Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-12-06

| ana Orpndneul
"Widows and orphans, forsooth,"
thought Nathaniel Craft, as he recalled
these, to him, Quixotic notions, "why
should not women and children labor
for their daily bread? l labor! It's
more TO their credit, I'm sure, than
waiting for dead mems shoes. Uml
: Dead mems 81 oes.'
His mind would revert to his own
children and the words he had over
heard-"Hes too mean to die!" and
then he fell to wondering If the dead
were conscious of the rafting of the
clods upon their collins; of the friend
ly tear, the sobS of grief, the signs OF
farewell from their loved ones.
an not attend another funeral" he
resolved on his way to the Office. ode!
Why have no intention of dying, no
symptoms of dying, nor have | time
for such thoughts. They distract me,
indeed, when my mind should be upon
business. Let me see Homebreak
Central closed at S7A. No doubt it
has advanced while have been vast
ing the morning. Twill more than
likely break before night. Good time
to SELL" and in this way Mr.. Craft
became himself again.
The next and several succeeding
days saw furry in the market"
and he forgot, in watching the tick
err" everything else but the rise and
fall of stocks. That document in his
safe, the unfilial speeches of his chill
dren, everything in the mad rush and
whirl of Wall street.
The furry was now over, Mr.. Nathan
iel Craft beamed-as near as a heart
less man can beam-with undisguised
satisfaction. Thousands upon thou
sands he had rolled up during the
storm-the storm which had wrecked
so many of his colleagues-and hence
was he correspondingly happy.
81 can afford to indulge in little
extravaganza to-day" he unused, land
and at the same time show my APP
probation of the mercieS extended to-
ward me-" Nathaniel Craft some-
times felt that way when he had es-
capped the perils Of the street." safely
landing as hostages many valuable
wreck. "I-let me see! think shall
buy some simple flowers for John Nor
ris' grave. Ill have my card attached,
| of course, so it will not be money
thrown away. 1 was never one to
hide my light under a bushel," he
chuckled, "as John was in the habit
of doing. They say he left most OF
his money to the poor, and none to
relatives who did not need it. HIN
WELL my money, I'm determined, shall
serve to perpetuste the name of Ma
.thaniel Craft, Esq. A church. or in
stitution Of some sort, far excelling any
structure of the kind in this city
| Why, bless mel" a frown obscuring
the beaming smile upon his face, 81
had forgotten that little matter" and
the next moment he had opened the
safe and withdrawn that document
again. A chilling air from the interior
greeted him as he did so. He shivered
little, and fancied he detected an
earthly smell, such as a newly-made
grave gives forth. In imagination hi
heard clods falling upon boards which
resounded holloway, saw his own face
with an exultant smile, mockingly
gazing upward upon the dry eyes o.
his own children, upon the Indifferent
faces of the merely curious. The
thought was not a pleasant one fol
even such a man as Nathaniel Craft.
Hes too mean to die" The remem
brance Of those words drove any soft
ened feelings from his heart, and 1
few moments later certain parts o.
that document lay in the waste bas
iket torn into shreds. The remaining
portion he restored to the safe, will
a grim smile upon his lips, and thu
next morning he was on his way Il
the florist.
His face wore its usual cold expires
sion, as awhile later, he entered TIT
cemetery of Greenwood. The solemn
tolling of the bell at the entrance dis
turbed him. "A piece of extrava
gancs," he muttered, "for the living
must pay the toller."
From toller to "ticker" went hi
thoughts, from ticker to stocks, from
stocks to prospective millions, ant
then-but here was the newly-mad
grave of his friend, John Morris.
"Why, bless mel" he exclaimed, "'
headstone already! Well, must sa.
I commend its simplicity. Suitable
) indeed, for man who left his all Il
the poor" Q'm afraid Nathaniel Graf
Sneered a little just here.) Him, he
me see," reading easily the bold typ
lof name and dates, II must get out m,
glasses for what follows. A silly vers
iby some driveling idiot, l presume
,ah! To live in hearts we leave behint
lis not to die.
Twice, thrice, he repeated tn
words, slowly, thoughtfully. The be-
had ceased tolling, and presently b
became aware of voice near by sol
emily repeating the words:
} 81 am the Resurrection and the Life
saith the Lord; he that believeth il
Me, though he die, yet shall he live"
, A singular trembling of the limbs
seized Nathaniel Craft, so that he wa
fain to seat himself. Heavy dew!
rested upon his brow. An unseel
e hand was toying with his heart
! strings. ITO live in hearts we leave
! behind is not to die-here To be
I lieve in Him is not to 0le-there!
b And believing, he knew, meant some
e thing more than faith. HE that sowetl
little shall reap little. :. While w
: have time let us do good to all men
I -. Be not deceived; God is no
y Knocked. Whatsoever a man soviet
s that shall he reap"
Sabbath after Sabbath had he lis
tened to these words seated in his lux
Y urious pew, but they had possessed n
3 significance for him. Even Their
i stocks and bonds occupied hi
thoughts most of the time. Mr.. Cole