The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-09-20


and broken in spirit to talk.
The boy seemed to understand. for
he said nothing: did not cry nor moan,
but lay with his large eyes fixed upon
his mothers face with look of won
dcr;ng, helpless resignation. as il he
saw the approach Of the horrid monster
Of his dreams but felt that now no cries
for help could avail anything. until. un-
able longer to control herself, Martha
Parsons sank upon her knees and
buried her face III her handkerchief anu
sobbed aloud
| My God. my God. why hast Thou
| forsakcn me?'
CHAPTER XVIII.
DRIVEN To THE MOUNTAINS.
For half hour Martha Parsons re-
manned kneeling by the side Of her Grip
plea child.
When she arose she was calm again,
but neither the boy nor herself spoke.
aud finally sleep came and closed the
lads eyeids. and he lay quietly resting
while his mother sat by his side As silent
and motionless as he.
Her thoughts had gone back to the
days OF her childhood. and one BY one
she recalled all the incidents of her past
life. She remembered the old church
where she had been christened and
near where she was born. In magma
ton she sat again in the stra; ght-backed
pew in company with the homely. old
fashioned congregation and listened to
the preaching of the venerable. gray
haired minister whose words she had
been taught were those of one commits
stoned to speak for God and Christ.
Again She heard the sermon in
which all men were commanded to &C.
cept their lot, whatever it might be. as
from the hand Of the Most High, who
gave to each Of His creatures, rs to
world: heard, mingled with much of SYM
pathy for the impoverished and the out
east and the sinful, the poor hidden to
be content with the condition in life to
which it had pleased God in His wisdom
to call them; and was dumbly con-
scious of feeling surprised at herself,
and, may be, trifle frightened at dar-
ing to wonder for the first time in her
lite If God ever authorized anybody to
say such things in His name; If, indeed.
it was not blasphemy to tell the poor,
who were made poor by being robbed
and the rich, who We're made rich BY
the robbery, that such was Gods will
and bidding them to be content in the
condition in which they were thu
placed.
She recalled the talks which she and
John had during the DAYS of theil
l rn,,Ytrhir, s.fx thar 0rrso
What plans they had laid; how hopeful
they had been of the future; how pros
porous they had meant TO be; and how
much pleasure they had taken in think
ing of the good they would do, and O
the quiet old age they were to spcnt
together after the hurry Of life was owe
and their children settled comfortably
near them, receiving and entitled to thu
respect and esteem Of their neighbors
They had worked hard: they hat
been honest; they had reared their chill
drcn 10 be worthy members of society
they had done all they knew how 10 d.
to make the world better for their hav
ing lived in it; aud now, their HON,
lost, their children scattered, she sat b,
the bedside OF her crippled child at mid
night, waiting for the return of her hus
band, with great fear at her heart tina
he, too, had been swallowed up by tn.
terrible flood.
The moan which involuntarily es
capped her lips as her mind returned II
the present awokc Johnny; but seeing
his mother sitting by his side he did NO
cry or speak, but lay quietly gazing ints
her face for time and then his quicI
hearing caught sound which had es
capped the duller ear of his mother. ane
look, half of inquiry, half of fear
passed over his face, but still he did no
speak.
Again the sound, and now his mother
hears it, too-the neighing CT hors,
upon the winding bluff road back of tn,
house; then an answering neigh from
the hill pasture. and both know that tn,
husband and father has returned.
| Hurrying to the door, Mrs. Parsons
heard the pasture bars let down; heart
the short whinny of recognition ant
welcome which the horses exchanged
as the home-comer entered the field
then heard the barn door open as tn,
rider went to hang up his saddle; thel
the footsteps turned towards the house
and moment later John Parsons
weary and covered with mud, but sount
of limb. entered and bending dow
kissed wife and child.
Il s'pose you an Johnny hev beer
; worried most to death about me
Marty he said, '.but couldn't VERY
we'll help it. leastwise thought it bes
TO do as DONE
''Yes, dear, we have been fearful tina
something had happened you. Did yo'
meet with an accident. or what was tn
matter? know you must be tired an,
hungry, whatever it was, and I'll hav
a cup of tea for you just as soon as tn
kettle bols again. 1t won't take but
moment; it was boiling Only little bi
ago"
wall. you see when got to town
concluded TO ask around an see if
could hear Of place for rent or to sci
on time. an after inquirin' n spell
heard of a claim, mostly worthless. bu
: with enough good land to make Twin
on, that was for sale or trade, iif,ceI