The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-04-19

sisters ana nave any SELF respect LETT
you will let drink and cards alone
after this. In the sight Of God. my
dear boy, remember what he made
you for. You are young. You have
all Of life before you. You can make
a splendid record II God spares your
life.
II would gladly give all I possess to
stand where you do today and live my
life over again. can't do it. The
past Is irrevocable. But one can al
ways repent. George, believe me. your
mother would rather see you in your
coffin than see you come home again as
you did last night. We love you
Mr.. Hardy, proud man that he was,
on the boys head as If he We're a
young lad again and said simply,
Don't disappOint God, my boy" and
went out, leaving his son sitting there
almost overcome by his fathers pow
erful appeal. but not yet ready to yield
himself to the still small voice that
spoke within even more powerfully
and whispered to him: "My son. give
me thine heart. Cease TO do evil: learn
to do well. Cleanse thy ways and fol
low after Righteousness"
1t was l O'Clock when Mr.. Hardy
came down stairs. and as he came into
the room where Mrs. Hardy and the
girls were sitting he happened to think
of some business matters between him
self and his only brother, who lived in
He spoke of the matter to Mrs.
Hardy, and she suggested that Will go
down on the o'clock train with the
papers Mr.. Hardy wanted to have his
brother look over and come back on
the 6 o'clock in time for dinner.
Clara asked If she couldn't go. too,
and Bessie added her request. as she
had not seen her aunt for some time.
Mr.. Hardy saw no objection to their
going. only he reminded them that he
wanted them all back at 6. Alice vol
unteered to amuse George at home
while all the rest were gone. and Mr.
and Mrs. Hardy departed for the fu
neral. Mr.. Hardy's thoughts still ab.
sorbed for the most part with his older
boy. Clara had asked no questions
concerning the interview with James.
and her father simply stated that they
could have a good talk about 1t in the
evening.
The tenement at No. 760 was crowd.
ed. and in spite of the wintry weather
large numbers of men and women
stood outside in the srow. Mr.. Hardy
had ordered his sleigh, and he and his
wife had gone dowu to the house in
that ready to take some one to the
cemetery.
The simple service as 1t began was
exceedingly impressive to Mr.. Hardy |
Most of the neighbArs present looked
at him and his well dressed wife In |
sullen surprise. She noticed the looks
with heightening color. but Mr.. Har.
dy was too much absorbed in his
thoughts Of what ho had done and left
undone In this family to be Influenced
by the behavior of those about him.
Mr.. Jones offered prayer for the
comfort Of God to rest on the stricken
family. He then read a few words
from Johns gospel appropriate to the
occasion and said few simple words.
mostly addressed to the neighbors
present. The poor widow had been re.
moved to a small room up stairs and
lay there cared for By the faithful sis.
ter. The minister had nearly conclud.
ed his remarks when voice was heard
In the room above, voices expostulat.
Ing In alarm and growing louder, fol.
lowed by rapid movement in the mar.
row ball above, and with a scream of
frenzy the wife rushed down the stairs
md burst into the room where the dead
body Of her husband lay. She had sud-
denly awakened out of the fainting
stupor in which she had been lying
since her husbands death and realized
what was going on in the house with a
quick gathering Of passion and
strength. such as even the dying some.
lines are known to possess. She had
escaped from her sister and the neigh.
,or who were watching with her and,
.razy with grief. flung herself over the
'offin. moaning and crying out in such
accents that all present
we're for moment dung into state Of
naction and awe.