The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-07-01


could entertain there guest. use tn,
word entertain" intelligently. Among
the tributes TO his memory so years aft
er was this: "a more racy and enter
tanning talker in his best days il would
be hard to find. His fund of anecdotes
was unlimited, and book of his stories
| would be as rich reading as ever hii
story telling profession produced.
When he was in the mood for it. nc
one that l ever met could provoke 50
much laughter. Doctor" gasped q
woman at his table. between her spasms
Of laughter, please stop. If you do not
let me rest long enough to get my
breath. shall choke TO death.
Opposite the doctor sat his wife, at
his right Mr.. Bingham, at the end Of
the board the venerable father. Large
candles in shining brass sticks illumin-
ed the scene The doctor looked upon
his three children TO command quiet.
"Will you ask blessing, sir?"
The doctor never talked while he
carved. He was an expert carver, and
the we'll filed plates went round with
dispatch.
81 hope Miss Lucy's preserves are
keeping well through the winter, said
Mrs. Mollie, with smiling face, as she
handed her guest sauce plate of yellow
ounce.
For our preserves, madam, we are
indebted to our parishioners, notably to
your generous remembrance after we
had the pleasure of sitting at your table
last Thanksgiving day, and they have
in fact, we appreciated them to such an
extent that nothing now remains"
The doctor burst into hearty laugh.
GOOD for you My Mollie's crooks are
full and she will see to it that you are
supplied.
Forty years after it was also said of
this lady by one who knew her init
mately: "She was always beautiful,
but never more gracious than at the
head of her own table. There like best
to remember her." Amid all the sor-
row that came to that home in after
years-sorrow from brooding shadow
or death and deeper sorrow from the
shadow of life-hers is the one form
that shines out like star. grand in the
love that endured all things, hoped all
things, overcame all things" strong in
a faith and patience that were sublime.
Il shall enter into no controversy
with you, sir, upon the subject of for
eign Missions" said the doctor when
the conversation drifted, as was natural,
into that channel "but".-and hui
morous twinkle camo into his eyer
told my friend Tinker when he returned
that hundred or a thousand of those
souls boiled down and simmered to-
gether would not equal the soul of one
man like him.
"Lebbeus, said his father, rapping
on the table with the handle of his
knife, as was his won't when excited,
"you are wise above what il written.
You are irreverent
For a moment there was silence. then
the doctor, pushing back his chair, said,
with laugh, "No irreverence about
itp
No one ever accused the doctor of
filial disrespect. There is an old letter
preserved, written by this half
blind old father, addressed to his son,
as follows: dear and well beloved and
well worthy son..
After supper the doctor and bis guest
spoke of the first minister of the church.
This house was his home, sir, built
for him about 1869. Here his children
were born. This was his first and only
pastorate. From here he was buried"
He chose the site of this house most
wisely. 1t is beautiful for situation
truly"
Il have every reason to suppose he
planted the elm trees. He passed away
before my time, sir, but 1 believe him
to have been a strong man, of dignified
presence. His children and grandchil- |
dren have taken high rank in the pro.
fessions-such l believe his descendants
will continue to do. There was unfortu-
nately one exception"
The doctor nodded toward the south
bedroom.
"You have then his daughter under |
your roof?''
Under the roof built for her father,
sir; his youngest daughter She was
silly and unfortunate. Her
husband was, think, the first regular
" settled physician in the township"
"She married, them
1.-THE doctor married her, sir. What |
else could he do?" The doctor blew his |
nose vigorously and poked the fire. "He |
married her and killed himself"
dreadful! Was it pistol?"
"No, laudanum.''
In those faraway primitive times sui
tides in our country were happily rare.
We had not attained to the degree of |
refinement which fills every daily pa |
per with shocking reoitals of self MUIR
Ter. And when poor unfortunate did |
put an end to his life it was supposed, |
rs matter of course, that if he had q
wife she twas at the bottom of it,
,nly repetition of the same old wall, |
The woman whom thou gavest me-"
And SO it had happened in the irony
If fate that this unfortunate lady had |
spent the remainder of her days in the |
shadow of deep disgrace and bearing