The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-16

gum. Will lis SieepN d. bullui IL "a
lagos and pleasant homesteads. Even
the hamlet of electromagnetic last
place in the world where You would
have looked for cxciteInent-was on
this holy day in unusual coinmotion: and
the scene of this mental disturbance
was, of all other places. the village
church. building whose walls had
never. since the early settlers had first
hewed its raftcrs from the virgin forest
trees. resoundcd to any thing more stir
ring than condemnation of rural sim
ners or an invocation To godlier life
The pulse of the place was throbbing
at fever speed. and the reason was that
Rev. Josiah Brentwood the aged pas
tor, was preaching war-sermon. 1t
was not that the people We're lost in as
constituent at the peaceful old mans
discoursing on such subject, which
could hardly have seemed more odd to
them than if one of their own sheep
had suddenly turned to rend them. but
that the burning eloquence of one they
had loved. but had never suspected of
the power Of oratory. should stir them
to such enthusiasm was indeed Il matter
of wonder.
The congregation Of petty merchants
and farmers. with their wives and
daughters, sat III their pews spell
bound, while with graphic simplicity he
told them the story If the civil war,
now in the fury of its first passionate
ontburst. His fervid description, his
unsurpassed spirit of patriotism thrilled
la, al
felt before. And when he told them
that cruel as war was. there was a time
when the most God-fearing Christian
must grid his loins for the fight and
leave the tender ties of home and
kindred to serve his fatherland. the
sacred character Of the spot was for the
moment forgotten and . little storm Of
applause greeted his glowing words.
For an instant the preachers eyes
rested on the figure Of a young man;
and he was panied to see the youths
handsome face flush scarlet and his
eyes droop before his glance in an
agony of shame.
Poor Frank Besant. lie had taken
every word of the sermon as rcproach
to himself: for while all the lads If the
neighborhood had shouldcred Il musket
and gone To the front. IL had remained
at hume-not from any fear IF the
dangers of the battlefield. but because
the gentle woman, whose hand was now
nervouslv clasping his. was his wido.yed'
mother. and he was her only child and
the idol Of her heart.
Every word of the discourse had fall
len Ikea drop Of molten lead in his
ears, tingling them with sense of unde-
served shame: yet, if nc could have read
the thoughts of the few who really had
him in their minds. he would have been
solaccd to know that they were only
moved with great pity for the mother
they were assured was SD soon to be
beref1; for none, who were intimate
with him, doubted what the end would
be. ..@, go
She knew it, too.
As she clasped her loved ones hand
she turned on the pastor eyes full of
bitter remonstrance, insomuch that
the good man hesitated and stammered
under her appealing glance, and only
recovered himself with All effort for the
continuation of his address. ,
The sermon ended at last. and the ex
cited congregation, after the manner oi
country folk. fingered awhile to ex
change ideas-chietly, in this instance
unreliable news from the seat of war
hurried fussily away to their homes.
Mr.. Brentwood did not occupy tn.
parsonage, but lived in his own home
stead. pretty farm house, we'll out Or
the 'outskirt of the village, near Hher.
the river wound its way ont of the or
chards into the holder scenery of TIL,
mountain lands. 1t was a quiet- retire.
spot, well adapted to the stpdions hap
its Of its occupant. who was a far bet
ter read man than his parishioners h;.t
any idea of. His household was small
consisting simply of his sister Ruth ant
granddaughter Grace - the former d
lady of uncertain years and temper
whose periodical fits Of irritability wer.
compensated for by splendid qualitica
tions as housckeeper and a Strong af
lection for her brother, whom the neigh
bors: said she ruled with. a rod o
iron - the latter sweet girl Q
eighteen, whose radiant smile an,
"dSS IL
the old mans house. She was the az
knowledged village beauty "a ,trif
short in stature, perhaps, but with
form exquisitely nodded, expressly
eyes, which spoke with every glance
healthy complexion that. lett tn
blush quickly suffuse the check, We
which had nothing Of the pink-ane
white hectic loneliness SO dear to lad
nove4ists- small, soft hand, Il low
musical voice and an utter unconscious
ness of her own undeniable pxettipess
in fact, sweet. strong, RatTe- indie
girl, just blossoming into promisin
womanhood. Grace was the old man
Erandchild, the orphan daughter OF HI
only son, who had died with his youn
wife ten years ago. =:
The sabbath-day's work was Qver,an
thc.ininister was on the point of retirin
to his well-carned rest, when a shar
ring at the front-door bell announced
late visitor.
BLESS my life" said the old parse,
"who can be coming here at this tim
of night? Shouldn't wonder if Dca
con Spencer's taken worse, and i
have TO er.:e ont to his place, and 4
maIntsc2s shoe, and"
Bat by this time Grace had opene
tie door ard admitted a lady.
.a1~,,dr,ss rracious Mary EaSant,