The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-10

here for nearly twenty years straight at
the hearts of old Gabe Dent and few
others like him; preaching the Gospel of
charity, mercy, tenderness, forgiveness,
peace. They sit with closed eyes and
SIMULTANEOUSLY squared jaws and shout
| Amen y and are harder and crueler than
ever. Why, do you know" he contin-
ued with burst of almost pitiful dis
couragement, every clergyman in every
civilized community on earth could
gather the suffering and all but lost close
| within the folds of infinite love and
peace were 1t not for these very impassa-
bic barriers OF obdurate self-justitication,
disgusting cant, deadly Observation-Disclosures
ana merciless cruelty, set like flint,
within the church itself, toward every
unfortunate, suffering heart TO which the
| divine passion was alone directed"
The needles of Mother Marden and
| Ruth flew little faster, but beyond
sympathetic glances toward the man at
the lattice, there was no response.
Think of the treatment those poor,
| miserable transformers down at the
tavern are receiving in Dentville this
| very moment" he said with vigorous
gestures OF commiSeration and condem-
nation. as though eloquently pleading
their cause in his own pulpit.
w hat are transformers brother
Philip?''
"Eh? Why. broken-down actors or
reputable actors who, under the bitter
stress of necessity, go from one little
town to another with all manner of pa
thetic shifts and expedients, clutching
IKE scourged beasts at something upon
| which to live"
Little CALCULATIONS of surprise and pity
escaped the gentle women's lips
1hese miserable beings have tried to
give entertainments at the town hall The
! weather has whipped everyone out of the
streets. and, more sorrowful still. old
10 .1np-+ l,N =
duty, has warned away from the hall
every soul III the village his wealth or
| the fear of his hatred could influence.
| Result: Not half-dozen present the first
night, and not more than half that num-
Der last night. Tonight. in this bitter
storm, what can the attendance be?''
Dear, dear 7" and Poor souls - mur-
INJURED mother and daughter sympathet-
ically.
Worse than all, at old Gabe DENTS in
stlgatlon-as Gibbs leases the tavern from
| him and IS always behind in his rent
their ragamuffin belongings have been
! attached; they are without food, as I
learned at the postoffice at noon; the chief
| actor Is broken down and Ill, and all the
few members of the company are only
half-clad and are certainly halt-starved.' y.
What are they TO do?' asked Ruth
with dismal face, while Mother Mar
! den, who had laid her work aside, sat
with half-closed eyes soberly regarding
their own blazing fire.
w nat are they TO do, Ruth? If hui
man or divine interposition does not sue
cor them, they will all be turned into the
street to perish from hunger and the
storm. And this-God forgive nv un-
awaiting efforts here!-is in a Christian
community, in the nineteenth century
and at the very hight of an awakening of
Christian feryor and zeal ~
Isn't the first name of the leading
actress" began Mother Marden mus
ingly, and yet with slight tremor in her
voice, "the same as-as-''
es, mother, yes; the same as his
daughter, around whom my very life was
once wrapped. 1t was so long, long ago
that we may speak plainly of these mat
ters now," returned Philip Marden with
sudden solemnity.
Here mother and daughter EXCHANGED
furtive glances of tenderness and pity.
1T would almost seem that this alone
would touch the old 'Suuire's heart.
Why. !, who am not her blood and who
so long ago forgave her for the seeming
cruelty of her leaving us for the allure
ments of the stage, have been deeply
stirred by this mere coincidence OF
Names
''Of course it could be only a coinci-
dence," suggested Ruth comfortingIy.
why only pe' sister Ruth? Stranger
things are daily happening all around us
tndu IhdC ILLS pIoken lie, IN very QeSper-
alton OF all other recourse, in its bitter
extremity should steal back here with
some vague impulse OF affection, of heart
hunger. OF looking again, even in this
wretched fashion, in the faces of those
she once had loved, should some of them
| still be faces of stone"
Philip, have you felt that you had anv
duty in this matter?"
When Mother Marden said this. there
was that glowing In her fine plain face
which made 1t easy to know the noble
strain through which had come this hum
bic village pastors intiexible manhood
and ail-conpassing human charity,
Yes, just this. But come here. and
will show you part of it now" he said.
quietly, as he seated himself at his desk
In front of him lay two huge pieces of
card board. lie traced upon these in wide
and generous lines lew well chosen
words and signed them with his name
Then, turning TO The two who were bent
over him proudly, he knew, without
speech, that what he had written echoed
the wishes Of their own gentle hearts.
IF these can help them along their
wretched way little, well and good" he
continued, as he turned to the CHEEKY fire
to more quickly dry the ink. IF they Go
not, then"
Then" interrupted Mother Marden
calmly and Ruth Marden enthusiastically
following with their eyes Philip Mar
u6n > HAPPY SlauCe around the humbia
home. I'VE can help them somewhat
here!''
Yes. yes, dears! Now for my great
coat and hat"
The mother brought one, the sister the
other, and with many encouraging pat
tings and caressIngs, they both brought
him to the door and into the roaring
storm, following his fine, manly figure as
it Iabored slowly down the street, with
kindling, loveful. misting eyes.
lie had scarcely time to have re-enterad
the parsonage from his erraud with the
notices at the Postoffice and church door
when Reuben Screws stood at the posi-,
Office window before the PASTORS pIacard
his weazened face working grimaciuplv
as he spelled out the lines and beat The
words, for faithfully carrying back to his
master, slowly and carefully into his hard
old head. Ihls is what he finally mas
tered:
NOTICE
Owing to the serious inclemency of the
weather, there viii be no service at the church
this evening.
Those who can spare the necessary means
ana VINO reel SO disposed might pass a pleas
ant ana instructive evening, while CARRYING
out the principles OF true Cnristian charity
by attending the players entertainment to-
night at DentviIe Hall
J Due reasons for this suggestion by your pas