Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-09-26
TOM RYDERS CHILD.

ta-iD~ei Boots carefully poised ca the
edge Of tins Corrugated cylinder stove.
was far larger man than when BE was
a. home Perhaps II was for that reason
that hs spent 50 much time IA the store.
a man hzss 70 feel large and 10 hawk
AID expectorate ia an independent HAN
ner.
When under the protection Of his own
roof this gentleman was very much in
the shadow Of his wife. He never
hawksd and he never expecsorated there.
Hs silrank mp into the smallest possible
compass and SEEMED 10 defrecate tha
fact that he was alive az all II he could
have come IN and gone out at the key
hole be would have felt an unutterahie
relief
As IL was. be was in constant fear lest
he should forget 10 wipe his feet. or lest
ne should leave door unattached. He
often told himself he'd ruther be da-aed
any day than To forgit 10 wipe his feet
twice, first on the kusk mat in the sink
room and next on the braided mat at
the kitchen door. When Mr.. Marsh said
'.hed ruther be darned." no meant that
he preferred being consigned to haaes-
He often thought il would be a kind OF
relief TO be IN that place sand done with
it." Bnt be always was very meek in
deed when he had INDUCED in such
thoughts.
Mrs Marsh was large, dark. mus
tached woman, who was beiieged by
some 10 be good nurse. She certainly
hal the merit Of sabluing her charges
into absolute quiescence. She boosted
that folks that .'she took care on knew.
their places mighty quick; n their
places was to Jest lay still a let the Lord
do rs he pleased"
She was fond OF mentioning the Lord
at the most unexpected and irritating
times. She had referred 10 him ON SD
many occasions in regard to her hus-
bands bringing in ''nedder mud" aud
other kinds Of soil on the soles Of his
boots tina, Mr.. Marsh was continually
harassed by fear lest he might become
prejadiced and acquire habit of think
ing Gisrespecffally OF the Lord. II he
did acquire such a habit. he hoped fer
vently and in plain terms that it might
be laid TO D'riady's charge rather than
10 his Dorinda WIS his wifes name:
and it was the name given to each of
I'VE consecutive daughters who had been
bora 10 Mr.. and Hrs. Marsh and who
had all died when children.
There were residents in the village
who always took friends who came from
distance TO the graveyard 10 see the
..rcw of D'rindies." as this series of
mounds was usually termed.
These continual bereavements were
very hard to bear during their occur
renee. bat after some years had passed
and the wounds were SCARED Mrs.
Marsh was conscious of certain dis
tinction coming from the fact that she
WAS. in certain sense, owner Of that
row ia the cemetery. She had pride
IN keeping the small graves and their
healstones in the very best condition;
or rather she made Ar. Marsh keep them
So.
When have seen that woman st-id-
ing toward the hil' slope where the
graveyard was. have wondered IL she
did not feel satisfaction that there
Were i've mounds instead Of four; five
made much more impressive row. II
one OF those babies had grown it would
doubtless have brought in great deal
of mad in the spring. snow in the win
ter, and road dust in the summer. 1t
would have Uttered things up jest aw-
ful," to use favorite expression of Mrs.
Marsh. Was it possible that there
were coTnpensations. II is distinction
TOO, to have had ''dretful sight of
sickness in your family" TO have ''notes
put up for the sufferer and the suffer
er's friends.
Do you know what il means TO have a
note put mp II Is to arrange that the
minister shall find, apparently in the
hymn book. y scrap OF paper asking the
prayers Of the congregation for family
IN affection. The name of the person is
often given, ard then there is a rustling
and turning and looking at the near
est relative who happens to be present
When things by land and by sea have
been prayed for. when people scattered
mp and down this sinful earth" have been
mentioned, then the minister changes his
tone to one Of more feeling. and petitions
that this dear sister whose child il on q
bed of sickness may be strengthened to
endure, and that. If it be 50 decided that
she be called upon TO give up that be-
loved one. she may be enabled to bow
her head to his great and gloriors will.
and to bless him, even though he Stay.
There is a s-reat sameness about the
words used in response TO this asking for
prayers. but who shall say that those
phrases do not sometimes touch healing
ly sore heart?
Reuben Marsh never missed going 70
meeting single Sunday during all the
times when his children were pininz and
dying.
Sometimes he would far rather have
stopped ut home, being possessed BY that
piteors and natural feeling that he, with
all his strength and vigor. might IN
some way give Of that strength TO tho
poor little thing moaning on the bed.
But his wife had made him go. She
had even found time rs usual TO fasten
hts collar aud button on the rusty black
necEtie.
And he bad always heard these pray
ers in answer TO the note he had put up.
lie held himself rigidiy upright. His
heavy. bearded face was iaspassivc 70