Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-06-08

ing of tho north wind, which still had
tho horby fragrance of iron-wced, as
ters and golden-rod. At last ho stood
on the narrow bridge that spannod
North creek, and rs ho looked down
into the still blackness Of the pool the
stream made at this point, the temptor
! of souls assailed him. "Why not leave
tho question to be solved by othersP'
was brcathod In his ear. Down in that
quiet spot, where the eddy holds all
that comes TO il for weeks, you will lie
long undsturbcdn A mist obscured
tho stars Not ono was reflected, a
glmmcrng shadow, in the dark depths.
Lower and lower he bent, drawn by
something ho could not resist Rest
was Just beneath him, and he was very
tired. His hands hung limp, one foot
was over the bridge, whcn n sleepy
bird called family to its mate in the
ccdars. Instantly brave, clear an
swer came. II had been one of Eph.
RAINS few pleasures to noto the ways
of birds, aud his attention was aroused
in an instant. Then great wave OF
shame came over him, and crying
aloud, he fell upon his knees in the
dust of the bridge.
IL asked the Lord what l ought to
do" he explained to his wife the next
day, when he had told her that he had
spent half of his precious hoard OF
money for a quantity of wares to stock
his fathcr-in-law's old rag-cart, which
mother Foster, quite regardless of pub.
lie opinion. had brought with hor from
Smyrne. "He heard me, Ruth dear,
and ] saw fathers old cart rs plainly
as see you"
The Annex Chronicle, being on the
spot, and feeling sympathy in its plural
bosom, said nothing. Tho Church Or
gan, being far from the spot, and quite
ignorant of the circumstances, and
irritatcd perhaps by the publicity given
the step by the Zoar Scraper, which
never neglected the making of para
graph ut any cost to other people, if at
small cost to itself, made Ephraim the
text on which depended biting
sermoncttc. Kind hearted, stupid
Twacker, now Dr. Twackcr, asked tho
reason.
alt is because my father-in-law IL
dead" wrote Ephraim, humbly al
always had refuge under his roof
Vacations, when people expected me
to leave town, and l had no money,
and always when was without n
charge, we went to fathers. My sal
AIRY has never been beyond the point of
our living expenses. You will there
fore understand, without my going
further into detail that when father
Eos er died, and his home went into
other hands. with no money, no
charge, and no trade, had no choice,
since seven helpless beings depended
upon me for support. "
The first week on the rag-cart Mr.
Downey earned fifteen dollars above
expenses, and his Independence and
worldly career began. He sends out
men himself now, and keeps n smart
buggy in his barn beside the red cart
retired to honorable desuetude. But
though he is busy man, rs the firm
of Downey, Badger Il Co., rag-dealers,
in Zoar, ought to be, he still finds time
to do special work for the Master, and
labors in mission schools and charities.
He is generous, too. and sends a snug
sum each year to his beloved alma ma
ter, Waterbury. But though the course
of his life has been as open as the day,
though he has held himself above re-
proach in every relation, public and
private, the question is st II asked sus-
piciousy behind his back: what dc
you think is tho real reason he left the
ministry?"-Ha,per's Weekly.