The herald., 1897-11-14
Al
!: UNCLE AARON ON ;
!: !: The WAYS OF PROVIDENCE ;
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"The ways of providence is past findin'
ont" remarked Uncle Aaron the other
evening. as l sat resting on the pach
stems. Since the old mare was stolen
I have had to walk three miles and hall
to the car line every morning and PACK
at night. 1t is a delightful tramp If one
is not too tired, and the roads are not
muddy, Sometimes 1 ask for lift in
passing rig, but there are not many
companions like Uncle Aaron, and better
than the coarse ribaldry and mean
spirited gossip of ordinary companion
ship-far better the most deSolate lone
liness and the most utter WEAKNESS
oh. the words men speak-bearlng lie
and death, setting OH fire the basest
passions and kindling the holiest deVo-
ton. Well has it been said by One who
knows, by thy words shalt thou be
justified. and by thy words shall thou be
condemned"
Yes. better face the most desolate
loneliness than close touch with evil.
But in nv walks there is no loneliness.
The great Sierras, from their purple
heights, send me mighty silent SYM
pathy, till 7 forget my puny, greedy self,
lifting my heart and eyes and mind
see in springing grasses, fleecy clouds
and mists and snow-clad SUBMITS,
meanings deeper far and higher, truer,
nober than appear to weather prophets
If YOU don't see them, you no doubt
think the weather prophet has the best
of it. But when I get home, passing
five or six saloons, and flocks of grazing
sheep and herds of lowing cattle, nobier
than their masters I am in a mood for
Uncle Aaron's dissertation on the ways
of providence--with illustrations.
1.-The ways of providence is past findin'
OUT said Uncle Aaron. why, when
that ther feller COM the night o the
first rain an asst eff he c'uld take is
blankets an sleep in the barn, looked
at i'm mighty clost-all fired clost-an'
I never see a feller at looked like bein'
honester an more deservin' O. help. An
then fer that little, pale, shiverin', sickly
skunk to git up in the middle O. the night
an light out with my mare an your
harness an wagon-w'll, s'r, it jest lays
me clean out. Wall, them that has must
| lose-like the feller at the calf ct up is
shirt. or feller he didn't hev but one
shirt, an he went t. bed while is wife
| washed it. OF woman she come in an
says-ol, woman says, Hennery, law me,
the calf's done ct up yer shirt or feller
he looks up kinder sorry cheerful like,
an he says, Wall, Mirandy, them that
has must lose Seems like that's the
way with us. 'spose it's our Christian
duty t. fergive the mean little cuss, an
pray fer i'm, but it docs go agin human
natur, nohow. The ornery, sneakin' pup.
Good thing I didn't git my hans on i'm
this first day er so. l wouldn't a took
thirty dollars fer thet mare, fer all did
git 'er fer fifteen"
Uncle Aaron sighed and sat silent for
a time, while 1 meditated on the muta-
bility of earthly things and the serene
majestic procession of the purposes of
the Creator. A few years ago, before
Aramnta or my little ones entered with
blessings into my life, I was walking
down Spring street one Sunday morn
ing, restless and dissatisfied with my
self and everything else, when looking
up caught a glimpse Of woman's face