The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-01-20
when. full Of hope. they had moved to

ou<S turning oNcT new teuI,
thought Long; "and l must" Panta-
looms in hand he stepped to the door
aud cast the tobacco across tho garden.
lie saw IL fall on the onion bed. noted
the place. and burriedly dressed.
The day began still and sultry, clouds
still lingering in the south and west.
The children were hoeing afield and
Long was plowing in the cotton. His
wifeJwas missing from her usual place
of espial in the doorway. After the
breakfast dishes had been cleared away
she picked up the hoe and began to
work industriously in the garden.
It'll be of little use" she thought,
ns the hoe thumped on the hard ground
and ratified among the rocks; "but it
strengthens folks in their resolution. to
keep busy"
"Why, what's this?" she said. pick
ing up something in the onions. well,
II il ain't Henry's tobacco" Her sus-
picions were confirmed. She involun-
tarily glanced toward the field; she was
just In time to see her husband disap-
pear in the brush down the side of
ravine that ran across the farm. "The
second time he's stopped this morning.
Something must be ailing him" She
stood leaning against the hoe. gazing
intently at the spot where he had van
ished. Five, ten. fifteen minutes passed.
md her husband had not returned to
the mule that stood patiently in the
sun doggedly fighting the flies.
Her curiosity, not altogether un-
mixed with fear. was aroused. She
dropped the hoe and. still holding the
tobacco, started under cover OF the
patch Of corn for the ravine. She en-
tered it and crept along the dry bed
toward the spot where Long had disap-
peard. She had made only few yards
when she stopped and listened She
could hear mumbling just ahead. She
was almost sure il was Henry's voice.
What could be the trouble? He must
be hurt. and she could scarcely restrain
nm impulse to rush TO his side. What
she did was to crawl cautiously some
yards further. Only bush or two sep
nrated her from her husband. and she
could hear him distinctly.
Lord help me-" he was saying. give
me more faith. lam so weak; I've tried
SO hard to quit. o Lord. give me
strength for LUIS sake. 1t worries her
sc to see me throwing my money away,
an II takes from her an the children.
q Lord help me-help me!"
A deep rumbling rolled along the
vest; hurrying clouds passed under the
sun. A silence fell for a time on the
ridge: then n breeze came sweeping up
the ravine that smelled OF rain. Long
lpaused only moment TO listen TO the
prophetic sounds. and feeling that II
was propitious time for more com
prehensive prayer. he resumed: "Ycs.
Lord. help. and ifit be Thy will send us
rain. We so badly need rain. Lord.
for LUIS sake and the children. send US
rain, o Lord. help me. help me give
up the filthy stun! And, Lord. IL II Is
Thy will give us bountiful crop: we
need another mule. we need some plows.
we need so many things; an, o Lord.
we so much need well. LUIS health
is poor. an she can't drink poor water.
o Lord. give us n big crop, an for LUIS
sake give us n WELL"
Louisa fell on her face and cried out:
30 Lord, have mercy on me. selfish
old sinner Help me. O Lord, TO keep
from worrying, an help me be submis-
sive."
| lao rl Il Issv. 81 I,
the brush. Long heard his wife APP
preaching. and. still on his knees.
turned and faced her with an express
sion Of blank amazement.
Get up from there. henry. I've
been a-hearin' you. an I'm n selfish old
sinner, a-begrudgin' you the little sat
isfacton We have from your quid" She
stepped nearer to him and extended the
piece Of tobacco. Here's yer tobacco:
| found it in the onion bed where you
throwed it; il it's any comfort to you
takeit an chew it, an I'll never open
my mouth in 4 word Of complaint ag'iu
amt We goin' TO take it?"
Long had risen TO his feet and stood
staring at his wife and the protfered to-
bacco. a tear rolled slowly down his
cheek, and he raised his hand and
brushed il away.
"Lu. you're too good; it's me that's
the selfish old brute" he began. husk-
lily. God being my helper, III never
put a chew in my mouth again until
you nave a home in the valley and
we'll Of lasting water"
lie took the dirty piece of tobacco
( and hurled il far down the ravine Be
fore it had reached the ground large
ldrops of rain began TO fall on the
sparched ground and splash on the dry
lleaves.
| "0h, Henry. forgive me," cried his
lwife, throwing her arms about his neck.
| \ terrific clap Of thunder burst from
the clouds overhead, and following it
came downpour of rain.
The tears rolling down Longs cheek
mingled with the falling drops as he
drew his wife into the protection of the
denser brush.-N. Y. lndependent.
Five Arab Maxims.
Never tell all you know: for he who
tells eycrysthipr ha LnpvrS Ofte,, tnl,