The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-11-07

er , ldVOTlie eApTeSSlOp, ana Dafuly
heard it; at least 1t made no impress
sion upon them to prevent their asking
for other things, as, indeed, she had
no desire that it should.
When Mary, the Oldest daughter,
was married, the Montagues were not
as well off as they were later. But
things had accumulated i'll the house,
for Mr.. Montague had his popularity
as well as his wife, and his habit was
to attend auctions-vendue It was then
called generally. a French word mean
Ing sale, or sold off, and pronounced
by them vandu. From such sales MI.
Montague brought home many unnec-
essary articles, of which they already
had duplicates in the house; but in
stead Of scolding her husbands vast
Ing money, Mrs. Montague selected
the best of the many articles and
put them away, wisely nodding her
head and saying to herself, "This will
do for. Mary to begin with"
Mrs. Montague had married young
n took 1t for granted hat her child
rem would do the same. When Mary
was married and needed a Setting
out" h with the taxes to pay and
the carpenters who were building him
q new barn, Mr.. Montague had little
ready money. However, for all prac-
teal purposes, Mary had a plentiful
outfit from home. Still, though her
mother parted with a few things that
she herself needed, she was constant
ly telling the n%eighbors as they came
In, of her empty house and saying, in
her loud, cheerful tones; "Mary has
just robbed me; but then she would
add: We'll, well, you know, Mary's
our own folks
In due time the old cradle was
brought down out of the garnet, for
Mary's first baby, and then again it
was all for "Our own folks The
years went on as years do, and while
every new re1uisition upon Mrs. Mon
''"ne was freely granted and in her
!rt she felt it a privilege to give,
Stlli the ungracious words fell from
her lips. 81 suppose you must have it
as you are our own folks"
Grandchildren and great g%randchild-
rem sat at the Montague board, and
reverently and heartily Mr.. Montague
an old man now, thanked the ALTA
Their for the blessing of long life and
prosperity and the many olive plants
about the table. Mrs. Montague
though past the threescore years and
10 that David enjoyed life, still re-
manned mistress of her w home
and dispensed the sweet charities of
life. Often and again she sent a poor
neighbor into her pantry and babe her
help herself and take a share home to
the children; and many a child re-
members with grOwn-up pleasure the
apples he was sure to be welcomed to
on Mrs. M%ontague's back porch. Her
early habits of industry, acquired
when it was necessary to economics,
We're still n feature of her daily
life; and though later generations
might smile at her thrift, not unfre-
quently were they glad to avail them
selves of the results of her industry
and economy.
But all at once the springs of life,
seemed dry; and, as her husband truly
said, "Wife seems to have lost her
grip on life" The old family physi-
clan was summoned. Really" said
he, you seem like a clock Just about
run down.
Yes feebly responded Mrs. Mon
tague; "and l did not send for you to
wind up the old clock, my life is about
over. I've had a long and busy life;
but now I'm going to die, and never
thought anything about dying before.
| sent for you not to doctor me, but
to tell me about dying"
"Oh," mentally exclaimed the old
physician, mo sooner had | come to
years of discretion than | thought
about dying and settled the matter to
my satisfaction" 1t was such a sur
prise to the doctor that any one could
live to old age and never think about
dying. in the dying world, that at
first he made no response. But Mrs.
Montague did not notice; for she was
too busy with her own thoughts, new
thoughts about dying.
The doctor also asked himself be-
fore speaking; "Why did she not send
for the Minister But, at last, after
some preliminary observations, he
quoted the beautiful passage that has
comforted so many dying beds, For
God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son that whatsoever
believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life"
The physician felt sure that the in
valid had saving faith i'll Christ as
the Son of God, our Saviour. But she
had said that she had never thought
about dying, and he could not freely
express such thoughts, so he repeated
the fourth verse of the 23rd Psalm:
'"Though walk through the valley of
death, | will fear no evil; for Thou art
with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they
comfort me-"
81 have learned" said Mrs. Montague
ION that staff all my days, and trust
in God has held me up; but now it is
a matter of dying that l have come
to. and what shall | do?"
Still trust" responded the doctor.
She looked at him with unsatisfied
and questioning eyes though she did
not speak. Theoretically" unused
the doctor, 'but practically, practi-
cally!' and he asked for a prayer book
and read the beautiful prayer for the
sick beginning: 80 God, whose. days
are without end, and whose mercies
cannot be numbered, make us, we be
seech Thee, deeply sensible of the
ShortneSS and uncertainty of human
life"
After a little he took up a Tesla
ment printed in large type that was
on a table near at hand and opened
it rather meditatively and at random
to the first chapter of st. John.
When he had reached the 18th verse
and read: II came to His w and
His W received Him not. But as
many as received Him to them He
gave power to become the children of
God" The doctor closed the book
saying: "We are His own folks if we
receive Him
ooh ~ hpi,rhtIu ,poIain,nJ Ma. A.