Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-07-03
: lR.StEARA: NAga5IRl

goa u more precious than ruhiea Your
love. my darling. and he cAressed the
head crowned with glory Of bright
hAir-''is The Joy of my hfe--3ed for-
give mes
She drew again his hand 20 her cheek.
and prssssd Il there, and said no word
more. And - they sas for . few seconds
longer. while the vulgar. intrusive
clock. with q kind of limp in Ia noisy
tick, seemed to say; ''it's time! It's
timsis
Let us take the opportunity Of this
pause 10 explain how Rev. James Muir
ray got into the anxious position in
which we find him. he was minister
of well-knowu denomination of non-
conformists- When he left college he
had been rcckoned . young man Of
great promise and of considerable
powers of persuasive eloquence, and he
was expected to become . famous
preacher. He was invited to b the
minister Of q largo and wealthy con-
gregation in . northern manufacturing
town. lie accepted the invitation, and
for two or three years he was . great
favorite with his people; never. they
declared. had they heard 90 6ne
preacher Though he was sometimes SO
fine" that they did not understand
him). and never had they known . bet
ter man. His praise was in everybody's
mouth; the mon admired him and the
women adored him. But he was
bachelor, and there was not an unmar-
ried lady In the congregation who did
not aspire TO be his wife, which put
him in tho awkward and invidious posi-
ton Of having to prefer one ont of
many. He astonishcd and offended all
the well to do ladies by falling in love
with and marrying the pretty, shy gov
erness of one OF the wealthicst families
"a girl who had not been regarded as
having the smallest chance of occupy
ing the proud place Of minister's wife.
His marriage alienatcd the women, and
through them cooled the ardor of the
men. The situation was strained; but
it might have gradually returned 10 its
former easy condition, had not the min
lister soon after his marriage become
what is termed broad" in his religious
views and uncompromising in
his expression of them. His peo-
pie grew alarmed. and his deacons
remonstrated-with less friendliness Of
feeling, probably. than if he had not
offended them by his marriage-but the
minister declared he could not do other
wise than preach what no believed to
Be the truth. Then some people left
H. 81 o<lo~. ~~-~,,l<l ><< l. a. Ii,
and his position became so difficult and
finally so unbearable that he could do
nothing but send in his resignation. He
shook the dust and the CRIME Of that
northern town of his feet, and with
sore heart and slender purse journeyed
to London. He was resolved to labor
among the masses" If the arrogant
and wealthy classes of the north would
not hear him, he was sure the poor of
London, bending beneath the weary
burden of life, would hear him gladly.
He had not been In London long when
he became minister 70 q venerable,
half-deserted chapel in one of those Gu
riously quiet corners made by the rush
ing currents and the swirling eddies of
the life of our huge metropolis. II was
close to the heart of London, and yet no
one knew 1t was there but the handful
of small shopkeepers and their familils
and the few devout and destitute old
women who made up It's congregation.
These poor people were fluttered with
pride when they got so clever and beau
fiful a preacher for their own; they
looked to see ere long the old chapel
crowded with an attentive congrega-
ton, as it had been in other days; and
the chapel-keeper (who was also a
painter) had put all the magnificent
hopes of himself and his friends in the
fresh inscription he made on the faded
notice-board in the forecourt, minis
TER, THE REV. JAMES MURRAY,
NJ. A." in letters Of gold
A year had passed since then. and
the minister's heart was sad. He had
spent himself for the benefit of the
poor that sweltercd round that old
chapel. and the poor did not seem 70
than the wealthy; they would gather
round him If he spread tea for them,
but they would not come to hear him
preach; 80 the chapel renamed As
empty as when he first assembled his
pulpit. Most harassing and wearing
anxiety of all. he was desperately poor.
How he and his vito and child had
lived during the year IL would be diff
cult 10 tell. from the treasurer of the
chapel funds he had received less than
sixty pounds, and he was in debt for
his lodgings. in debt to the doctor. his
and his wifc's clothes were become
painfully shabby, and his child was
sick INTO death.
What now was TO be done7
iii had only two or three pounds in
hand" said he. ''or IL I could raise
them. I could send You and Jim away
TO some quiet seaside place; but every.
thing is rone-everything."
Don't be cast down, my dear" said
his wife. raising her head, and bravely
smiling. cit il always darkest and
coldes. before the dawn. Something
may come to us Just when we least ex-
p~ct ~"
~ am angry with myself said ne,
sfor being 50 east down: but can't
help H. I care notbsng for myself
nothing at all, Jon know, Mary; have
good health, and can live on little.
It's seeing you. my dear. and poor little
Jim going without things you ought To
have that goes 10 my heart: and 10
know nrv that the boy's life would Re
saved IL could DO something which
have no hope Of dpinei OH IL maddens