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

and hurried into the next room. But
before relating what happened there
we viii follow Mr.. Hardy into the ex'
perisuce he had just after falling
asleep upon the lounge by the open IRE
II seemed to him that he stepped n
once from the room where he lay into
place such as he had never seen be
fore. where the one great idea that
Oiled his entire thought was the ides
Of the present moment Spread out
before him. as II reproduced by a pho
nograph and q magic lantern COM
bined. was the moving panorama OF
the entire world. he thought he saw
into every home. every public place OF
business. every saloon and place OF
amusement. every shop and every
farm. every place Of Industry. amuse'
ment and vice upon the face OF the
globe. And be thought he could hear
the worlds conversation. catch Its sobs
pf suifering-nay, even catch the mean.
ing OF unspoken thoughts Of the heart
With that absurd rapidity peculiar tc
certain dreams be fancied that ovei
every city ON the globe was placed
glass cover through which he could
look and through which the sounds OF
the city's Industry came TO him. But
be thought that be ascertalned that by
lifting off one Of these covers he could
hear with greater dlstinctnsss the
thoughts OF the Inhabitants and see nj
they were doing and suffering with the
most minute exactness. He looked fol
the place OF his own town. Barton
There II lay in Its geographical spot on
the globe. and he thought that. moved
by an impulse he could not resist. be
lifted of the cover and bent down to
see and hear.
The first thing he saw was his min
ister's home. 1t was Just after the
Sunday evening service. the one which
Mr.. Hardy bad thought so dull Mr.
Jones was talking over the evening
with his wife.
"My dear" he said. 81 feel about dis
couragsd. or what use Is all our pray
Ing and longing for the Holy Spiri,
when our own church members are sc
cold and unsp'ritual that ap his infu
ence Is destroyed? And. you know.
made special plea TO all the member
10 come out tonight. and only hand
ful there. feel like giving up the
struggle You know I could make q
better living IN literary work. and ths
children could be better cared fol
then"
But. John. II was bad night to gel
out You must remember that"
But only 80 out Of church mem
bership Of 400. most Of them living
near by! II doesn't seem just right tS
me-"
"Mr. Hardy was there! Did you sc.
himY
Yes: after service I went and spokt
TO him. and be treated me very coldly
And yet be is the most wealthy and II
ssme ways the most gifted shurct
member we have. He could do grea
things for the good Of this community
IT,
Suddenly Mr.. Hardy thought The
minister changed into the Sunday
school superintendent. and be wal
walking down the street thlsking abou
his classes In the school. and Mr.. Har
| dy thought he could hear the supertn
tendent's thoughts. a. II bis ear wer'
at a photograph.
Its too bad. That class Of bsys
wanted Mr.. Hardy to take left tn,
school because no one could be foun(
to teach them. And now Bob Wilson
| has got into trouble and been ARRESTED
for petty thieving. II will be q terrible
blow TO bis poor neither. Oh. why II 1
that men like Mr.. Hardy Cannot 3,
made to see the Importance Of work II
the Sunday schoolg With bis knowl
edge Of chemistry and geology be coult
have reached that class Of boys and In
vited them to his home. up into his lab
oratory and exercised an influence owe
them they would never outSrow. Oh
it's strange thing TO me that men o
such possibilities do not realize thei
power!'
The superintendent passed aloni
shaking his head serrowfully. and Mr.
Hardy. who seemed guided by SOM
power he could not resist and com
PEELED to listen whether be liked II o.
not. next found himself looking Int,
one of the railroad shop tssements
where the man Scoville was lying
awaiting amputation of both feet afte
the terrible accident Scoville's wifi,
lag upon q ragged lounge. while Mrs
Hardy's cook knseled by her side ant
In her native Swedish tongue tried Il
comfort the poor woman. So II wa
true that these two were sisters. Th,
man was still conscious and suffering
unspeakably. The railroad surgeon hat
been sent for. but had not arrived
Three or four men and their wives hat
come In to do what they could. Mr.
Burns. the foreman, was among them
One Of the men spoke In q whisper Il
him:
Have you been to see Mr.. HardyT
'Yes. but be was at church. ief
word about the accident"
AT church! So even the devil some
times goes to church. What for. won
der? Will he be here. thinkT
Don't know" replied Mr.. Burns
curtly.
do you mind when he"-pointing {,
Scoville-"saved Mr.. Hardy's lifer'
Remember 1t well enough: wa
standing close by"
"What'll be done with the childrel
when Scoville goes. ehY'
Don't know"
Just then the surgeon came In. and
preparations were rapidly made for th'
operation. The last that Mr. Hard,
heard was the shrek Of the poor wifi
as she struggled to her feet and fell II
a fit across the nosr where two Of th,
youngest children clung terrified to be-
dress. and the father cried out. tears o.
agony and despair running down hi,
face. MY God. what q hell this work
Isl"
The next scene was q room wher'
everything appeared confused at 6rst
but finally grew more distinct and tse
rible In lts significance. and the flrs
person Mr.. Hardy rscogniss6 wae II
Ioldest boy. George. in company Win
'sroup Of young nsa sAeaess in-x1at