Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-08-02


you know, my friend, that it strikes me that
SO much knowledge suggests rather mature
person, and not exactly the frivolity of sweet
16a'
mo, she was not very young-23. learn
ed by consulting the family Bible, and saw
he portrait in her fathers study when be-
came well enough to walk about the house.
a sweet, girlish face it was, enough to steal
any mans heart away; but loved her before
saw it-for the beauty of her mind
And have you never seen her, or told her
of your affectionm
II have never seen her. | went back
to the seminary, completed my course,
doing double work in the following year
in order to make up for lost time. But
in the midst of my work l thought con-
tinually Of her / wrote to her, told her
something of the interest with which she had
inspired me, and begged to be permitted to
correspond with her. She replied cour-
teously, giving her reasons for declining the
correspondence l wrote again and again,
bnt she would not reply. After graduation
visited DR.. Corcoran, and told him every
thing. He heard mo very kindly, but was
inclined to treat the whole matter as entirely
imaginary. His daughter was still away
from home, and would remain so for q year
longer. He talked to me very seriously about
my health, and told me was in a fairer way
to be buried than married, and he should
disapprove of his daughters becoming in
terested in me solely on that ground Go
home for year or more he said; rest and
exercise; make a sound healthy man of
yourself; and when you have done that,
come and see us again, and l will introduce
you to my daughter
''Why in the name of common sense
haven't you followed his advice?n
II have done so, Halsey, as far as is posi-
BILE. have put myself in training as though
] We're going to row with prize crew; but
you cannot realize the difficulties of my posi-
tion. ] am minister without parish and
SO belong to everybody. / have done moro
work the past winter than any regularly set
tied pastor of my acquaintance, and l have
had before my mind always my own person
al, private desire to fit myself for a foreign
field, so that some time if | win Miss Cor
coran-and if gave up that hope / should
give up everything-we may go out to our
life work together. We have returned
missionary at Sunderland and l am studying
Turkish with him. want TO have some ac-
quirements which will recommend me to the
hoard, so that may not have to waste a year
on the field in preparation
You appear to have carried out Dr. Cor
coran's advice in regard to rest to the letter.
Halsey remarked dryly. II wonder you
haven't engaged some rabbinical old clothes
man of the Bowery to instruct you in He
brew, and taken dip into Chinese by way of
pastimen
II studied Hebrew at the seminary the
other replied, not perceiving the irony in
his friends remark. II think / have made
the most of my opportunities, but now just
when need it most, my brain fails me.
must preach at Ramoth Gilead next week,
and my head is in a whirl l can't settle on
a train of thought, or collect two consecutive
ideas on anything but the objectionable sim
that is uppermOst in my mind the whole time,
and it was while puzzling over that subject
that fell into the state of ruin from which
DR.. Corcoran rescued me-"
steele exclaimed Halsey, "you have
hcted like an idiot If you want to marry
Miss Corcoran md sail away to Joppa, which
/ consider a very sensible idea, as the SEQ
voyage would build you up and foreign
travel is just what you need to top off your
education and fit you for a shining position,
q candlestick on iill and not city under q
bushel you know--if this is your little game,
/ say why in the name of common sense do
you pay any attention to side issues9 Why
don't you say to Ramoth Gilead: Gentlemen,
you may 60 TO Jericho l have other fish to
fryrn
simply because Ramoth Gilead lies in my
way. 1t was the birthplace and early home
OF DR. Corcoran 1t was through him that
received this call And he writes me very
pleasant letter apropos Of the subject. This
is what he says:
NJ DEAR STEELE: It is a long time since we
have heard from you, and trust you have i'm
proved the time by laying in good stock Of
health l have some little influence with the
board, am in fact their health inspector, and I
happen to know of q mission which think you
would like, and for which think you admirably
qualified. / won't ask you TO come on uncer-
tainty, as / can arrange for an examination n
little nearer your present residence The church
at Rarnoth Gilead will give you call as candi-
date in a few days have number Of trust
worthy spies in the place and If they send me q
good report of your physical condition Il have no
doubt in any other particularly, will send your
name in to the board and they win probably
make you "A proposition soon. This does not
compromise you in the least, for you need not
accept the offer when it comes. Before you re-
fuse, however, we would like to have you make
us a visit and let us talk over the matter to-
sether. Faithfully yours GIDEON CoRcoEAN.
?. S.-Mrs. Corcoran unites with me in this in
vitation, and my daughter, who heard much of
you and will be with us, win be happy to meet
you.
"There it is-the opportunity of my life
slipping from my hands. If were to see
Miss Corcoran tonight ! could talk TO her Of
nothing but the objectionable SIM
SO, come now,n Halsey replied, cheer
ingly, lyon have given me tolcrably con-
nected account of the whole affair, and dare
say you viii make your way with the young
lady What bothers me is what sort Of an
impression you viii make on those Ramoth
Gilead farmers as regards health. It's pity
you haven't physique like nline but never
mind, all will end well, and we viii meet
again in Ispahan or Babylon-you the patri-
archal head of numerous family and | the
war correspondent of The Daily Shouter.
You must write up your experiences and
win bring them home and see that they are
well brought out and that you get pretty
penny out of the affair. Or you may get
yourself lost and I'll enact Stanley to your
Livingstone and wen advertise each other
from Dan to Beersheba. You must put this
objectionable sin nonsense out of your head
and put your best foot forward generally.
Don't bother about thinking up new ser
mon; give them one Of your old ones, but put
lot of vim into it, Beat the dust out Of this
pulpit cushions. Let them know that you
are alive
Steele shook his head sadly. II want them
to know that am a strong, well man, and
feel lassitude creeping over me which
makes the lifting of that fishing rod diff
cult task"
"Cheer up cheer up!" exclaimed Halsey
"You will be rested in the morning; it is all
that COMPOUNDED japanese and Turkish study
all you need is a little muscular Christianity
Take leaf out of Charles Kingley's book
buy pair of boxing gloves, and I'll punme'
faith, hope aud charity into your poor little
shriveled BODY
The next morning Andrew Steele was de
lirious 1t was with great trouble that hi:
friend conveyed him home On the morning
after their arrival the sick man had lucid
interval He regarded Halsey with wistfu
dry eyes. 1T has GOMEZ he said. GIVE
broken down If could have held out thret
days longer'-
''You arc right, old fellow Halsey re
Piled, cheeringly; ''give up to it completely
let the disease do its worst, instead Of trying
to fight against it, and it will spend its forc'
all the sooner
"But 1 must send supply to Ramott
Gilead,n he murmured; II promised to preacl
for them tomorrow, and there is no time tx
secure any one else
81 will go for you,n Halsey exclaimed, i'm
| pulsively, ''and read one of your sermons.
His friend was sinking into inconsistencies.
again, but he grasped the idea partially anC
faf he