Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-04-19

hold"
But she, as she spoke, left her seat,
and knelt before him, resting her
head upon his breast, as he sat be-
fore their evening fire, In child-lilxe
fashion all her own; and as he ca
ressed her tenderly, whispered
Arthur, do not bid me 60, for I
must stay here, and do all / can
watch with them, pray with them,
nurse them, Sstrive to comfort the be-
reaved. / should indeed be all they
think of me II /, their pastors wife,
fed at such time. Oh, cannot
CO."
The man listened at first uncon-
WINGED. 'Ann, my dear" he said
gently, I'VE owe them nothing. Re-
member, they have used us shame
fully, and am actually their pastor
no longer"
But his wife pleaded earnestly !;
pleaded to stay amidst the danger,
and touching his heart by her sweet
Christian spirit brought him at last
to consent.
And at dawn the two went forth
upon their mission. In their selfish
horror kinsfolk fed from each other.
Sisters shrunk from those who had
been nursed at the same breast
children deserted their parents, and
friends grew brutal to each other,
but those two young creatures never
swerved from their appointed task;
like ministering angels they went
from house to house, aiding the
weary physician, supporting the
mothers failing courage, heaping
Goals of fire on the heads of the
Farmingvalep people. Sometimes they
were together, but more frequently
apart; there was so much to do.
When they could they met in the old
parsonage, but often they were sep
arated for several days. But their
prayers followed each other always.
1t was trying time, but they were
very faithful and courageous. Some
of these who had been most cruel to
Ann Bartlett were her patients now,
and lay helpless as infants while she
watched over them.
When, save for her, no friend had
watched beside the couch of loathe-
some disease; when her own hands
robed the dead infant for it's last
sleep; when she sat all night in the
bathroom, and it was known to all
what mission she had taken upon
herself, wonder filled the village, and
in little while there arose to heaven
many fervent prayers for Ann Bart
lett and her husband.
All through the winter the pesti-
lence ragged, then when so many
homes were left desolate, it began to
abate, and on May day the church
bell was rung to tell the people that
the dread disease was stayed.
But before night sad news was car
ried around the village. She who had
watched with the sick, who had
closed the eyes of the dead, who had
been so gentle and patient, was
smitten, now that she was no longer
needed.
The windows Of the parsonage were
darkened, and silence as of death
reigned throughout its rooms, for the
angel of the house lay trembling
on the margin of the grave. Another
pastor preached on this Sabbath in
Farmingvale, and all knew well why
he was there. Arthur Bartlett watch
ed beside his darling's bed, and never
left it day or night.
Then the hearts of those to whom
she had ministered went up in prayer
that she might be spared to them and
to him; and their prayers were an
swered-Ann Bartlett lived.
Arthur Bartlett is still the pastor
in Farmingvale for the penitent people
will not part with him. Through his
wife, his cherished wish has come to
pass; and in his parish there is only
one more loved and revered than the
minister-now white-haired and ven-
erable-and that one is the minister
Blade.