Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-03-08

beginning to walk, aud seems not
quite able to leave the nest yet.
Even Charlie, in his drst trousers,
needs a little care. Poor, lame
Arthur couldn't do much sin the
cold, cruel world. Even Mary,
Jessie and Frank can do nothing
for you. Dear, we are only seven
burdens, with nothing 10 pay you
but love-"
"1he most blessed coin in all the
world" answered Edward Ferris,
in true lover fashion. "rhen,
read, this, dear, for it seems like
the key to the others"
Mrs. Ferris did not smile now.
The brown eyes flashed, and bright
spot Of red came into each cheek,
as she said otis shameful ! You
too old They forget how, at their
request, you declined that call to
Plainsheld with less work and q
larger salary. Do they think that
years OF thinking and studying and
living count for nothing Don't
they know they make you better
able TO help them 2 cannot un-
derstand it, dear. In Law, in med
icine, or any other profession in
deed, in almost any walk of life,
experience counts. II is in the
ministry alone that a man who has
scarcely reached middle life is push.
ed to the wall"
"You are not an unprecedented
judge, my dear" answered her hus.
band, though mentally he agreed
with her.
Far into the night they talked,
trying TO plan for the future. The
older children we're so nicely settled
in school. They all bad grown to
love this place and people, and hop.
cd the people loved them. Laying
oil selfsh considerations aside, II
did seem as IL even here there was
work TO be done. The new church
was not yet finished, and there we're
30 many careless, troubled ones
whom they had hoped TO bring to
the only sure Comfort. II could
not be- that their work here was
ended. SO they hoped this was not
the voice Of the church,
Next day Mr. Ferris met SOME 81
his church officials, who, after
little hesitation admitted that his
unknown correspondents had spok
en- the truth. They we're sorry to
have Dir. Ferris leave them. In
the eight years be had been with
them they bad grown deeply St
taehed to him, but ii seemed noces-
cary. aud he probably would be able
to find better place.
Accordingly, Mr. Ferris began to
look about him. His church bad
for some time been doing likewise,
and already had their minds aud
hearts fixed on boardless youth,
fresh from the seminary, with no
incumbrance in the shape Of wife
and children. Since he was ready
to accept a call, it seemed best for
Mr.. Ferris to leave. But where
should he go? Even from his mu-
niticient salary Of thousand dol
lars he had been able to save moth
ing. The vague rnmor that old
age was his only fault did not help
his candidacy. A man with wife
and six children depending on him,
and no home or salary in prospect,
must experience many anxious mo-
ments. Mr.. Ferris was 40 exoep.
ton. He began to feel really old.
That strange feeling about his heart
which had occasionally troubled
him came more frequently now.
The day for his farewell sermon
came, and with aching heart and
trembling voice, be spoke to them
for the last time. He told them
how be regretted his fault Of grow
ing old, fault which each year
would but increase, and yet a fault
which would overtake each and
every one Of them. He spoke of
his wish, too, that he might meet
with them in the new building, for
which they had worked and prayed
together. Then as no welt on to
say that he had hoped that his
$500 - .k,d,, al - ,nffont.,.