The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-26

securely fastened, for his wife and daugh-
tiers had gone to look at the shop windows.
They wished not to buy, only 10 look. SO
| the Man Who Never Lived sat down on the
doorstep TO await their homecoming. 1t
was a beautiful evening. Broad bands Of
| carmine streaked with the daintiest hair
lines of dazzling gold made the west a
picture too grand to be sighted. while the
dark blue Of the east n such Of the north
and south as was not hidden by the houses
and blooming cherry trees was piled with
white and purple inted clouds. 1t was all
beautiful. and the Man Who Never Lived
always appreciated all Of natures beauty.
AS he looked east and west at the
glorious beauty of the dying day he
thought; thinking was a pleasant thing for
the Man Who Never Lived. as he had MOTH
ing to regret. The world called him foolish.
but he only laughed. He had inherited a
large and thriving factory. The business
afforded a means Of becoming Immediately
wealthy had the legatee desired to con-
tinue the system OF starvation wages that
had prevailed hitherto. But the young man
walked among the homes of the laborers.
His heart bled for them so he sold the
business and divided the proceeds among
the employees. They wore grateful and
wished the young man well. though they
knew the wealth was rightfully theirs.
Then a great party begged the Man Who
Never Lived to become their candidate for
a great office; to pose as the laborers'
friend. But he laughed and refused. IT
would nave to live lies" he said.
The Man Who Never Lived loved a girl
who was poor; he loved her for her purity
and loneliness Of character. When pretend
| ed friends urged him to marry a wealthy
girl whose heart was thrown at his feet.
and when they spoke evil OF the poor girl
whom he loved, he said: you lie, and
are not my friends" He married the poor
girl; children came, and the father and his
friends laughed-they In scorn; he In pure
| JOY, for he loved his children and enjoyed
poverty-this Man Who Never Lived.
When his own daughters grew to lovely
womanhood he called them to him and said:
Daughters. your father knows the men Of
the world; he loves you. Choose for your
selves among those that may seek your
hands, and may the wisdom OF pure love
guide you. Look not upon a young mans
purse. but upon himself and his qualities.
Only be guided by your fathers knowledge
anu experiences as 10 whether the mdu DC
pure and true" And his daughters obeyed
him In letter and in spirit.
When the assessor came to see the Man
Who Never Lived he gave in his property
at its full value, hiding nothing, even adj
hitting the ownership OF a dog: and when
the publican had gone, and the Man Who
Never Lived found that he had omitted GER
tain chattels, he ran half a mile In the burn
inc Srrp IN oo1I borl< the x,,l,lso an ard
set him right. He was a good, consistent
man in every walk of life.
Yes, he was the Man Who Never Lived:
1 know it. for / have studied the world.
A Fathers Promise.
After a long. happy romp. in which the
baby had been tossed, kissed, tickled and
spanked. alternately. the little one went
sound asleep in her ather's arms, and was
laid in her crib. The father. also wearied
by the romping, lay down on the floor be
side the crib. propped himself up on one
elbow and gazed thoughtfully at the baby's
face and form. He thought. and his
thoughts were like this:
You are pure. my baby. pure as the un-
fallen snowflake body, mind and soul.
Would God 1 were as pure. Yet those lips
give warning of sensuality. / need no;
wince-they are my own in miniature. Q
baby, baby, IL YOU should be left alone,
fatherless. motherless, alone with that in
satiable craving for the loving touch. for
the caress and the passionate kiss. will
some fiend incarnate study you, only TO
lure you to ruin and break that little heart
that now bounds in pure love and trust?
Your fathers curse be on him-but to what
avail? Will not the world smile on the
st - - - la
the degraded woman-my own and your
mothers child? Then my curse on such a
world. Sleep on, sweetheart, sleep on. You
are pure as the dew-kissed anemone,
my treasure. Yet mayhap you have inherit
ed a stubborn RIGHTEOUSNESS that will lead
you far from love. honor and
home. Should you dc this, baby, would
1 be like the father of Ollah Toph's 'Prodi-
gal Daughter true, faithful and
forgiving, or would 1 be a worldly parent.
false to my child in retaliation for her dis
regard, refusing to practice the love and
forbearance / now profess? If I should, then
may the curse Of the untrue and the be
trayer rest upon me. Sleep on. baby dar-
ling! Your father will try always to consider
that in whatever particular your sins ex-
coed his own, it will be but a perpetuation
of his own faults under greater temptation.
Sleep on, my love-hedged heart's-ease! You
are safe, for time and for eternity, under the
guardianship of an infinite love-mothers
Fathers and fathers. a triune, ali protecting
love-"
The baby raised one white hand from the
~red-knotted comfort. and without opening
her eyes or waking. laid il on her fathers
stubb,y cheek. The father did not pray.
He did not need to pray. He and the Eter-
nal Father were one in purpose toward the
little babe. S. w. GILLIAN.
Richmond, Ind.
A HORSE THAT CAN COUNT.