Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-06-04
"A HAPPY SUGGESTION.
How We May Fulfn One of Christ's Conn.,
Awv.an

Il
mandments.
The old minister closed the book and
looked around the village church. "You
are told" he said, when you make q
feast to call to it, not your rich neigh
bors, but the poor, the manned and the
blind. Now. none of you. are going to
set out a fine dinner or supper this week.
Some of us never, in our lives gave q
great entertainment. Yet the order is
to us. Iwant each one of you, when you
go home, to consider what God hasgiven
to you besides food with which to mako
feast, and who are the poor folk whom
you should bid to it." s23G .U9N
People glanced, smiling. at each
other, for the good man was full of
queer suggestions. But the idea ro-
NAMED in the minds of some of his
hearers, making their Sunday after
noon uncomfortable.
1t bothered Phil Dorrance as he sat
alone in his room. He usually sat alone,
except when Mt his meals. Phil was the
blacksmith's son, whom his father, by
dint OF years Of hard work and saving.
had sent to college. He was grateful to
his father, but he felt that his education
had made great gulf between him and
the old man., His companions were his
classmates. He had meant to spend
this afternoon with some Of them, dis
cussing a paper he had written on the
history of his native state. Instead, he
took Ii downstairs to the kitchen,
where his father and mother in their
Sunday clothes sat nodding over the
fire. How bare and empty their lives
were-vork and sleepl .-
81 want to read you something have
written" he said, cheerfully.
They drew up their chairs, their eyes
sparkling with pride and delight, and
listened with keen, shrewd intelli-
gence that surprised him. They were
able, too, to correct some mistakes he
had made, and to give him some facts
new to him.
II haven't he'd as pleasant day for
paper was finished. His old mother
said nothing, but kissed him, her eyes
full of tears.
In another farmhouse Grace Peel sat,
also thinking Of the old doctors ques-
ton. She was musician from the city,
who cared only for classical music. At
home her playing gave keen pleasure
TO her friends whose musical taste had
been cultivated. "They are my rich
neighbors," she thought. Rising, she
went down TO the parlor and opened the
old piano.
Suppose" she said, 1--WE sing some
hymns-all of us?" ,...,,,......,..
The farmer called in the boys excited
ly. 1--WE hewitt had the piano opened
since Nancy went away" he said.
Come, grandma. I'll move up your
cheer. You must jine in"
They sang "Jesus, lover Of my SOUL"
and Nearer, my God, to Thee" Sarah,
the black cook, came to the door, and
threw in a wild note Of triumph now
and then. The discord sometimes made
Grace SILVER, but she played on.
Grandma asked for the old hymns she
had sung when she was girl, and the
boys for Hold the Fort" When the
afternoon was over the farmer said to
Grace: cts been real happy time.
You play as well az my daughter
Nancy" Grandma laid her wrinkled
hand on Grace's shoulder.
1.-THE happy hours are so few ut my
age!" she said. God bless you for Civ
ing me this one, my child"
Squire Patton was known as the best
story-teller in the country. With
strangers he was courteous, gay, and
always ready with n joke. At home he
A.. Ill "a
crnoon he told his wife some of his best
stories, leaving her surprised and laugh
ing, and amazed his stableman by
speaking to him cheerfully and kindly
"It's hardly fair" said the squire to
himself, Ito give all your good things to
strangers, and leave the poor in your
own household unfed."
So the minister's question was an