The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-06-08

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we shall some time know the reason
why"
So in the room where Clara lay they
all kneeled down except VIII, who lay
upon q lounge near his unconscious
sister. Mr.. Hardy as he clasped his
wife's hand in his own poured out his
soul in this petition:
"Dear Lord, we know thou dost love
US. even though we cannot always
know why thou dost allow suffering
and trouble, and we would thank thee
for the things that cannot be destroy
ed, for the loves that cannot suffer
death, for the wonderful promises of
the life to come. Only we have been
so careless of the things that belong to
thy kingdom. We have been SO selfish
and fOrgetful of the great needs and
sufferings and sins of earth. Pardon
US, gracious Redeemer. Pardon me,
for ] am the chief offender. Yea, Lord,
even as the robber on the cross was
welcomed into paradise, welcome thou
me. But we pray for our dear ones.
May they recover. Make this beloved
one who now lies unknowing among
US to come back into the universe of
sense and sound, to know us and smile
upon US again.
1--WE say, Thy will be done Grand
wisdom, for thou knowest best. Only
our hearts will cry out for help, and
thou knowest our hearts better than
any one else. Bless me this night as
stand before the people. This is no
selfish prayer, dear Lord. desire only
thy glory; pray only for thy kingdom.
But thou hast appointed my days to
live. Thou hast sent me the message,
and I cannot help feeling the solemn
burden and Joy Of 1t.
~ will say to the people that thou
art most important Of all In this habi-
tation Of the flesh. And now bless us
all. Give us new hearts. Make us to
feel the true meaning Of existence
here. Reveal to US thy splendor. For
give all the past ,nd make impossible
In the children the mistakes Of the par
ent. Deliver us from evil. and thine
shall be the kingdom forever. Amen"
When Mr.. Hardy and George reach.
ed the town ball. they found a large
crowd gathering. They had some Diff
Guilty in gaining entrance. Mr.. Hardy
At once passed up to the platform.
where the chairman Of the meeting
greeted him and said he would expect
| him to. make some remarks during the
| evening.
Robert sat down at one end Of the
platform and watched the hall fill with
people, nearly all well known to him
There was an unusually large CROWD
Of boys and young men, besides large
| gathering of his own men from the
shops, together with q great number OF
citizens. and business men, q repre-
sentative audience for the place
brought together under the inf1uencv
Of the disaster and feeling somewhat
the breaking down of artificial socia
distinctions in the presence of the grin
leveler Death, who had come SO near t.
them the last few days.
There were the usual opening exer
cises common to such public gather
ings. Several well known business
men and two or three of the ministers
including Mr.. Jones, made appropriate
addresses. The attention of the grea
audience was not labored for, the oc
casion itself being enough to throw
over the people the spell Of subdue'
quiet.
When the chairman announced tha
"Mr. Robert Hardy, our well know
railroad manager, will now addres
U.S." there was q movement of curiosl
ty and some surprise, and many a MAJ
leaned forward and wondered in hi
heart what the wealthy railroad ma
would have to say on such an occasion
He had never appeared as a speake
in public, and he passed generally 4
Barton for the cold. selfish, haught
man he had always been.
CHAPTER x.
| Mr.. HARDY began In low, clear tone
"Men End Women of Barton-Tt