The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-11-22

so as TO satisfy my soul that am doing
something better than pleasing fashion
able audiences or making money or even
gratifying my own love Of singing am
going to do something that will satisfy
me when [ ask. what would Jesus
do. and | am not satisfied and cannot
be when l think of myself as singing
nlvsei9s into the career Of concert COM
panv performer.
Rachel spoke with q yigor and ear
nestness that surprised her mother, Mrs
WinSlow was angry now, and she never
tried to conceal her feelings.
1T is simply absurd! Rachel. you
are q fanatic, What can You do
The world has been served by men
and women who have given 1t other
things that were gifts Why should l,
because I am blessed with a natural
gift, at once proceed to put market
price on it and make all the money L
can out of it? You know. mother, that
YOU have taught me to think OF mu-
sical career always in the light OF a
financial and social success. I have been
unable since made my promise two
weeks ago to imagine Jesus joining a
concert company to Go what would
do and live the life would have to live
if I joined it.
Mrs. Winslow rose and then sat down
again. With a great effort she COM
posed herself.
What do you intend 10 do, then?
You have not answered my question.
"I shall continue to sing for the time
being in the church. / am pledged to
sing there through spring. During the
week am going to sing at the White
Cross meetings down in the RectaEgle.
''Whatl Rachel Winslow Do you
know what yoa are saying? Do you
know what sort of people those are
down there?'
Rachel almost quailed before her
mother. For moment she shrank back
and was silent.
II know very well That is the rea-
son am going Mr.. and Mrs. Gray
have been working there several weeks.
I learned only this morning that they
wanted singers from the churches to
help them in their meetings. They use
a tent 1t is in a part of the city where
Christian work is most needed shall
offer them my help Mother, Rachel
cried out with the first passionate ut
terance she had yet used. 81 want to do
something that will cost me something
in the way of sacrifice. l know you will
not understand me. But | am hungry
to suffer something What have we
done all our lives for the suffering, sin
ming side Of Raymond7 How much
have we denied ourselves or given OF
our personal ease and pleasure to bless
the place in which we live or initiate
the life of the Saviour Of the world?
Are we always to go on doing as So
ciety selfshly dictates, moving on its
narrow little round of pleasures and
entertainments and never knowing the
pain of things that cost 2
Are you preaching at me- asked
Mrs Winslow slowly. Rachel under
stood her mother S words
No; / am preaching at myself. . she
replied gently. She paused moment
as if she thought her mother would say
something more and then went out OF
the room When she reached her own
room. she felt that. so far as her moth
er was concerned. she could expect no
sympathy or even a fair understanding
from her
She l,neelad down 1t is safe to say
that within the two weeks since Henry
MaSv-ell.s church had faced that shah
bv figure with the faded hat more mem
bers Of his parish had been driven to
their knees in prayer than during all
the previous term Of his pastorate
When she rose her beautiful face
was wet with tears. She sat thought
fully a little while and then wrote a
note to Virginia Page She sent it to
her by messenger and then went down
stairs again and told her mother that
she and Virginia were going down to
the Rectangle that evening to see Mr.
and Mrs. Gray. the eyangelists
Virginia uncle. DIR. West. will go
with us if she goes have asked her to
call him up by telephone and go with
us The doctor is friend Of the Grays
and attended some Of the meetings last
winter. >
Mrs. winslow did not say anything
Her manner showed her complete dis
approval of Rachel S course. and Rachel
felt her unspoken bitterness.
About clock the doctor and Vlr-
ginia appeared. and together the three
started for the scene of the White Cross
meetings
The Rectangle was the most notorl-
Gus district in all Raymond 1t was IN
the territory close by the great railroad
shops and the packing houses. The sum
and tenement district of Raymond con-
gested its most wretched elements about
the Rectangle This was barren field
used in the summer by circus COM
panies and wandering showmen. 1t
was shut in by rows Of saloons. gam
bling hells and cheap. dirty boarding