The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-08-31

=
would like To, but as he can"
II wish you would let me take down
the partition between these two stalls,
they are too narrow for Peter to rest
well \ horse needs plenty of room
and j shall sleep better for it. too
Once a 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" lie spoke jocosely, and
little awkwardly.
'Oh. no said his companion, earn
estly, Il am only pleading for their
rights"
Il didn't know they had any such
particular rights Mr.. Il AXE brought
the words out slowly.
oh, yes. every living thing has
rights we are bound to respect. We
can make heaven for them here, if
we wiz. and for ourselves. too"
Il thought Heaven was a long way
off, with an angry God to rule it
Heaven is right round us. or we
can make it the other place, as many
do. | see no anger in Gods dealings
with us He has given us this beauti-
ful world. 1t is the most bounLless
love day after day; but we are slow to
learn the lesson. and To do 6y each
other and by every living creature
even as nc IS doing for Us all the time
Hiram. Blake thought a 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 a woman who took money
from her husbands pocket. and asked
his friend if he did not think ii WAS
taking what did not belong 10 her.
Mir. Dixon inquired into the case-if
she worked without wages-if she re-
ceIved half of the income regularly:
and. having learned the fac-s declared
he thought it was plain case of
stealing. Hiram shifted uneasiIy in
his chair. He did not exactly like to
have the woman branded in this way,
although he ha-. invited the criticism.
But Mr.. Dixon continued:
Yes. man that will force his wife
to have recourse to such extreInrtie,-
wife who is only toiler. not a
sharer in the ',~.,.I-cts of a home-that
man is a 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
Il have been thinking of building
on to the kitchen. and putting more
windows in. My wife always said it
was too small and dark. What do YOU
think?" he asked.
Il should build a new house. and
move this one away. if | owned it, and
could afford il"
II hadn't thought of shat; but l
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 h,. had
heard his Aunt Ruby sa Iis mother
was never coming to this 4Iouse again,
Hiram only rubbed his hands and said,
cheerily: 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 Il row of
plants in the broad bay window. The
old housekeeper knew the names of
some favorites. and even contributed
4 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 spriugy?''
Mrs. Blake could hardly believe her
eyes. OF course she had heard some
thing about the new building. but
that anything 50 fine had been pre-
pared for her, il 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 We're Mr.. Dixon's gift
to you. and this is mine" he said put
ting into her hand Il deed of the place,
and bank book made out in her
name. with a cash account of several
Thousand dollars.
lit is heaven on earth, Hiramr'
Those words again, At last he felt
he had done something to be worthy
of them.-W. A. L. Neal, in Woman's
Journal