The true northerner., 1900-04-04

at Barton for % years. one of the trus-
tees and 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 a 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 a little scornfully.
What. He take part in prayer meet
ing. lie couldn't remember when he
had attended one. They were too dull
for him. He wondered at Mr. Jones
for writing such a letter and almost
felt as though he had been imperti-
nent. lie threw the letter in the waste
basket and did not even answer it. He
would not have been guilty Of such
lack Of courtesy in regard to a busl-
ness letter, but a letter from his minis
ter was another thing. The idea of re-
plying to a letter from him never oc-
Cured to Mr. Hardy. And when
Thursday night came he went down TO
n meeting OF the chess club and had
good time with his favor ,e game, for
he was fine player and was engaged
in series Of games which were being
played for the state championship.
The superintendent Of the Sunday
school had lately timidly approached
Mr. Hardy and asked him if he would
not take n class Of boys in the Sunday
school What. HE take a class Of boys!
He. the influential wealthy manager
of one of the largest railroad shops in
the world-HE give his time to the
teaching Of n Sunday school class. He
excused himself on the score of lack of
time, and the very same evening Of his
interview with the superintendent he
went to the theater TO hear a roaring
farce and after he reached home spent
an hour in his favorite study of chem
iStry in his laboratory at the top Of his
house. for Mr.. Hardy was a man of
considerable power as a student. and
he had an admirable physical constitu-
ton. capable Of the most terrible
strain. Anything that gave him pleas
ure he was willing TO work for. He
was not lazy. but the idea of giving his
personal time and service and talents
to bless the world had no place in his
mind.
And so as he lay on the lounge that
evening and listened to his wife's plain
statement concerning his selfshness he
had no intention to give up a single
thing that gratifed his tastes and fed
his pride.
After a silence just about long
enough for some one TO give the expla-
nation just given. Mrs. Hardy said,
speaking coldly, as If it were a matter
of Indifference to her:
"Alr. Burns. the foreman. called
while you were out"
"IIe did? What did he want?"
"Ie said four of the nyn in the cast
ing room were severely injured this
afternoon by the bursting Of one of the
retorts. ana the entire force had quit
work and gone home"
Couldn't Burns supply the place Of
the injured men? He knows where the
extras are"
"That was what he came TO see you
about. He said he needed further di-
rections. The men fatty refused TO
work another minute and went out in
q body. | don't blame them much.
Robert don't you believe God will pun
ish you for keeping the shops open on
any SundayT
Nonsense, Mary" replied Mr. Har-
dy. Yet there was n shadow Of un-
easiness in his tone. "The work has
got TO 20 on. 1t is work of necessity.
Railroads are public servants; they
can't rest Sundays"
"Then when God tells the world that
1t must not work on Sundays he does
not mean railroad men? The fourth
commandment ought to read: 'Remem-
Der the Sabbath day and keep 1t holy,
yt men WIN NOTk
roads. Ye haven't any Sunday"
"Mary, / didn't come from one ser
mon to listen to another. You're worse
than Mr.. Jones'"
Mr.. Hardy half rose on the lounge
and leaned on his elbow looking at his
wife with every mark of dlspleasure
on his face, and yet as he looked some
how there stole into his thought the
memory Of the old New England home
back in the Vermont hills and the vi
sion of that quiet little country village
where Mary and he had been brought
up together. He seemed to see the old
meeting house on the hill, at the end
OF long, elm shaded street that strag-
gled through the village. and he saw
himself again as he began to fall In
love with Mary, the beauty Of the vii
lage, aud he had n vision of one Sun
day when, walking back from church