Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-03-27

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lieve he will give me wisdom to know
what | ought to do"
II think father ought to stay at home
with us all the time" said Bess.
Robert" said Mrs. Hardy. who
could not comprehend the full mean.
Ing of the situation much better than
little Bess. "will you give up your
business7 How can you attend TO IL?
VIII you have the strength and the pa
tience while laboring under this i'm.
pressionT
IL have already thought over that
Yes; | believe I ought to 90 right on.
I don't see what would be gained by
severing my connection with the com
pany."
"will you tell the company you
have only Mrs. Hardy could not
say the words. They choked her.
what would you do. AliceT asked
her father. turning to his oldest daugh.
ter, who. although cripple. had more
than once revealed TO the family great
powers Of judgment and decision.
II would not say anything to the
company about It." replied Alice
finally.
"That Is the way feel" said Mr.
Hardy with q nod Of approval 'They
would not understand II. My successor
In the office will be young Wellman. In
all probability. and he is perfectly com
petent to carry on the work. feel as
II the matter were one that belonged to
the family. | shall. Of course. arrange
my business affairs with reference 10
the situation. and George can give me
half day for the details. But you
know. Mary. have always kept my
business In such shape that in any case
of accident or sudden death matters
could easily be arranged. Thank God
shall not have % take time for those
matters that | ought to give to more
serious and important duties"
II was true that Mr.. Hardy. always a
man Of very methodical habits In a
business way. had always arranged bis
affairs with reference to accidental re
moval. His business as manager ne
ccssitated his being on the road great
deal. and he realized. as many railroad
men do realize. the liability Of sudden
death.
But such q thought had not had any
influence on his actions to make hiln
less selfish. He thought. as all men do
that he should probably I've right
along after all; that death might take
the engineer or conductor or fireman
but would pass him by.
Suddenly VIII spoke up: "Father. dc
you want George and me to leave col
legeT
Certainly not. my boy. What would
be gained by that? want you to keep
right on just an II were going TO live
80 years more"
George did not say anything. He
looked at his father as II he doubted
his sanity.
His father noticed the look. and q
terrible wave Of anguish swept over
him as he recalled the part Of his VI
sion In which he had seen his oldest
son In the gambling room.
Again the prayer he had been silently
praying all the morning went up out OF
his heart. Almighty God. show me
how to use the seven days most wise
ly."
Father" said Bess suddenly. what
will you do about Jim and Clara? Did
you know they were engagedY'
"Bessr said Clara passionately. Their
she stopped suddenly, and, seeing her
fathers brow grow dark. she covered
afraid Of what was coming.
But Mr.. Hardy looked at the world
differently this morning. Twenty-fouI
hours before he would have treated
Bessie's remark as he usually treated
her surprising revelations Of the So
crets Of the family. He would have
laughed at II little and sternly com
manded Clara to break the engage
ment II there was one at once. fol
James Caxton was not at all the sor,
of man Mr.. Hardy wanted TO have
come into the family. he was poor
to begin with. and. more than all. his
father had been the means Of defeating
Mr.. Hardy In a municipal election
where a place Of influence and honoI
was In dispute. Mr.. Hardy had never
forgotten or forgiven IT, When he he
gan to see his children Intimate with
the Caxtons. he tried to forbid thell
going to the house. with the result a'
ready described.
Mr.. Hardy looked at Clara and sait
very tenderly: CLARA. We must have
good talk about this. You know you
father loves you and wants you TO b'
happy. and Mr.. Hardy stopped II
his emotion. and Clara burst into tears
and left the table.
Come" cried Mr.. Hardy after mo
ment, during which no one seemed In
clined to speak. "let Us ask God to give
us all wisdom at this time"
George made motion as II to 60 out
"My son." called Mr.. Hardy aftel
him gently. won't you stay with th'
rest Of usY'
George sat down with q shamefacet
look, Alice and Clara came back. ant
Mr. Hardy read that famous sixth
chapter Of Ephesians. beginning "Chil
dren. obey your parents In the Lord.
Then In brief but earnest prayer h'
asked Gods help and blessing on al
the day and rose to face 1t, the grea
burden of bis responsibility beginning
to rest upon him for the first time. III
sat down for a moment by his wife
and kissed her, putting his arms abou
her, while Bess climbed up on the sid
of the couch, and the boys stood irreso
lutte and wondering. Any outward
mark Of affection was SO unusual oil
the part of their father that they fel
awkward In the presence Of It. Mrs
Hardy was almost overcome.
"Oh. Robert, cannot bear 1t! Surel!
II was nothing more than dream. l
couldn't have been anything more
You are not going to be called ava!
from us 80 s0On."
MARY, would to God that ! hat
seven years to atone for my neglect ant
selfishness toward you alone. But an
certain that God has granted me bu
seven days. must act, God help me
! Rows. you will be late. We will all b.
at home this evening. Alice, care TO
your mother and cheer her up. fo'
are a good girl and
Again Mr. Hardy broke down as b
thought Of the many years he ha'
pra ctically ignored this brave, strong