The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-06-05

CHAPTER VIII.
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
tieIlts with 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 a scratch in that terrible
fall. 1t was indeed remarkable that
the child did not seem to suffer even
from the general shock and reaction
from the disaster.
After a 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 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 uD-
conscious girl wondering how it was
possible that for all these years gone
by he had been so Indifferent to one Of
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 it was
stupid. But 1t was a noticeable fact
Iudt thOSC WIZ dttChuCu
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 sub
ject given out There was very little
talking done. From beginning to close
1t was nearly all prayer. Mr.. Jones
did not feel afraid of the long pauses.
He believed modern American life to
he so 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 its 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.
1t 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 a service Of prayer began, which
was like flood in it's 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 neal
| the White River Junction railroad dis
| aster in 1887 in a church near the acct
| dent. The entire morning service wa:
given up to prayer which seemed the
| only healthy relief to people suffering
from an overwhelming horror.
1t 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 sen
| up to Mr.. Jones. He then turned as Il
| to go out, but hesitated, came back an(
| slipped into vacant seat and waited
| Mr.. Jones received the note. glanced a
| It's contents and then rose. There wa:
singular emotion in his voice as h,
spoke
81 have just been handed note from
one of our mem bers, Mr. Robert Har
dy, with the request that l read il
aloud to the church tonight:
To You, Ny Dear Pastor. and You. My Brother
| and Sisters In Christ:
| / suppose it Is known to most OF you that thre
| Of my children the train during the re
| cent accident, and two Of them escaped with bu
| slight injuries But my daughter Clara s.
| riously injured by the shock, and at thi
| moment seated by her side praying that ne
reason may be spared and her possible injurie
| prove to be within tae region Of cure.
/ had planned to be with you tonight
| wanted to tell the church of the change that
| have lately experienced. | do not need to tel
you that for the % years that have been
| member OF the church have been a member onl
| in name l have seldom appeared in any of tn