Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-24


It was Friday morning, and the Rev.
Henry Maxwell was trying to finish his
Sunday morning sermon. He had been
interrupted several times and was
rowing nervous as the morning wore
away and the sermon grew very slowly
toward a satisfactory finish.
MARY" he called to his wife as he
went up stairs after the last interrupt
ton, .'if any one comes after this /
wish you would say that am very
4 busy and cannot come down unless it
is something very important. =
eyes Henry, But am going over
to visit the kindergarten. and you will
have the house all to yourself.
The minister went up into his study
and shut the door. In few minutes
he heard his wife go ont
He settled himself at his desk with a
sigh of relief and began to write. His
text was from Peter ii. 81
For hereunto were We called; be-
cause Christ also suffered for yon leav-
ing you an example. that ye should fol-
low his steps.
He had emphasized in the first part
of his sermon the atonement as per-
sonal sacrifice. calling attention to the
fact of Jesus suffering in various ways,
in his life as well as in his death. He
had gone on to emphasize the atone
ment5 from the side of example. giving
illustrations from the life and teaching
of Jesus to show how faith in the Christ
helped to save men because Of the pat
I tern or character he displayed for their
imitation He was now on the third
and last point, the necessity of follow
ing Jesus in his sacrifice and example
He had, Just put down. '.(3) Steps
what ara they and was about to
enumerate them5in logical order when
the boil fang sharply. It was one of
those clockwork bells and always went
off as aelock might go IL it tried to
strike IL all at once.
{ Henry Maxwell sat at his desk and
drowned little. He: made no move,
q Vent to answer the bell. Very soon it
4 w again. Then he rose and walked
ovs Sto one Of his windows, which COM
NAH "a a view of the front door,
All IAN was standing on the steps. He
was young man very shabbily dressed.
Looks like tramp, :" said the min
lister. i suppose I'll have to 60 down.
and
He did not finish the sentence, but
went down stairs and opened the front
door.
There was moments pause as the
two men stood facing each other. Then
the shabby looking young man said:
a I'm out Of job, sir. and thought
maybe you might put me in the way of
53getting something.
"a Il don't know Of anything. Jobs are
(" replied the minister, begin
ming to shut the door slowly.
II didn't know but you might per-
haps be able to give me line to the
I city railway or superintendent of the
shops or. something" continued the
young man. shifting his faded hat from
one hand to the other nervonsly.
ut would be of no use. You will
have to excuse me. am very busy this
morning. | hope you will find some-
thing Sorry can't, give you some
thing to do here. But keep only a
horse and COW and do the work my
self. = H..
q The Rev. Henry Maxwell closed the
door and heard the man walk down the
! steps. AS he went up into his study he
saw from his hall window that the man
was going slowly down the street. still
holding his hat between his hands.
There yas something in the figure SO
dejected, homeless and forsaken that
5the minister hesitated moment as he
ystpod looking at it, Then he turned to
his desk and with sigh began the
! writing where he had left off.
IN He had no more interruptions, and
when his wife came in two hours later
the sermon was finished, and the loose
leaves were gathered up and neatly tied
together and laid on his Bible, all ready
for the Sunday morning service
"a queer thing happened at the kin
dergarten this morning, Henry, said
his wife while they We're eating dinner.
..You know, / went over with Mrs.
Brown to visit the school. and just aft
er the games. while the children were
at the tables. the door opened, and a
young man came in, holding dirty
hat-in both hands He sat down near
the door and never said word, only
looked at the children. He was evident
~ tramp, and Miss Wren and her as.
sistant, Miss Kyle, were little fright
ened, at first. but he sat there very
quietly. and after a few minutes he
Went out.
perhaps he was tired ane wanted
TO rest somewhere. The same man
called here, ] think. Did you say he
looked like tramp?'
/. Yes. very dusty, shabby and gener-
4 ally tramplike-not more than so or SO
years old should say, = 81
"The same man, said the Rev.
Henry Maxwell thsaghtfully.