Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-08-02

they are too narrow for Peter to rest
well. A horse needs plenty Of room,
and shall sleep better for it. too" :.
Once proposal like this would have
been met with derision, but Mr.. Blake
was surprised at his own readiness to
assist, and, while one bathed the stiff
legs, the other brought an extra meas.
ure of meal. you would soon spoil
the critters" He spoke loosely, and
little awkwardly.
"0h, no." said his companion, earn.
estly, 81 am only pleading for their
rights"
81 didn't know they had any such
particular rights" Mr.. Blake brought
the words out slowly.
"Oh, yes, every living thing has
rights we are bound to respect We
can make heaven for them here, II
we will, and for ourselves, too"
II thought Heaven was long way
OF, with an angry God to rule it."
Heaven Is right round us, or we
can make 1t the other place, as many
do ] see no anger In Gods dealings
with us. He has given us this beauti.
full world. 1t is the most boundless
love day after day; but we are slow to
learn the lesson, and to do by each
other and by every living creature
even as he is doing for us all the time"
Hiram Blake thought long while
over these words. He had never heard
anything like the ideas expressed In
them.
One evening, seated on the piazza,
the two men quite alone, Hiram cited
the case of woman who took money
from her husbands pocket, and asked
his friend II he did not think 1t was
taking what did not belong to her.
Mr.. Dixon inquired into the case-if
she worked without wages-if she re-
seived half Of the income regularly;
and, having learned the facts, declared
he thought 1t was plain case Of
stealing. Hiram shifted uneasily in
his chair. He did not exactly like to
have the woman branded in this way,
although he had invited the criticism.
But Mr.. Dixon continues.
"Yes, man that will force his wife
to have recourse to such extremeties--
wife who Is only toiler, not
sharer in the products of home--that
man is thief Of the worst type. For
what should he live but to make her
happy Instead Of that, he Is laying
up bitterness for himself, and sorrow
for all around him."
Hiram Blake shifted his weight from
one leg to the other. He had not ex-
pected this climax and he hastily
changed the subject
81 have been thinking of building
on to the kitchen, and putting more
windows In. My wife always said 1t
was too small and dark. What do you
Think" he asked.
Il should build new house, and
move this one away, II | owned it, and
could afford It"
II hadn't thought Of that; but
guess could do it."
Hiram took SO kindly to this view Of
the situation that the next time Paul
came home and told his father he had
heard his Aunt Ruby say his mother
was never coming to this house again,
Hiram only rubbed his hands and said,
cheerly: "She's right, Paul; your
mother never will"
lie had an architect to draw the
plans, and Mr.. Dixon gave many sug-
gestions. In time the house was fin.
ished and furnished, even to row Of
plants in the broad bay window. The
old housekceper knew the names OF
some favorites, and even contributed
a few herself, with much pride. At
last, Peter, harnessed to low, easy
carriage, was sent for the long absent
wife Little Paul was the driver, and
could scarcely contain his excitement.
His father had cautioned him to say
nothing about the new house, for he
had planned a surprise. Paul began
TO tell about the horse. ITS yours,
mother, your own. No one else can
drive Peter unless you say so. Isn't
he fat? And the new carriage is all
yours. Isn't it soft and springy?'
Mrs. Blake could hardly believe her
eyes OF course she had heard some
thing about the new building, but
that anything so fine had been pre-
pared for her, 1t would have taken
great faith indeed to believe Her hus-
band followed her from room to room
with delighted face. Quite tired out
with going over the house, she sat
down in the spacious living room be-
fore the plants, one mass of bloom and
fragrance.
"Some of them were Mr.. Dixon's gift
to you, and this is mine" he said, put
ting into her hand deed Of the place,
and bank book made out in her
name, with cash account of several
thousand dollars.
at is heaven on earth, Hiram"
Those words again! At last he felt
he had done something to be worthy
of them.-W. A. P. Neal, in Woman's
Journal
| Saving One Faro,