The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-06-26
A Tale Of Moral Heroism In Overcomin
BY CHARLES M. SHELDON,
Observation-Disclosures Illustrations b. Hr-ann Ha~. Observation-Disclosures
uthor Of "In His Steps, st~CruciAxion Of Philip Stron,
Hardyss Seven Days."
nm 1900 By the ADVANCE ruB11sHna

"a NS SNS
sight of his old classmate had revived
his Hermon memories. He saw again
the old campus. its great venue of
elms. the noble landscape of hills and
woods, Dorothy's home across the cam
pus, his own dingy little room. his love
for the woman who now was sharing
this great trouble with him. And he
cried without attempt at concealment,
for his heart was sore at the coming
loss of the baby out Of a home where
God himself had blessed the love of a
man. and wife as rarely in human lives
it has been blessed.
Finally he lifted up his face and
spoke calmly:
"We've hoped all along, Of course,
but the long continued heat has been
against his recovery. It's hard to part
with .he little fellow. See Malcolm
Kirk rose and took the baby again
from his wife, while Dorothy sat down
near a table and laid her beautiful
head IN her arms, but still she was
without a tear. "See, the little fellow
smiles at me still"
The baby opened his eyes, looked up
into Malcolm Kinks gaunt, agonized
countenance, and a faint light went
| over it's face.
"Malcom, oh, Malcom!!" -Iled Doro-
thy. 81 can't endure it!'
1t was the first protest that had es-
capped her. Like him, the presence Of
this friend from the old loved place in
the east had stirred her heart, and
even as she cried aloud in her anguish
the pent up tears came, and she cried
in sobs that rent her husbands heart
even more than the baby's sad smile.
Wilson choked as he rose to go and
said: Kirk, may God bless n help
you at this time. l would stay and
watch with you or help in any way
No; it will not be necessary. The
neighbors and church people have been
very kind to us. No one can do any
more"
He went away to the hotel, promising
the night grew on for Malcolm and
Dorothy. The doctor came in, a few Of
the most intimate church members al
SO, but no one could do any more, and
Malcolm Kirk held the baby with a ten
derness that relieved its suffering, fot
they had not been able to place it's
body in a restful position on a bed, and
it had grown used to its cradle Of long,
strong arms.
1t was toward morning, when NO one
vas in the room except Malcolm and
Dorothy, that the baby died. 1t seem
ed to these two as they watched it go
that their hearts broke, and the world
turned black and empty before them
! when the last breath vas drawn by
that frail, trembling body. For a little
! while Malcolm held him. Then he laid
the body down on a couch, and. kneel-
Ing there with his arms about his
5 wife, he joined with her in a moment
! of unspeakable anguish for the death
> of their irstborn.
e The sun came up dry and red, the
heat of another day began to pour In
T to the little room, and it seemed to the
) bereaved parents as if the earth was a
u great, dry, burned out wilderness. The
neighbors called. Wilson came, anG
his presence and silent sympathy were
a blessing to Malcolm and Dorothy
But when, later in the day, the baby
had been laid in the little coffin an(
placed in the center of the room will
a bunch of white geraniums on its
breast brought in by the members o
Dorothy's primary Sunday school clas
Dorothy laid her head down on tn
table beside the casket, and her grie
was very, very great. Malcolm stoo'
beside her, looking hungrily at hi
baby's face, and the people in the lit
tie room quietly went out and lef
them alone for awhile.
Next day Wilson read the funera
service and prayed at the house, an
after the simple service a little con
pany went with Malcolm and Doroth
town, and the baby vas buried there
and these children of the All Fathe
went back to the little parsonage.
. 1t was a great blessing to them 1
} this time that Wilson was with then
He, seeing how they chung to his pre-!
epce, staid over Sunday and preache
for Malcolm. 1t was during this sta
that he learned something Of wins
m Malcolm and Dorothy had been doin'
A short extract from a letter write
rk by him to his wife in the east wi
or show us something of the first thre
d. years Of Malcolm Kirk and his wife
a attempt to make good their pledge
lg. help redeem the lives of the people
Conrad:
ed 81 cannot tell you what a profour
sense Of sympathy i have felt for II
m, old classmate and his wife during the
tie great trouble. but l am simply asto
be ished to find how great a work thu
he have done in the three years they la,
he been here. This is a place of abo
ON 1000 people. 1t is having a boom
elf the present time.
wv 1.-The agitation over the saloon is |
.ge creasing. and l am told by Kirk al
of others that things are nearing a criS
and in all likelihood the next legisl
he ture will pass a prohibitory amen
til ment. The liquor men laugh at tt
probability and scout the idea that SUI