Middletown transcript., 1900-04-21
CHAPTER 1.

A. was OuAuoy AiSAI, anu AlOpClt
Hardy had just come home from the
evening service in the church at Bar
ton. He was not in the habit Of attend
ing the evening service, but something
said by his minister in the morning
had impelled him to go out. The even
ing had been little unpleasant, and
light snow was falling, and his wife
had excused herself from going to
church on that account. Mr.. Hardy
came home cross and fault finding.
"Catch me going to evening service
againl Only 80 people out, and it was
a sheer waste Of fuel and light. The
sermon was one Of the dullest l ever
heard. I believe Mr.. Jones is growing
too old for our church. We need a
young man, more up with the times.
he is everlastingly harping on the ne
cessity Of doing what we can in the
present to save our souls. To hear him
talk you would think every man who
wasn't running round to save souls ev-
cry winter was a robber and an enemy
Of society. He is getting off, too, on
this newfangled Christian sociology
and thinks the rich men are depressing
the poor and that church members
ought to study and follow more closely
the teachings Of Christ and be more
brotherly and neighborly to their fell
low men. Bah! / am sick of the whole
subject Of humanity. shall withdraw
my pledge to the salary if the present
style of preaching continues"
what was the text of the sermon to-
night" asked Mrs. Hardy.
"Oh, I don't remember exactly. Some
thing about This night thy soul shall
be demanded or words like that. /
don't believe In this attempt to scare
folks into heaven"
"It would take a good many sermons
to scare you, Robert"
Eyes; more than two week" replied
Mr.. Hardy, with dry laugh. He drew
of his overcoat and threw himself
down on the lounge in front Of the
open fire. where are the girls?"
"Ance is up stairs reading the morn
ing paper. Clara and Bess went over
to call on the Caxtons."
"How did they happen to go over
thereT
Mrs. Hardy hesitated. Finally she
said, "James came over and invited
them"
"And they know / have forbidden
them to have anything to do with the
Caxtonsi When they come in, will
let them know l mean what say. 1t
is very strange the girls do not appear
to understand that"
Mr.. Hardy rose from the lounge and
walked across the room, then came
back and lay down again and from his
recumbent position poked the fire saw
agely with the shovel.
Mrs. Hardy bit her lips and seemed
on the point Of replying, but said moth
ing.
At last Mr.. Hardy asked, "Where are
the boys"
"Wlll is getting out his lessons for
tomorrow up in his room. George went
out about 8 o'clock. He didn't say
where he was going"
Its a nice family. Is there one
night in the year, Mary, when all our
children are at home"
almost as many as there are when
you are at home" retorted Mrs. Hardy.
what with your club and your lodge
and your scientific society and your
reading circle and your directors meet
ing the children see about as much of
you as you do of them. How many
nights in a week do you give to us,
Robert? Do you think it is strange
that the children go outside for their
amusements? Our home"-Mrs. Hardy
paused and looked around at the costly
interior Of the room where the two
were-"our home is well furnished
with everything but our own children"
The man on the lounge was silent.
He felt the sharpness of the thrust
made by his wife and knew it was too
true to be denied. But Mr.. Hardy was,
above all things else, selfish. He had
not the remotest intention Of giving up
his club or his scientific society or his
frequent coZy dinners with business
men down town because his wife spent
so many lonely. deserted evenings at
home and because his children were al
most strangers to him. But it annoyed
him, as respectable citizen, to have
his children making acquaintances that
he did not approve, and it grated on his
old fashioned, inherited New England
ideas that his boys and girls should
be away from home so often in the
evening and especially on Sunday
evening. The maxim of Robert Hardy's
life was "Self interest first" AS long
as he was not thwarted in his own
pleasures be was as good natured as
the average man. He provided liberal
ly for the household expenses, and his
wife and children were supplied with
money and travel as they requested
It. But the minute he was crossed in
his own plans or any one demanded Of
him a service that compelled some self
denial he became hard, Ill natured and
naughty.
He had been a member of the church
at Barton for 25 years, one Of the trus-
tees and a liberal giver. He prided
himself on that fact. But so far as CIV
ing any of his time or personal service
was concerned, he would as soon have
thought of giving all his property away
to the first poor man he met. His min
lister had this last week written him an
earnest, warm hearted letter, express
ing much pleasure at the service he
had rendered so many years as trus-
tee and asking him If he would not
come to the Thursday evening meet
ing that week and take some part,
whatever he chose, to help along. 1t
was a season of anxious interest among
many in the church, and the pastor
earnestly desired the presence and help
Of all the members.
Robert had read the letter through
hastily and smiled little scornfully.
What! He take part in prayer meet
ing! He couldn't remember when he
had attended one. They were too dull
for him. He wondered at Mr.. Jones
for writing such letter and almost
felt rs though he had been imperti-
nent. He threw the letter In the waste
basket and did not even answer 1t. He
would not have been guilty Of such
lack Of courtesy u regard to a busl-
A -. - -.