Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-03-08


1 .uudy.
at certainly is n splendid opportuni.
ty." murmurcd Philip. IL wonder why
hey happened to pitch OH me for the
| place."
That's easy enough. Every one
Knows that you could fill that chair
better than almost any other man in
| the country"
''Do you mean by every one little
woman of the name of Snrah?' asked
Philip, with brief return of his teas
ing habit.
NO. sir I mean all the professors
and people in Fairvicw and all the
thinking people of Milton and every
one who knows you. Philip. Every
one knows that whatever else you lack
II isn't brains"
I'D like TO borrow few Just now,
though, for | seem to have lost most of
mine. Lend mo yours, won't you,
Sarah, until l settle this question Of
the CALF
"No. sir. n you cant settle plain
question like this with all your brains.
YOU couldn't do any better with the ad-
dltlon OF the little | nave.
Then you really think. do YOU.
Sarah that | ought to accept this as
the leading of the spirit of God and
follow without hcsitationf"
Mrs. Strong replied with almost tear
! full carnestuess:
philip. it seems to me like the lead
ing of his hand. Surely YOU have
age and your sacrifice by your work
here. But your methods are GiSta stc-
ful. and your preaching has 50 far
reused only AntagoniSm. Oh. | dread
the thought of this life for you another
day. 1t looks to me like Il suicidal pol
( icy. with nothing 10 show for il when
You have gone through with it,"
Philip spread the letter out on the
couch, and his face grew more and
more thoughtful as he gazed into the
face of his wife. and his mind went
/ over the ground of his church expert
encc. If only--hc was perhaps think
ing-if only the good God had not given
/ him so sensitive and fine tempered "A
spirit OF conScicntiolIsncss. He almost
=,
OF common ideals of duty and service.
His wife watched him anXiously.
She knew ii was crisis with him.
, Al last he said:
"Wcll. Sarah. don't know but
you're right. The spirit is willing.
but the flesh is weak. The professor
ship would hc free from the inccssant
worry and anxiety of Il parish. and
then | might he just as useful in the
seminary as am here-who knows?"
"Wso knows. indeed" exclaimed
Sarah ioyfully At the same time She
WAS almost crying. she picked up
the letter and called Philips attention
to the clause which granted him IA
year abroad in case he accepted.
"Thinl. of that. Philip. Your dream
OF foreign travel can come true now
"ThHt is lhilip looked out of the
window over the dingy roof of n she'd
near by to tho gloomy tcncmcnts-
that is. surprising decide to accept"
"Supposin., But YOU almost the same
as said oh. Philip. say YOU will. Re
reasonable! This is the opportunity of
a lifetime,
"rhat's true" replied Philip.
! you may not have another such
! chance as this as long as you live. You
are young now and with every pros
pcct of success in work of this kind
1t is new work. of the kind you like.
/ You will have leisure and means 10
carry on important experiments and
influence for life young men entering
the ministry. Surely. Philip there is
as great opportunity for usefulness
and sacrifice there as anywhere. 1t
must be that the will Of God is in this
1t comes without any seeking on your
part.
YES, indeed Philip spoke with the
only touch of pride he ever exhibited.
II was pride in the knowledge that he
was absolutely free from self glory or
self seeking
Then say YOU will accept. Say you
will. Philip"
The appeal, coming from the person
dearest TO him in all the world moved
Philip profoundly. He took the letter
from her hand read it over carefully
and again laid it down on the couch.
| linen he said
sarah, | must pray over it, need
little time. You will have reason
Philip paused. as his habit sometimes
was, and mt that moment the bell rang.
/ and Mrs Strong went down stairs. As
she went along she felt almost per-
studded that Philip would yield Some
thing of his tone seemed TO imply that
! the struggle in his mind was nearly
! ended
: The callers at the door were three
men who had been 10 see Philip sev-
cral times TO talk with him about the
mill troubles and the labor conflict in
general They wanted TO see Philip.
Mrs Strong was anxious about the
condition of Philips health She asked
the men to come in and went up stairs
again.
can you see them? Are you strong
enough" she asked
eyes; tell them to come IN. am
comfortable now
Philip was resting easily. and after a
careful look at him Mrs. Strong went
down stairs.
To her surprise two of the men had