The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-06-26
CHAPTER VIII

and happy as your WI baby"
CHAPTER VIII.
HI BEST LAC FOR OUR W GRIEF Is
TO TIGHTEN H SORROWS OF OTHERS.
For a few moments Malcolm Kirk
experienced a feeling of anguish on his
w account that shut out entirely this
other forlorn and bleeding heart. Then
there sprang up in his soul a most ire
mendous and overpowering revolution
of feeling. He said to a very dear
friend several years afterward that as
he stood there on the threshold of his
parsonage, with the hot, dusty glare of
that whitening day shifting him and
the figure Of that old woman on the
doorstep, he knew that perhaps the
most Important event in his own inner
experience was taking place. For this
appeal for help, this cry to him to
share a burden while his own seemed
greater than he could bear, revealed to
him the Christ life in u human lives
and the glory Of overcoming the world
for his sake. Certain it is that as NAL
com Kirk stood there that morning his
soul felt the touch of q healing and
beneficent love, and he looked at his
life again as worth while, and then be-
gan already to know that the fire of his
sorrow was destined to make him
more serviceable to others.
What he actually did the next min
ute after all this was to ask Mrs. Bar
ton to come into the house. He took
her into his study, and then after a
single moment of hesitation he went
out into the back yard to Dorothy.
She vas still sitting on the bench,
dry eyed and oblivious Of everything
around her, living over the last three
days. Malcolm came up and put his
hand on her shoulder.
Dear" he said very gently, will
you come with me into the house?
There is some one there who has come
to see me-to see is both"
She did not know what he meant or
hardly what he said, but she rose and
went into the house with him.
"Mrs. Barton, this is Mrs. Kirk. 1
want o to tell her what you have
told me-"
The little woman could see that
something unusual had happened at
the parsonage, but her own trouble
practically absorbed her feelings. She
looked at Dorothy, however, with the
admiration which her beauty Of face
often excited in what we call ordinary
people.
ooh, ma'am," she cried, give come
to see if Mr.. Kirk won't help me to
get my boy home again. He's been
drinking. 1 live in a lonesome place
at The Forks and 1 don't very often
come to town, but / have heard Of
your husband, and they say people all
around have gone to him for help, and
l know he will do what he can for me.
My boy will be 21 next week. l told
your husband that some day your baby
would grow up into a good Christian
mar to comfort and bless you. That's
what l hoped and prayed my boy
would do. And he might If the saloon
had not tempted him."
She was going on. for her heart was
full of her trouble, when the look on
Dorothy's face stopped her.
Don't you know-has not Mr.. Kirk
told you-that our baby-our baby
died last week?"
The little heartbroken woman looked
at Dorothy In establishment. There
was nothing refined or sweet about
her. but God gave her the right word to
say at that particular time. She rose
and with her hands clasped walked
over neal Dorothy. Malcolm never for,
got that sight. "Oh, Mrs. Kirk, may
God help you! Forgive me! 1 have
not been to town for several weeks. l
did not see the paper last week at all.
The last time l knew anything of your
baby he was well and happy. l would
never have come with my trouble If l
had known yours" She paused for Il
moment, while two tears ran down
over her thin cheeks. Dorothy began
to sob. She had not cried before since
that day when the baby vas laid in it's
coffin; not even at the grave.
"Oh, ma'am," Mrs. Barton went on,
your baby will never be a drunkard.
My husband was. We lost a good farm
back in Ohio on account of the drink.
and then my husband died, and I tool
the boy and came out here. l went
purposely to a lonesome place to keep
my boy from the town. I may have
made a mistake. but l did the best L
knew, and | feared for him on account
of his father. Oh. ma'am, your heart
is sore, | know it, but it's not as sore as
mine. for your baby never broke your
heart. | would one see my boy in
his coffin than see him as l have many
a time during the past two years.
There's trouble and trouble. May God
help us to bear our own. But your
baby's safe now. How can I tell If
! mine evar will no"