The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-08-10
CHATTER Xxx.

III tUe SluulO.
CHATTER Xxx.
TWENTY-FIVE ANNIVERSARY AT CON-
RAD.
So the winter quickly passed, and
spring melted into summer. and then
growing plan developed liz Faiths
mind She had not been able to crowd
it out of her heart thoughts" as she
called any ideas that kept making her
think of other people. Even her rapid
ly developing artistic power could not
prevent the silent, increasing, power
full pressure of an idea that she had
also a mission to perform for the good
of people in a certain peculiar way.
Il shall have to go home and talk it
over with father before l can settle it
right" she kept saying to herself all
summer, and when fall was ushered in
and she could see the frosty mornings
on the prairie and call up in memory
the sound of the prairie chickens out
in the cornfields and see the great
stretch of sky that was never possible
in the smoky city, with it's ugly piles
Of buildings that shut out sun and air,
then Faith grew really lonesome and
homesick, and one day she resolutely
told Miss Varney that she must go
home for little visit.
Il don't blame you, my dear. Go out
home and breathe some fresh prairie
air and photograph some Kansas ideas
and come back with them, and we will
mako orr fortJ1uav
81 don't know about getting photo
graphs of Kansas IDEAS" replied Faith,
"but | do know about the prairie air.
And I'm going to get some"
So Faith ran ont to the Fultons', said
goodby to them and Francis Raleigh
at the same time and started for home
that day.
She had written home, telling of her
coming, and when she reached Conrad
there were father and mother and the
boys at the station and a little back of
| that eager group stalwart, manly
| figure, Malcom Stanley, who had come
in quite suddenly the day before from
New Mexico. 1t is not exactly certain
how he knew that Faith was coming
home or, indeed, if he knew anything
about it, but it is very certain that he
was there at that time and that NAL
| com and Dorothy had given him a
| hearty welcome.
you're just in time to help our
| church celebrate our twenty fifth an
niversary," Malcom had said to him.
| His church was planning in quiet
way for such an anniversary, and it
| pleased him much to think that Faith
was to be at home in time and also that
| Stanley could be with them.
That was a wonderful homecom-
| ing for Faith. The experiences she
had were rehearsed in the family cir
Gle, and there never had been so much
hearty, pure laughter in the parsonage
since it was built In the frosty even
ings they sat around the one open fire
in the parlor, and even Malcom shut
up his study and Joined the group
early, talking over matters with Faith
and entering into all her new plans
with the enthusiasm of boy. Doro-
| thy smiled often through happy tears
as she looked at her children and saw
them growing up into sturdy, useful
lives, and in her heart she thanked
the Great Father continually for such
treasures, worth more to her and her
husband than all the gold and silver
| in the world.
II want the boys to go to Phillips
academy next fall" Faith said, with
an air of one possessed of untold
riches. "That's where father gradu.
ated, and it will be a fine thing for
them to follow him there
"Splendidr exclaimed Malcom. "I've
always dreamed it would be So"
cart is long," continued Faith
'but I'm sure l can win some of the
prizes for the best Photographic ideas
offered by the eastern papers. If the
boys had 500 apiece, they could enter
the school and earn their own way fol-
the most part, couldn't they, fatherY
'Of course they could" replied Nal.
com, and he told of some of his owl
experiences as a boy in academy and
college life.
'It seems to me, Mr.. Kirk, that you
have done a little of everything in
your lifetime" said Malcom Stanley
who sat in the family circle and some
how seemed quite like one of them.
Everything except looking out fol
himself" said Faith quietly.
1.-The Lord has blessed us very
much," said Malcom, looking at Faith
tenderly. I'm afraid your poor ole
father has had to fight good many
hard battles against selishness thai
he hasn't told you about. Your mother
might tell you how bad l am if she
wanted to-
Il don't feel like doing it now," re
piled Dorothy as her eyes rested OF
Malcom's plain, loving face. and hel
love for him was stronger than ever.
But about my plan, father" sale
Faith after they had all been silen
before the fire. "What do you thinl
of it? Can l do anything that way?"
at is worth trying" said Malcon
very thoughtfully. "It will take goot
deal of wisdom. Do you think you cal
do it and carry on your art studiei
too?" -.-
81 don't know" Faith spoke softly
But now just think of it. Here is tn,
fact: Thousands of families all owe
the world are dependent for their phys
ical and mental and moral comfor
upon the kind of service they haye il
. their kitchens and homes. .New,:if thi
is the case, why isn't it possible to dig
Nifty and elevate such service to-a poin
where a girl who goes out to-work ma.
feel that she is doing really nobl
!. thing in helping to keep a whole famil!