Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-04-26

Philip came into the coy parsonage.
and instead of going right ND to his
study, as his habit was when his out
side work was done for the day, he
threw himself down on a couch by the
open fire. His wife was at work in
the other room, but she came in, and.
seeing him lying there, inquired what
was the matter.
Nothing, Sarah, with me. Only
I'm sick at heart with the sight and
knowledge Of all this wicked towns
| sin and misery"
"Do you have to carry it all on your
shoulders, Philip
"Nes," replied Philip almost fercely
1t was not that either. Only his reply
was like a great sob of conviction that
he must bear something Of these bur
dens. He could not help it,
Mrs. Strong did not say anything for
a moment Then she asked:
Don't you think you take it too seri-
ously, Philip
"WhatT'
"Other peoples wrongs. You are
not responsible"
Am l not? | am my brothers keep
er What quantity Of guilt may l not
carry into the eternal kingdom if l
do not DO what / can to save him. Oh,
how can men bee So selHshf Yet l am
only one person. | cannot prevent all
this suffering alone"
"Of course you cannot Philip. You
wrong yourself 10 take yourself 10
task SO severely for the sins of others.
But what has stirred you up SO this
timer Mrs Strong understood Philip
well enough 20 know that some partic-
ular case had reused his feeling. He
seldom yielded TO such dependency
without some Immediate practical rea-
son.
Philip sat up ON the couch and clasp
ed his hands over his knee with the
eager earnestness that characterized
him when he was reused.
sarah, this town slumbers on the
smoking crest OF "A volcano. There are
more than $1,000 people here in Milton
out Of work. A great many of them
are honest, temperate people who have
saved up little. But it is nearly gone.
The mills are shut down and, on the
authority OF men that ought TO know,
shut down for all winter. The same
condition of affairs is true in more or
less degree in the entire state and
throughout the country and even the
world. People are suffering today in
this town for food and clothing and
fuel through NO fault of their own.
The same thing is true Of thousands
and even hundreds of thousands all
over the world. II is an age that calls
for heroes. martyrs, servants, saNlors.
And right here la this town, where dis
tress walks the streets and actual want
already has its clutch vi many poor
devil, society goes on giving its eN-
pensive parties and living ia its little
round Of selfish pleasure just as if the
volcano was a dOwny little bed of roses
for IL to go TO sleep in whenever II
wearies Of the pleasure and wishes TO
retire TO happy dreams. oh. but the
bubble win burst one of these days,
and then
Philip swept his hand upward with
fine gesture and sank back upon the
couch. groaning.
Don't YOU exaggerateg" The min
ister's wife put the question gently.
Not a bit. Not a bit! All true.
am not one Of the French revolution
fellows. always Juggling in blood and
destruction and prophesying ruin TO
the nation and the world if it doesn't
gee and haw the way like it to. But
/ tell you, Sarah, it takes no prophet
70 see that a man who is hungry ana
out of work is a dangerous man 10
have around. And it takes no eXtraof-
binary sized heart TO swell little win
righteous wrath when in such times as
these people go right on with their use
less luNuries Of living and spend as
much on a single evenings entertain
ment as would provide a comfortable
living for a whole month to some de-
serving family"
How do you know they dof
"Weu I'll tell you. I've figured II
out. l will leave it to any one of good
Judgment that any one Of these project
cd parties mentioned here in the evening
paper''-Phnip smoothed the paper on
The head Of the couch-"any one OF
them will cost in the neighborhood OF
500 10 $3.50 Look here! Here's the
Goldens' party-members Of Calvary
church. They win spend at least so
10 $50 in flowers, and refreshments
will cost $50 more, and music another
sos and incldentals SO extra, ana SO
on. Is that right, Sarah, these umes'
and as people ought to live now!
"But some one gets the benefit OF all
this money spent. Surely that Is
helm to some Of the working people.
ayes. but how many people are help
cd by such expenditures? only a Sc
lect few. and they are the very ones
who are least in need Of it. l say
that Christian people and members OF
churches have no right TO indulge their
selfish measures to this extent in these
wavs know that Christ would not
....,.-.,y-n Of q -