Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-08-17

'u u'Bcu ulm 10 follow their
example oA ana shock and cap his wheat
on .he oaooash as the only possible
means n!e OF saving 1t. But with tue cou-
slstency Tor which he was noted. he
refused to desecrate the Lord 3 day. but
enoss rather to keep that holy, and
tfust The result TO Him who controls
the weather.
here I'll raise mine Ebenezer." --.
Farmer Foster riding down the road
hearu the deacon's voice, aud following
lhe sound found the old man In the
ruined held singing among the stubbls.
MOI break In the grand old hymn to
tell OF doubt or disbursement. or
uistrust. In the midst of wreck and
rum the altar had been erected and
recoHsecrsted to Him who sends both
sun to soften aud rain to DESTROY.
ITS bad, mighty bad, a-comin' on
me just now: there amt no denyin, q,
that" he told Deiehbor Foster, "But
the cornfeld's left, an that's a good
deal to be thankful for"
So tits, so tIs," replied the farmer
ana he went home feeling that some-
how Deacon Ellis affairs we're as bad
as they could be, but might be worse IL
the deacon had mind to look on the
dark side.
WELL" said Mrs. Foster, when her
good man rode into the back yard,
"is Deacon Ellis s.thinking of the
Lord because the whsat's all spilled,
'Zekiel?"
mo, Nancy" replied Farmer Fos-
ter, ''the deacon amt such fool as to
DO that. He's some cut up about the
wheat, but he's Jubileein' pow full over
the coru."
''Well, when the corn's gons he'll
nitrate over the ground being LETT.
An when that's tux therell sholy be
nothln' left for Deacon Ellis to be 81, ry
YIN over. AM it'll be tux, mark what
tell you, 'Zeklel."
1t was not long after this that the
deacon's little girl died. This was the
heaviest blow that had fallen upon him,
but so deeply engrossed wss he in the
effort to comfort his stricken wits that
he forgot his own sorrow, and failed
also to notice that the drouth had
ripened the corn before its time; so
that where he had hoped to find tie
full, ripe ear, only premature nubbins
were hidden away under the crisp,
yellow shuckS.
"Well, the deacon drew his wifi
head to his bosom, 1--WE have got each
other, Mary, an that's he ap to thank
the Lord for"
But even that solace was denied him
very long. Always as the deacon said.
lone of the ailin' Ones" the strain up
on mind and heart was too great for
the frail body, aud Mrs. Ellis was laid
to rest by the side of her little girl
under the cedars beyond the wheat
field.
The deacon's cross was growing
heavy indesd. The neighbors began to
call him job, and, although his voice
still led the old ny mn on Sabbath
mornings la the village church, there
was a quiver IN it that told how heavily
the tired heart was leaning upon the
Goodness and Mercy which he
declared had followed him "all the
davs of his life" :"
Yet he still sang in the cornield
when the skinny nubbins had been
stored, and there was nothing to do but
to gather the fodder:
"'Oh, to Grace how great II debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be-
The poor heart fel5 revival OF the
long tried trust as the crisp, golden
blades rustled to his touch. "lt's
something to be thankful for" he said
to his hired boy, David, pulling the
last armful from the stunted stalks.
Then the harvesting was finished
except the gathering of the pippins
and the wine saps, and, as the crop
had been a short one, the gathering of it
in was d small matter.
"We've got enough to eat. anyhow, "
he told the neighbors, ''an' that's
something to be thankful for"
Finally the fruit was stored and
Deacon Ellis entered into his we'll
earned winter rest.
"The Lord will let job alone now" "
Farmer Fosters wife now said, can
sholy it is time"
But the deacon'5 troubles were not
vet ended; there was still one more
calamity in store for him the fire that
burned his barns and destroyed his last
faint hope of paying off the mortgage
upon his land. 1t was nearly the final
stroke. The old mau had buried his
wife and child, for whom he worked
| and saved-cow the means of his own
livelihood were vanishing.
His neIghbors were appa led. The
good old deacon had no enemies; and
now even those who had found some
thing to laugh at in his great faith In
the face of calamity were shocked.
The Sunday following the burning
of the barns the neighbors met early
| at the church and discussed the matter
among themselves 1t was finally de-
cjded thqt among themselves they
would raise enough money to pay OF
the mortgage on the farm, and frou
their own full granaries furnish SEED
for the next years crop.
81 want to hear him bless the LORD
once more" said Farmer Foster, VIII
a big tear in either eye.
| HAnd have somethin' to bless Hin
for, - added his wife, as she brushed on
a crystal drop that had trickled TO th'
tip of her nose.
Then some one whispered that tn'
deacon was at the door and the congre
cation settled down to its accustomed
0uiet and decorum as the old maj
entered. He was aging, Deacon ELI
was. he leaned heavily upon his star
and the neighbors noticed, Tor the mrs.
time how the silver in his halr nat
given place to snow.
Farmer Fosters tears no longer stoo-
in his ewes. but followed each other IL
ouick succession down his sun-brow.e'
cheeks. He felt, as did many others o.
the congregation, that at last Deacon
Ellis stood face to face with that mo
meut iu his life when there was nothing
left for gratitude. .,
For the FIRST Sunday since the littl'
church had heard his prayers Their
would be no Thanksgiving. Then th'
svmpatbetic farmer thought OF TIT
mortgage, already as good as lifted
and he felt a strong impulse to rise W
In his place and tell him; to cry out
"Thark the Lord if you wish; go oil
thanking Him.
So excited did he become that Us
Foster touched him on the arm ah'