The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-09-19

where's 'Poleon's wife," the in
valid spoke with unwonted energy.
"In the kitchen getting tea. Do
you want her, Aunt Nancy9"
"No-only to know that she's out
of hearing. She understands better
than she talks. Helen" the sick
woman rose upon her elbow and
looked earnestly in the girls face
"Helen, I've got to free my mind be-
fore't ever l can get well. Do you
know that the old farms got to be
sold to pay the mortgage'"
ooh auntie! No."
swell, it has. An I'm a-laying
her just worrying to know what is
going to become of me. l don't want
to go to the poorfarm-an' wontp
"Of course notW cried Helen indig
nantly.
"I've been thinking p'raps might
toxic house at the village an board
if you're a-mind to let me. For the
rest of it l could go out nursin', or
washin', an | guess l could learn to
tend store for you"
But the labored words were scarce
ly comprehended, for into Helen's
heart and mind had burst the thought
toward which she had been slowly
and falteringly drawing near for the
past three years-the "Christ-idea,
self-giving. Not little-not half
but all. He gave himself. That
was her example. Unnecessary to fit
herself to help others if he gave her
different work.
That work was his. All she had
to do was to give up her life to him
to use as he saw fit. The words, $50
sell all that thou hast and come fol-
low me-" rang in her ears. Was not
this path 'following"7 By the time
Aunt Nancy had finished her plea
with the wistful question, "Don't you
s'pose could, Helen?" the answer
was ready-so fast does soul grow.
Placing hand tenderly on the knot
ted fingers which lay SO weakly on
the counterpart, she said quietly, 81
know something better than that,
Aunt Nancy. I shall buy the farm
myself"
"Helen Payson, have you gone
raving crazy?" exclaimed Mrs. Pay
son excitedly. where's the money
to come from 1 sh'd like to know7"
Listening to her grandniece's story
Mrs. Payson was easily persuaded.
Perhaps the sacrifice did not appear
so great to her as it really was, or
, perhaps she felt that the inestimable
privilege of owning that barren,
{ rocky spot of ground was compensa-
ton enough. At all events the mort
, gage was paid and Helen became the
/ owner of the farm.
For more than a week the heavy
spring rains beat upon the mountain
which overshadowed the house
Much of the farm consisted of the
, granite boulders of the mountain it.
self. Thin soil covered the sides of
gorges. Once great trees made this
tract valuable, but they had long
since been cut and their successors
destroyed by forest fres. On one of
these dreary evenings Helen was glad
to draw the curtains, and lighting
the lamps, sat down by her aunt's
bed to listen to her happy plans for
the future. Soon her attention was
arrested by strange sound. 1t rose
above the roar of rain and wind, fill
ing the air with boom like thunder
by sharp reverberations.
With startled face Helen clutched
her aunt's hand. AS the sound died
away the old lady treasured her.
"'Tain't nothin' but landslide" was
her explanation. "There amt any
danger of their hittin' the house.
They always come down in the east
medder. This is big one though
biggest I ever heard"
81 should hope SO" gasped Helen.
81 declare" spoke up the sick
woman with animation, 81 do b'lieve
it's likely to We brought down some
more of that green granite. 'Twould
seem most special providence if it
has"
"Green granite" echoed the girl in
surprise, 81 never heard of such a
thing. What dc you want it for?"
"Why, you see we had little land
slide that spring your Uncle Aaron
died, an it brought down piece of
green granite. Twas the prettiest
stone ever you see, an your uncle
kept talking about it when he was
sick. He wanted piece for tomb
stone. He said he didn't believe it
was all vanity made him banker for
it,-said it seemed to him 'twould
he hind of 'nronriata tn have a niece