The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-06-20

smoke They sprang out OF bed, te
sec the flames already bursting through
the door opening into the parlor.
"The money the money |" screamed
Abner, frantically, and rushed into
flames, only TO be driven quickly back
He flew outdoors and round 20 the
parlor windows, hoping TO gain en-
trance there but ho was too late. The
whole house seemed TO be in flames
it burned like tinder.
Before any of the neighbors were
aroused, before Abner and his wife
thought of anything but the money
the whole house and oil il contained
was gone-money, furniture, clothing
everything gone in a night
At first the thought of his loss drove
Abner almost wild. He raved like
madman, and his wife looked into his
face in speechless agony.
What could she say? How was she
to comfort man like him for the lost
of his property? She did not think
of herself for a moment; she only felt
for him.
But all she could do was to pray
silently that God would mercifullJ
help him to bear his grief. And as il
in answer to her humble prayer, g
miracle began then and there to be
worked in Abner's sordid soul. While
he sat on the great chopping-block il
the dooryard, in the midst of the ruiz
of his hopes, gradually his misery
seemed to abate.
The sun had risen, the birds were
twittering in the trees. and by and by
the COWS came up the lane one by ont
of their own accord to tho milking
The old horse and the colt in the field,
put their heads over the fence ant
whinnied, and finally the great rooster
strutted up quite close to Abner ant
crowed encouragingly. Abner, looking
up into his wife's face, almost smiled
81 forgot the creatures, he said,
slowly. They're left to us-and
there's the land. If we only had the
money to build the new house with
wouldn't care"
"Never mind; we shall get along
somehow. reckon the Lord'll pro
vide, she answered cheerfully.
''BelindY," said Abner, tremulously
"the worst of it is deserve it all. AND
see here" hesitating and speaking
with evident effort, "I-I'm afraid I've
got nobody but myself to blame fol
the fire. Belindy-I suppose-it was
my own hand that set that fire. You
see l went into the parlor just at dusl
to make sure the money was safe be
fore going to bed, and not contentet
with feeling it, lit a match to see.
expect that match done the mischief
it must be And believe it's judg
ment upon me, too.
Yes" he sobbed, breaking dow
entirely now, eyes, I've been a grasp
ing, wicked man, and now granpa'
money"
At the mention of grandpa Belinda
sprang up with cry, and hastened t.
the chamber in the tree, closely fol
lowed by her husband. In their sci
fish grief they had quite forgotten
grandpa! Was he safeP
They clambered quickly up the step
and reached the landing. There ol
the bed lay the old man, still sleeping
He was very sound sleeper always
and evidently the fire had not wakene,
him.
Ashley looked upon him, the though
of what would probably have been hi
fate had he been sleeping in the house
m made their blood run cold.
"We should have forgot him-anC
we couldn't have saved him, anyway /
they said.
While they stood there he awoke
Seeing his unusual visitors, he sa
up in bed and rubbed his eyes, littl,
bewildered; then suddenly a wonder
fully bright expression illumined hi
dim old face, and he laughed aloud.
81 know, Belindy. Ihaint forgot I
he chuckled, and slipping his han
! under the pillow, he drew out tn
bundle done up in the bandanna tina
they had hidden in the parlor cup
board, and delivered it over to BE
linda.
81 knew it would be safest here witt
me" he explained simply. "Thieve
don't never look up in the trees TO
money"
/ They built the new house, an
grandpa's room was the largest an
best room in it. Mary and the bah
came home to live, and mother an
D daughter did the housework togethe
r easily.
The next year grandpa forgot a
about his May-moving. He was col
= tented and haDpy in the new house
| where he now found everything "fre
r and welcome" But he still likes h
, chamber in the tree, and sits ther
often of a summer afternoon, porin
= reverently over his Testament or gai
( ing up through the trees, dreamin
r perhaps of heaven.-Youth's CompaI
K ion.
2 Bicycles for Horses.