Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-12-21

lived over in memory the piteous spec
tactes he had seen that day, his oldest
son, Robert came to him and said;
'Father, am eighteen years old, l
know the daily self remuneration of
your life, and mothers. | know that
from your little means you have given
more than you can spare: let me help
you. | am old enough, let me 60 out
and earn enough to keep myself and
help you in your generous work-may
], father?' And the boy bent forward,
looking eagerly into his fathers down
cast face. For some moments he sat
in silent thought, and then drawing
Robert into a seat beside him talked to
him long and earnestly of all he would
called into the council ard it was at
last decided that he should go east
TO service.
x :; ::
Death thinned out the overcrowded
houses of the poor with ruthless hand.
And amid the congregation who sat
beneath that pale pastors ministra
tions and wondered why Mrs. Hayward
wore the same bonnet for two seasons
and dressed so very plainly, few knew
that the new bonnet had gone in ice
and medicine for the sick. and the
money for the new dress in ShrOudS and
burial for the dead.
When fall had come again and Rob
ert wrote that he had worked hard all
summer for but little pay; that he was
weary and homeSick and tired of strug-
Cling on alone; could he not come
home? he had neither money nor
clothes to begin the winter there: he
was heartsick and discouraged; what
should he do?
For a week the parents debated the
subject. The mothers fond heart cried
come the fathers clear head said.
II don't like to see him give up
But affection prevailed in the end
and Mr.. Hayward drew his last check
upon his little horde Of savings and
enclosed it to him, telling him. Come
if you must, stay if you can. If work
Is hard and wages are small half
loaf is better than no bread and ex-
perience is capital that is always
good" The weeks crept by; another
letter came, telling them that he could
still retain his position, that, though
he was still homesick and hard worked
and saw no chance of lettering him
self, he would stay while longer.
The winter closed down drearily.
The long strain on mind and body
had worn the active pastor to
shadow of his former self. And as
call after call was made upon his fail
ing forces, his courage gave out, and
gloom and dependency settled down
over the bright spirit and stout heart
of Horace Hayward.
On Christmas morning, as he sat at
breakfast with his wife and son, he
said:
81 have no Christmas gifts for you
this morning, dear ones. I wish that l
could have had, but while we see SO
much misery about us 1 feel that it
would be wrong for us to put money
into gifts. I can do little now for lack
of funds, for all we had is gone and all
my calls for help seem Of little use. It
has been hard winter for US, Mary,
but we will come through ali right.
We can not see the way now, but God
will guide and help us" AS he
spoke the bell rang, and the postman
handed in two bulky letters and
package. The first he opened was
from Robert; he wrote in jubilant
spirits, he had been advanced into a
pleasant position in which he would re-
ceive good salary. The president of
the company had talked with him and
found that he knew his richards
father, and was so kind to him he had
invited him to eat his Christmas dinner
at his home, and he was
not sad or lonely any more.
He told them not to worry
about him, that he was in good place
and in fair way to advance. He re-
turned the check, saying that he would
not need it now, blessed them both
and sent a little token of his love.
While the mother kissed and cried
over the letter and the token" the
perplexed pastor tore open the other
letter to find, if possible, the solution
to this pleasant mystery. As he opened
it check for fifty dollars fell out upon
his knee, and with a face filed with
astonishment he read:
My dear Mr.. Horace (for to me you
can never be anything else), l send you
a Christmas greeting; have. YOU fqg-