The record-union., 1898-01-23

Mr. White blushed scarlet. He had not
thought Of the ridiculous figure he
would cut. fostering Jed's aspirations
! before his cultured brethren.
.Iie-his convictions appear to be sim
cere." he apologized.
''Of course he is quite-what would
you say-impossihle," Mr. I,athrop
| said. slancins at the third member who
nodded assent. You would better
break it to him. knowing him as YOU do.
! Tell him that we recommend another
! years careful reading"
! How can l so home TO nanny =
j was Jed's dim thought. He sought the
depths of the woods. whose cool healing
! he knew so We'll. He would find no
peace until he had seen his mother.
| She held the door open as he came
UP the pathway y glance al his hag-
gard face told her the dreaded worst
'Jeddy-you--'' she began Then she
kept her peace. holding his head upon
/ her breast
They said another year he said
/ presently. Il don't care for myself
not a Bit, but it's a long time for you.
amt il. nanny, a year,? Then his
| firm Jaws grew fixed, and the blow of
/ his fist upon the table made the
house tremble, "But I'll do It. by Gca.
4 III DO it,"
Then in another year he failed again.
( He was 50 hopeessly dull and Slew Of
understanding.
/ His mother had grown thinner ana
paler through the slow passage Of Sime.
She had never been strong since Ihfs
death. Soon after that she died.
4 speaking much OF Phil as the end grew
near.
! When a week was gene. giving aim
/ time TO think. Jed sat one night beside
/ the new grave. With Bulls ;hici bead
under his caressing hand
It's just us now. Bull he said. The
current of his thoughts was in the cid
channel. After awhile Il said: Why
! don't you try preachin. Bgu? You
could do it cuicker'n me, an we'd have
q preacher in the family. anyhow" fIe
sat for a long time, picking bits of
earth from the heaped grave and shoot
! ing them into the air with his thumb.
/ He was thinking as deeply as t.e Erew.
| I'm gon' to give her another ny.
Bull he announced. II amt got no
monument TO put up for her. an recll-
| or if she could see me preachin', after
all, that'd be pretty near like q monu-
ment: wouldn't it. eh?'' So he went hack
/ and began a@ain.
! Late in the fall there was 4 scourge
of diphtheria among the children: such
q trial as the village had never known.
/ Jed laid aside his books. lie could
nurse sick child, at least. But that is
so different from preaching.
! The work grew more than the yolun-
! tro Of tJo off a.
day Jed rode to Whitesville to see Mr..
Lathrop.
"Ah. my ambitious young friend from
down the river" Mr.. .Lathrop greeted
him at his door; what can do Cor you?
Come in"
I'VE want help down below" Jed
said: there's diphtheria terrible bad.
been nursin--''
Wait! waitH' the minister cried:
you ouSht not to come into The house
in this careless way. Stand outside on
the porch. You are endangering other
| lives" So Jed stood outside
Il don't know anybody nearer than
/ YOU" he said AN l reclloned you'd
come, KNOWN you was minister. I've
got horse ready to take you back
| But, my dear boy" Mr. Lathrop said
with pale lips, Il can't go with YOU. /
have children of my own here. -Ay first
duty is to them" There was more cf
such argument. Then Jed rode over
to Juleshurg, where his other acGuaint
ance had his charge. Him Jed found re-
gretful at having to attend a conference
of his church. SO Jed went h )n1e.
He went about his work with all the
energy which his love for the little stif
ferers could arouse in his great heart
Some he helped back to life; others he
held against his breast while death eat-
tied upon them. Then one day iia said
to Mr.. White, who stood at his side:
Here YOU give this medicine. My.
things is goin' round so I can't see
In four days more Bull dGS madly
with his old paws at another mound un-
der the elrns in the graveyard, bowling
dismally, wondering what allied Jed
VIM. r. Li-hton in Chao Book