Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-06-25

smoke! They sprang out of bed, tt
see 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 to th'
parlor windows, hoping to gain en-
trance there; but he was too late. Ih'
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 all it 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 6
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 los'
of his property? She did not thinl;
of herself for moment; she only felt
for him.
But all she could do was to pray
silently that God would mercifuly
help him to bear his grief. And as if
in answer to her humble prayer a
miracle began then and there to be
worked in Abner's sordid soul. Willie
he sat on the great chopping-bloc4 in
the dooryard, in the midst OF the ruin
of his hopes, gradually his misery
seemed TO abate.
The sun had risen, the birds were
twittering i'll the trees. and by and by
the COWS came up the lane one by one
of their own accord to the milking.
The old horse and the colt in tho field.
put their heads over the fence and
whinnicd, and finally the great rooster
strutted up quite close to Abner and
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. l reckon the Lord'll pro-
vide" she answered cheerfully.
'Belindy," said Abner, TREMENDOUSLY,
"the worst of it is l deserve it all. And
see here" hesitating and speaking
with evident effort, "I-1'm afraid I've
got nobody but myself to blame for
the fire. Belindy-I suppose-it was
my own hand that set that fire. You
see [ went into the parlor just at dusk
to make sure the money was safe be-
fore going to bed, and not contented
with feeling it, lit match to see. 1
expect thnt match done the mischief /;
it must be! And 1 believe it's judg-
ment upon me, too.
eyes" he sobbed, breaking down
entirely now, eyes, I've been a grasp
ing, wicked man, and now granpa's
money"
At the mention OF grandpa Belinda
sprang up with cry, and hastened to
the q chamber in the tree, closely fol-
lowed by her husband. In their sell
fish grief they had quito forgotten
grandpal Was he safe?
They clambered quickly up the stops
and reached the landing. There on
the bed lay the old man, still sleeping.
He was a very sound sleeper always,
and evidently the fire had not wal1ened
him.
Ashley looked upon him, the thought
of what would probably have been his
fate had he been sleeping in the house,
made their blood run cold.
eve should have forgot him-and
we couldn't have saved him, anyway -
they said.
While they stood there he nwol1e.
Seeing his unusual visitors, he sat
up in bed and rubbed his eyes, little
bewildered; then suddenly wonder
fully bright expression illumined his
dim old face, and he laughed aloud.
II know, Belindy. Ihaint forgot -
he chuckled, and slipping his hand
under the pillow, he drew out the
bundle done up in the bandanna that
they had hidden in the parlor cup
board, and delivered it over to Be-
linda.
81 knew it would be safest here with
me-" he explained simply. "Thieves
don't never look up in the trees for
money"
They built the new house, and
grandpa's room was the largest and
best room in it. Mary and the baby
came home to live, and mother anil
daughter did the housework together
easily.
The next year grandpa forgot all
about his May-moving. He was con-
tented and happy in the new house,
where he now found everything "free
and welcome. =" But he still likes his
chamber in the tree, and sits there
often of q summer afternoon, poring
reverently over his Testament or gaz-
ing up through tho trees, dreaming
perhaps of heaven. Youths Compan.
ion.