consequence committed in
the county for several years. 1t was not
likely such a visitation would occur now.
We had a good girl in the kitchen, and
Miss Joyce had promised to take moth /
er's place as far as possible. With the /
exception Of st. Clair, We were all up to /
see them of. Mother would not allow /
him to be disturbed; she kissed his rosy |
face still wrapped in slumber and quickly |
drew down her vel.
The day was clear and bright till al /
most noon; then the air grew turbulent
and the sky murly and threatening /
Later heavy black masses Of clouds /
piled themselves into a formidable bank. /
out Of which came angry rumblings and /
fitful lurid flashes, and augured a brew |
ing storm close at hand Miss Joyce |
closed school early and we reached home /
just as the big drops began to fall.
1t proved the heaviest rainfall of the /