Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-07
CHAPTER III.
By Charles N. Sheldon.

CHAPTER III.
II any man cometh unto nae and hateth not his
evn father and mother and wife and children and
he cannot be my disciple -. And whosoever
forsaketh not all that lie hath, he CANNOT be my
disciple.
When Rachel Winslow and Virginia
Page separated after the meeting st the
First church on Sunday. they agreed to
continue their conversation the next
day. Virginia asked Rachel to come
and lunch with her at noon, and Rachel
accordingly rang the bell at the Page
mansion about half past ii. Virginia
herself met her, and tho two were sooa
talking earnestly.
'"rhs fact is, Rachel was saying
after tksy had been talking q few min.
utes, cAnnot reconcile it with my
;adSment Of what he would do. 1 can
nh tell another psrsn what 10 do. but
fifl that ought not to accept this
e1sr.
.What will You do. then ?" asked
yirathis, with CREST interest.
81 dent know yet, but I have decid-
- 10 srsfuso this ot,er. y
Rachel picked up letter that had
been lying in her lap and ran over its
.oaSsAts again. II was letter from
the manager Of comic opera Offering
her place with a large travelling COM
pany for the season @VThe salary was q
very large figure, and the prospect held
out by the manager was fattering He
had heard Rachel sing that Sunday
morning when the stranger had inter
rupted the service. He had been much
impressed There was money in that
voice, and it ought to be used'in comic
opera, so said the letter, and the man
ager wanted q reply as soon as possible.
"There's no virtue in saying No to
this offer wheniI have the other one, :"
Rachel went on thonghtfully .That's
harder toNecide, but I've made up my
mind. To tell the truth. Virginia, T m
completely convinced in the first caso
itnav 5osus would never use any talent
like good voice just to make money.
But, now, take this concert offer. Here
lisa reputable company to travel with
an inpersonator and violinist and a
male quartet, all people of good repu-
tation. I'm asked to go as one Of the
company and sing leading soprano. The
salary q mentioned it, didn't I7) is to
DO guaranteed-$200 "a month for the
season. But I don't feel satisfied that
Jesus would go. What do you think ~
You mustn't ask me to decide for
you" replied Virginia, with a sad
smile, 81 believe Mr.. Maxwell was
right when he said-we must each one
Of us decide according to the Judgment
we felt for ourselves to be Christlike.
/ am having harder time than you
are, dear, to decide what he would do. "
Are your" Rachel asked. She rose
and walked over to the window and
looked ont. Virginia came and stood
by her. The street was crowded with
life, and the two young women looked
att silently for moment. Suddenly
Virginia broke out as Rschel had never
heard her before.
"Rachel, what does all this contrast
In conditions mean to you as you ask
this question Of what Jesus would do 4
It maddens me to think that this society
In which / have been brought up, the
same to which we are both said to be-
long, is satisfied, year after year, to go
on dressing and eating and having a
good time. giving and receiving enter
tainments, spending its money on
houses and Injuries and occasionally.
to ease its conscience, donating, with
out any personal sacrifice, a little
money to charity. I have been edu-
Gated, as you have, in one Of the most
expensive schools Of America, launched
into society as an heiress, supposed to
be in very enviable position. I'm per-
fectly we'll can travel or stay at
home / can do as ! please, I can crafty
almost any want or desire. and yet
when honestly try to imagine Jesus
living the life have lived and am ex-
pected to live and doing for the rest Of
my life what thousands of other rich
people do am under condemnation fol
being one of the most wicked, selfish,
useless creatures in the world. I have
not looked out of this window for weeks
without feeling of horror toward my
self as / see the humanity that pours by
this house.
: Virginia turned away and walked up
and down the room. Rachel watched
her and could not repress the rising tide
Of her own growing definition Of disci-
pleship. OF what Christian use was her
own talent of song? Was the best she
could do to sell her talent for SO much
month, go on cotcert company 4
tour, dress beautifully. enjoy the ex-
element Of public applause and gain a
reputation as great singerf Was that
what Jesus would do2
She was not morbid. She was; IN
sound health, was conscious of great
powers as q singer and knew that if she
went out into public life she could
make great deal Of money and become
we'll known. 1t is doubtful if she over
estimated her ability to accomplish all
she thought herself capable Of And
Virginia-what che had Just said smote