Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-06-25
IN HIS STEPS.
"What Would Jesus D0?"
By CHARLES N. SHELDON.

ciples who promised to walk in his steps.
1t CHANGED, by one of those remark
able condolences that seem to occur
preternaturally, that one afternoon, just
as Felicia came out of the settlement
with a basket which she was going to
leave as a sample with baker in the
Penrose district, Stephen Clyde opened
the door of the carpenter shop in the
basement and came out of the lower
door in time to meet Felicia as she
reached the sidewalk.
''Let me carry your basket, please,
he said.
''Why do you say 'please?' - asked
Felicia, handing over the basket
81 would like to say something else,
replied Stephen, glancing at her shyly
and yet with boldness that frightened
him, for he had been loving Felicia
more every day since he first saw her,
and especially since she stepped into the
shop that day with the bishop, and for
weeks now they had been in many ways
thrown into each others company.
''What else? ?" asked Felicia innocent
ly, falling into the trap.
why said Stephen, turning his
fair, noble face full toward her and
eying her with the look of one who
would have the best of all things in the
universe, Il would like to say, Let me
carry your basket, dear Felicia.
Felicia never looked so beautiful in
her life She walked on a little way
without even turning her face toward
him. 1t was no secret with her own
heart that she had given it to Stephen
some time ago. Finally she turned and
said shyly, while her face grew rosy
and her eyes tender, "Why don't you
say it, then %
''May I?'' cried Stephen, and he was
so careless for a minute of the way he
held the basket that Felicia exclaimed:
''Yesl But, oh, don drop my goodies -
''Why, l wouldn't drop anything so
precious for all the world, dear Fee
hcia. :" said Stephen, who now walked
ON air for several blocks, and what else
was said during that walk is private
correspondence that we have no right
to read, only it is matter of history that
day that the basket never reached its
destination and that over in the other
direction late in the afternoon the
bishop, walking along quietly in
rather secluded spot near the outlying
part of the settlement district, heard
familiar voice say, ''But tell me, Fee
hcia, when did you begin to love me?''
Il fell in love with a little pine shay
ing just above your ear that day saw
you in the shop" said the other voice,
with laugh so clear, Sc pure, so sweet,
that it did one good to hear it.
The next moment the bishop turned
the corner and came upon them.
'Where are you going with that
basket?'' he tried to say sternly.
Were taking it to-where are we
taking it to, Felicia?''
"Dear bishop, we are taking it home
to begin
''To begin housekeeping with, - fin
ished Stephen, coming to the rescue.
care your said the bishop. 81 hope
you will invite me in to share. I know
what Felicia's cooking is. -
Bishop, dear bishop" said Felicia,
and she did not pretend to hide her
happiness, Indeed you shall always be
the most honored guest. Are you glad?"
Eyes I am, - replied the bishop in
terpreting Felicia S words as she wished
Then he paused moment and said
gently, ''God bless you bothl'' and went
his way, with tear in his eye and
prayer in his heart, and left them to
their joy.
Yes; shall not the same divine power
of love that belongs to earth be lived
and sung by the disciples of the man of
sorrows and the burden bearer of sins2
Yea, verify And this man and woman
shall walk hand in hand through this
great desert of human woe in this city,
strengthening each other, growing
more loving with the experience of the
worlds sorrOws, walking in his steps
even closer yet because of this love,
bringing added blessings to thousands
of wretched creatures because they are
to have home of their own to share
with the homeless. 'tFor this cause
said our Lord Jesus Christ, ''shall
man leave his father and mother and
cleave unto his wife," and Felicia and
Stephen, following the Master, love him
with deeper, truer service and devotion
because of the earthly affection which
heaven itself sanctions with its solemn
blessing.
Now, it was little after the love
story of the settlement became a part Of
ltS glory Gnat henry maxwell OF ray
mond came to Chicago with Rachel
Winslow and Virginia Page and Rollin
and Alexander Powers and President
Marsh, and the occasion was a remark
able gathering at the hall of the settle
ment, arranged by the bishop and DR..
Bruce. who had finally persuaded Mr..
Maxwell and his fellow disciples of
Raymond to come on to be present at
this meeting.
The bishop invited into the settle
ment hall meeting for that night men
out of work, wretched creatures who