Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-06-09
CHAPTER Will

CHAPTER Will
Robert finished most of the work.
toiling as never in all his life before.
and started for home at 6. On the way
he made inquiries concerning George,
but nobody had seen him since the
evening before. When he reached the
house, he found that his wife, utterly
worn out, had lain down for little
sleep, and Alice was caring for the pa
dents with a calm courage and quiet
cheerfulness that revealed the girls
strong, self reliant character. Clara's
condition had not changed. She still
lay as If sleeping. Alice reported that
once in the afternoon she had moved
her lips and distinctly called for water.
Mr.. Hardy and Bess sat down to the
supper table by themselves, and Bess
again told how she had been saved
from even scratch In that terrible
fall. It was indeed remarkable that
the child did not seem to suffer even
from the general shock and reaction
from the disaster.
After brief meal Mr.. Hardy went
up stairs to Clara again. His chief
anxiety now was for her. He believed
that If the doctors fears were realized
she would become insane. 1t was not
possible that a person of her tempera.
ment and passion could be otherwise In
case she should come to consciousness
of her condition.
As the evening wore on Mr.. Hardy
felt that his duty lay in his own home
for that night, and he would have to
see his minister some other time. he
thought of the prayer meeting with
regret and sat by the bed Of the un.
conscious girl wondering how it was
possible that for all these years gone
by he had been so Indifferent to one Of
the best and most precious 'opportu.
mites for growing in spiritual man.
hood. He heard the bell ring for serv.
Ice, and when it stopped he sat with
his face in his hands praying.
The prayer meeting in Mr.. Jones
church was generally very quiet af-
fair. A good many people in the church,
especially those who came to the meet
ing only occasionally, thought 1t was
stupid. But it was noticeable fact
that those who attended regularly
were the ones who did the most work
In the church and the ones who grew
stronger and sweeter in the Christian
life. There was usually no regular SUBJ
ject given out. There was very little
talking done. From beginning to close
It was nearly all prayer. Mr.. Jones
did not feel afraid Of the long pauses.
He believed modern American life to
be 80 full Of nervousness and hurry
that 1t would not hurt any one to sit
still and think minute or two.
That was the reason 50 many people
called Mr.. Jones' prayer meetings dull,
because they were not rushing all the
time with sensational or exciting re-
marks and incidents. Mr.. Jones didn't
believe that was what prayer meet
ing was for, and he planned for it ac-
cordingly. But this particular evening
was an exception. The great railroad
accident so near them had stirred the
entire community to it's sympathetic
depths. Several families In Mr.. Jones
church had been sufferers. As If by
tacit consent there was an unusually
large gathering at the church, and the
subject was of necessity the recent
disaster.
It was a spontaneous meeting. The
minister briefly opened with the ex-
pressed desire that God would bless
the suffering, prepare the dying and
comfort the living, and almost instant.
ly q service of prayer began, which
was like a food In its continuous out
pouring. The people seemed urged by
some irresistible feeling to relieve the
pent up strain Of the day in prayer,
and such prayers had not been heard
in that church for many years
A similar scene was witnessed near
the White River Junction railroad dis
aster in 1887 in a church near the acci-
dent The entire morning service was
given up to prayer, which seemed the
only healthy relief to people suffering
from an overwhelming horror.
It was during the first pause that oc-
Cured that James Caxton opened the
door and gave note to some one in the
back seat with request that 1t be sent
up to Mr., Jones. He then turned as If
to 60 out, but hesitated, came back and
slipped into a vacant seat and waited.
Mr.. Jones received the note, glanced at
it's contents and then rose. There was
a singular emotion in his voice as he
spoke.
II have Just been handed note from
one Of our members, Mr.. Robert Har-
dy, with the request that I read it
aloud to the church tonight:
To You, Ny Dear Pastor. and You. Ny Brothers
and Sisters In Christ:
suppose 1t ts known to most OF you that three
of my children were on the train during the re-
cent accident, and two Of them escaped with but
slight injuries But my daughter Clara was Sc
riously injured by the shock, and l am at this
moment seated by her side praying that her
.a.eon nav he snarpd and her possible injuries