The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-04-30


which were suspended large pictures.
There were statues, vases, baskets,
bric-a-brac, of whose value Jabed had
more that an indistinct idea, and neal
the large table which, covered with pa
pers, stood in the middle of the room,
was guitar with . long blue ribbon at.
tached to it.
THAT'S hers" he said. with nod
toward it. Il should like to see the
pretty crcetur for the violet's sake"
Then he sat down ON the edge of q
large leather chair, and sank into q
deep reverie. Perhaps it would not be
true to say this was the first time in his
life when the past rose up before him
with sharp sting, but certain it is,
that never before had he been SO thor
oughly and deeply ashamed of himself.
He seemed to have been suddenly drop
ped into life which, with its refine
ments and elegance, belonged to a
world SO different from his own that be
never before even imagined its exist
cnce.
Dimly and crudely there came to him
thoughts of God and retribution. A dull
wonder whether he, Jabed Jones, could
by any chance have done better. have
been q man like this man, have owned .
house, have a pretty child to nestle down
close to him. to call him '.father!" He
looked down at his hands, wicked hands,
that had SO far wrought out only evil.
Could these rough fingers ever have
delicately turned the leaves of q gold
bound book?
Wholly engrossed in these new
thoughts, he was sitting there careless
of consequences should he be discover
cd, when he heard voice say:
MY friend, l think you have mis-
taken your home tonight"
Starting up he saw the same gentle
man he had seen on the piazza fearless
ly approach and stand beside him.
Il have been watching you for some
time" he said, .'and have convinced
myself that you mean no harm. Will
you tell me how and for what you are
here?''
Something in the gentleman's quiet
ness and GOODNESS touched the startled
burglar; he answered hesitatingly:
'.lt's no harm, sir! II beg pardon
III 60 ut once"
Eyes, dots not the hour for
strange visitOrs-but stop, is there'any-
thing 1 can do for you? you don't seem
to have evil intent. and there is my
watch on the table where l left it last
night" pointing 20 the watch partly
hidden by papers on the study table;
''yOu are not 4 burglar!'
mo sir, not-not burglar here; I
beg pardon; goodnight, SIR" He went
to the door, then half turned back.
''It's the violets, sir" he said; just one
little one to remember her by, if l
might be so bold"
The next morning was the Sabbath,
April. There was life in the flowers
and bird-music in the air. To Jabed
Jones the world looked new. There
seemed to be new life every where,
Jabed Jones himself longed for a new
life.
The prayers of the past are never dead
seeds. They blossom. Jabed Jones re-
called the prayers that one good rela-
tive of his unpromising and unfaithful
race had made for him. He was ready
to answer them.
There was a peal of bells, Easter
bells. Jabed had heard Easter bells be-
fore, with the outward ear, but never
with inner sense until now.
Throngs of people with bright, happy
faces passed him on their way to the
church. They wore flowers. lilies of
the valley, violets. Sunshine, chimes,
birds. Jabed Jones followed the long
procession of worshipers. He came to
the church door and listened. He heard
a deep voice say: Behold l make all
things new!'
The Organ-a burst of music
IF any man be in Christ. he is new
creature; old things have passed away,
all things become new"
Create within me clean heart, and
renew right spirit within me-"
Jabed heard the chant. He turned
away. .'New, the word haunted
him. He knew little of theology. but he
made a resolution then and there to
obey God. There came to him new
happiness, new peace.
The Easter bells had brought him the
message of life. Jabed Jones was
new man, and if nc slept on the ground
that night, it was for the last time, and
that among the violets. God had
spoken to him-pot in the burning
bush, but in the violets and BELLS
Youths COMPANION.