Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-01-10

ne ulu come
"Oh motherl had he been drinking
n-aInI" asked the girl, now wide awake
and sitting up in bed.
Yes" sighed Mrs. Burke, despon-
IDENTITY. You'll have to go over and
get Ben Haynes to do the church worl,
to-day. It's swapping cold, and the
frc'l have to be made early 10 get tine
church warm enough, So you must
hurry"
"Yes, mother. Get me the keys. I'll
be down stairs in a minute"
Bette dressed herself quickly and
with a serious face. Hurrying down
stairs to the kitchen she tarriei long
enough to doa hood and cloak, dccliu-
ing meanwhile the "bite O. breakfast"
that her mother urged upon her, ald
only half needing tho direction that
Deacon Mcneil should be called upon if
Ben Haynes could not be found. Then,
taking bunch of keys from the table
she started, pausing at the door to say:
~ won't be back till after Sunday
school, mother. Don't worry about me.
I'm going to do pas work today; he'll
lDNE NA-t lJJ II bltF illtNl bA- LIZ D bIEu
drinking" And , .ttie was away before
her mother could utter word of protest.
When jim Burkc's wife was disabled
by rheumatism some months before, her
earnings as laundress to some of the
more thrifty families of tho community
ceased. The loss was serious matter,
for since jim, as q day laborer, was mott
noted for special dexterity, and his use
iulncss was further impaired by the un-i
fortunate drinking habit that occasion =
ally caused his prolonged absence from
duty, his work was not a source o.
regular or abundant supply. And though
the simple needs Of the family did not
exceed his income, tho unfinished pay
ment for their little cottage demanded
persistent effort of which poor weak
Jim seemed incapable.
Tho family council held to consider,
this unfavorablo state OF affairs was a,
brief one. Mr.. Burke tersely explained.
that Bettio's succession to her mother 4
work and earnings was tho most reason
able solution of the difficulty; that al
fourteen years girl ought to be some
thing moro than child, and he took oc
casion to denounce Bettie's desire to stay
at school until she could "keep store
mems books for 'cm" as the fruit of that
indulgence which his own experience
convinced him was inevitable in parents
of an only child.
Matters might have gone according to
this decision, had Mrs. Burke's energy
declined with her health, or had the loss
of her wage earning power exhausted
her virtues as Jim's "better half"
Favored by circumstances, she soon
found for him 'new job" in the vacant
Office of sexton in the Presbyterian
Church.
The committee wero won over to his
cause by the lack of other candidates,
and their apparent readiness gave HIM
some warrant for his frequent boast that
this was rare example of "the office
IeellinQ the man."
So great mark of favoritism moved
him to unwontei fidelity in the discharge
of his work, and to concession to Bettie's
ambitious desires. Their treasury was
replenished, aud Bette had been making
uninterrupted progress in her school
work, when this chilly Sunday morning
in March found the sexton temporarily
disqualified for his duties.
Bette began her work at tho church
with much confidence in herself as
o substitute official. She found de-
lightful demonstration of her power in
tho atmosphere OF the audience room
steadily growing warn after her vigor-
Gus efforts with the furnace. But her
courage ebbed Us she entered the chapel
in the rear OF the church. Jim's Satur-
day afternoons wero always given TO rc-
storing Sabbath order there, and now
the silont wall clock, the dari1enel win
dows aad the dust and disarrsngencut
from the mid week sessions betoGcuc
tue depth OF his neglect.
..ctIuG Ma too short ior the iO1r &C.
De swept before Sunday-school, which
convened after the morning service
comparative neatness was all she could
achieve; she would come back after
dinner and restore the room to its
wouted cleanliness before the . O'Clock
chapel service,
Ten o'clock found the sturdy Betty in
the tower room under the belfry, both
hands clinchng the thick rope, and her
heart beating so loudly that she won
de.ed whether she could hear the Meth
oiist bell.
IL Has the oplE other church bell in