Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-10-08
Her FatheE'S.ViG
BY rHos P. MoNTFoRT.

Copyright by AN. Kellogg Newspaper Co. Q letter, coming from one wI.o was stranger to Mary, ought to have brought feeling of pity to the Ginticst heart, but on the gentle heart ii this dcvout member of Rev. Wheed- lcr's congregation it made no impress sion whatever. Some one may imagine that she suffered compunctions of con science, but such was not the case. Such people as she have no conscience.
 It does seem that after reading Dr. BaScoms letter, Mrs. Blatchford ought at least to have experienced a sense of shame when she remembered that she, and all her relatives, were living in great plenty on that which of right be- longcd tU Che s~oo- woman who was starving. But even that feeling did not come to her heart. RemOrsclessly she burned the letter, watching it crisp in flames and turn to ashes, yet suffering no twinge of conscience. And an hour later she sat in her cushioned pew with smiling, placid features, ap- parcntly perfectly satisfied with herself and the life she was living. When, at the end of Whccdlcr's sermon, she gave a good-sizcd bank note to aid in converting the heather, no stranger would have suspected what her heart really was, and no one would have thought but an hour before she had rlthlcssly dcspoilcd a poor woman of a crust of bread from her fathers table.
 Blatchford might have given his daughter aid had he known her condi- tion, but his ignorance of that was no excuse. He knew very well that there was general suffering in Kansas that year, and he knew that John Green was poor and ill-conditioncd to withstand such long siege of hard times. Reason and common sense would have taught him that his daughter was in need, yet he did not feel sufficient interest in her welfare to make any effort to discover her whereabouts. He never mentioned her name, and if he ever thought of her no one knew it. Indeed, to outward observation it seemed apparent that no thought of her ever entered his mind, and that he was satisfied with his dcvO- tiona to the Spiclllcr family.
 Like his wife he was an active mem bcr of WhCcdlcr's church. He attended the Sunday services regularly and dozcd through the tedious sermon. He gave more than any other to the minister's salary. He bought an organ for the church and hired an Organist. In short he was always ready with his money to second any suggestion Rev. Whcedler saw fit to offer. As a natural consequence he became the most prominent member of the congrcgation-at least in Brother Whccdlcr's estimation. Brother Whecd- Ter loved a cheerful givcr, especially when the gifts were coming to himself.
 On the very day that John Green mortGagcd all his earthly possessions to Mills for pitiful sum of money with which to buy bread, the Christian Aid Society" of Rev. Whecdlcr's church held Q meeting in Brother Blatchford's s parlors, the object of which was to finan- ciully further the work of converting the hcathcn in foreign lands. Rev. WhCcdlcr was there, as were also all the leading members of the congrcga- tiOn. Sister Blatchford had, of course, | taken care that preparations suited to | tho occasion were made, and q nice luncheon was duly spread. Brother Blatchford was there to beg and cntrcat | everyone to partaSc unsparingly of his generous bounty.
 If the world had more such good Christians as Brother and Sister Blatch- ford," remarked Rev. Whccdlcr during the enjoyment of tho luncheon, ''thC church would be better off and its cause greatly advanced. Such members arc the shining lights of our faith, anC their prayers and their gifts arc the means of great good in the saving ot | lost SOulS.'
 "Indccd you arc right, Brother Nhcedlcr," acquicsced Sister Swoops, "Brothcr and Sister Blatchford live fol the good of their fellow creatures Their thoughts, by day and by night must be of the poor needy ones who arc in the darkness of sin. The question ever uppcrmost in their minds, to judge from their actions, is: What can I dc for the good of tho ignorant and be nightcd?' Such as they are the salt O thc earth-'the leaven that lcnvcnctl the whole loaf.'"
 5 True, Sister Swoops, true indeed, said Rev. WhccdIer, "and pray tha they may live to sec the fruits of thct works in all their fullness.'
 This prayer of Brother Wheedler'
 was destined to be realized, for it wa
 written down that Brother and Siste
 Blatchford should both live to see tho fruit of their works in all it's tcrribl fuilncss; and not only that, but the.
 should eat thereof and come to lSnoy
 the bitterness of it.
 During the little play of words jus
 described Sister Blatchford, from he
 position at the head of the table, smile , swectly upon those about her, and saic , as plain as actions could speak:
 "Indecd Brother Whecdler is right
 and I am the light of the church.
 guiding angel to those less blessed wit
 goodness"
 Brother Blatchford said nothing an
 made very little outward show of hi r feelings, but it was evident that he wa Q greatly pleased, and he praised himse
 and felt like batting himself on tn
 hoc1r haincr CD at SrOn1