The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-04-17

ieg. and, though be ~ss nov simosi too
large 10 crawl through. maasged The iea,'
and disappeared 10 the loft
Loose boards bad bsrp placed across
from beam 10 beam. aud GA one Of these
John stretched hinssli. YEARLY. near The
opening Even the hard board was a more
comfortable bed ihau be had 'lne,imes
bad dufing his long wandering
iIsiay here ,iil the meeting Is over and
the folks have gooe, he thought, sleepily.
Then III set ont and travel along.
Iua few minutes be was sound asleep
He bad slept shout bali sn hour when
opening oi The door and The stsmrina OF
feet 10 the eutry walked bin. The meet
/ Ing folks we're coming 10. rom the
edge Of the Opening where his BE- a rested
John could look dom inte shotcentre aud
upon one 81 lie Of the ee' ',,eseh
There was stout Mrs. Nth her lit
tie boy, muiii ID up ia closNs and sha~is
until they were AZ clumsy ns liule bears
iapanned lamp. .uch as was used for bum.
ing whale oil Sbo lighted 1t at the stove
aith shaving brought from the wood
shed. aud placed il on one Of the front
desks.
Mrs. Brown, the superior woman OF the
district, brought 10 campheDe lamp of
glass to illuminate the preachers desk.
Two long tubes iorked upward, and were
protected, when not lighted, by metallic
cape, attached to the lamp by a little
chain 1t gave pretty good light, but
cemphene was an explosive substance,
and ,impie folks were afraid OF it.
don't think much Of that sort Of lamps
remarked Mrs Beach. who always spoke
ont her mind Mighty resky things to
bring to the school-house, pears to me.
The owner OF the camphene lamp looked
at her with lofty superiority, but dsigned
no reply Her lamp would show for it
self.
Grandma Graves bad brought pair Of
her best candles,icks with tallow candles.
Some of the men who came stamping into
the room removed the lamps fIom their
lanterns an put them upon the desks
The room was pretty fairly Illuminated
by the time the parson s sleigh bells were
heard in the yard. One of the men went
out to help him with his horse,
Johns heart gave throb Ms lie saw his
gray haired father walk slowly across the
floor toward one of the platform seats. He
walked more like an old man. and leaned
more upon his cane, than he bad done a
year ago.
The tears came into Johns eyes, but he
brushed them away and uncoDsciously
straig htened himself as bis brother Abner
came 10, leading his little Jack. Abner
owned aud operated the farm nett his
fathers. He and John never could "get
along" together. Abner thought that his |
parents were too indulgent to his younger
brother, He was always complaining tba,
John was careless and lazy.
But there was llile Jack. who had al
ways been foud Uf bis boy uncle, and John |
in boy fashion. was fond of him. How |
the little chap had grownl He would soon
be- old enough to occupy the seat in school
here John had idled away so many |
hours.
Now the preacher came in, and there
" as respectful silence 10 the room. Par
son Warren was tall man-so tall that
bis head almost touched the length Of
stove pipe which followed the ceiling to
the chimney 10 the wall The gray hair
was thin on his bead; glasses protected
bis mild, near.sigbted eyes, aud he had the
manner Of blended dignity and Kindness
sbIch belonged to the country parson OF
ifty years ago,
He had bsptised john in his baby hood,
lad cstecbised bim in.Snndsy.school and
ster was always the leading man OF the
school committee. John
in the feeling of profound respect
or the minister's calling and the dignity
II his character. The boy almost felt.
With shame, a. il Parson Warren could
zee him stretched there in bis dirt and
sgs.
The old hymn Of "Bslerma" was given
,ut. aud as the qnavering notes arose from
he 'women's side" John fanciei be could
distinguish bis mothers trembling voice
mong the singers. THIS was followed by
! long prayer. daring which John almost
lropped asleep sgain, and then Parson
Warren began his talk to the small con
,regation.
II was singular that bis subject WAS the
'folisal Son, The minister wisely made ,
hese evening addresses more simple and
irect than his Sunday sermons, and the
ak to tigbt aas such as ciild could ,
John had read or heard the parable many
ines without much thought, but it had
ew nesning to him now. When the
ood minister dselt upon the the riotous
wing OF the prodigal 10 far country. ,
ohm shook bis bead and whispered to ,
imself /;
That's not much like me-going about
essing job TO saw wood or shovel snow =,
1r breakfast, aud like as not having 9
og set on me (,
Bat the rags. the hunger the home sick
e.s - that part be could we'll understand. /,
3 the minister related the home coming !;
the penitebt prodigsl, John looked
osn upon bis own iaibet sitting there /.
Glow. ~itb bis work worn bands clasped /,
yer bis esue. and his gray bead bent.
'ouid be give his 500 suen welcome II :
e came home 10 poverty aud rags5 4
JOHN did tot knos: but something Of /