The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-07-10
[coNrINUED.J
CHAPTER VIII.
A Tale Of Moral Heroism
In Overcoming the World.

CHAPTER VIII.
TO LIGHTEN THE SORROWS OF OTHERS.
For a few moments Malcom Kirk
experienced feeling of anguish on his
own account that shst out entirely this
other forlorn and bleeding heart. Then
there sprang up In his soul most tre-
mendous and overpowering revolution
of feeling. He said to . very dear
friend several years afterward that as
he stood there on the threshold of his
parsonage. with the hot. dusty glare of
that withering day smiting him and
the figure Of that old woman on the
doorstep. he knew that perhaps the
most important event In his own inner
experience was taking place. For this
appeal for help, this cry to him to
share a burden while his own seemed
greater than he could bear, revealed to
him the Christ life in our human lives
and the glory Of overcoming the world
for his sake. Certain 1t Is that as NAL
eom Kirk stood there that morning his
soul felt the touch Of q healing and
benefcent love, and he looked at his
life again as worth while. and then be-
gan already to know that the fire Of his
own sorrow was destined to make him
more seryiceable to others.
What he actually did the next min
ute after all this was to ask Mrs. Bar
ton to come into the house. He tool
her into his study, and then after q
single moment of hesitation he went
out into the back yard to Dorothy.
She was still sitting on the bench
dry eyed and oblivious Of everything
around her, living over the last three
days. Malcom came up and put his
hand on her shoulder.
Dear" he said very gently, "wil
you come with me into the house
There is some one there who has come
to see me-to see us both"
She did not know what he meant OF
hardly what he said. but she rose ant
went into the house with him.
Mrs. Barton, this Is Mrs. Kirk.
want you to tell her what you hav,
told me-" -----s
The little woman could see tina
something unusual had happened q
the parsonage, but her own trouble
practically absorbed her feelings. Sh
looked at Dorothy. however. with tn
admiration which her beauty Of fac
often excited In what we call ordinar.
people.
"Oh, ma'am," she cried, 1--WE com
| to see II Mr.. Kirk won't help me t
get my boy home again. He's beel
drinking. live In q lonesome plac
at The Forks and don't very ofte
come to town. but have heard o
your husband, and they say people a.
around have gone to him for help, an
| I know he will do what he can for me
Ny boy will be Fl next week. toll
your husband that some day your bah
would STOW up into a good Christia
man to comfort and bless you. That
what l hoped and prayed my bo
would do. And he might II the saloo
had not tempted him."
She was going on. for her heart wa
full Of her trouble, when the look o
Dorothy's face stopped her.
Don't you know-has not Mr.. Kir
told you-that our baby-our baby
died last weekY'
The little heartbroken woman locke
at Dorothy in establishment. Ther
was nothing refined or sweet abor
her, but God gave her the right word
say at that particular time. She ros
and with her hands clasped wake
over near Dorothy. Malcom never TO
got that sight. "Oh. Mrs. Kirk. ma
God help you! Forgive me! l hay
not been to town for several weeks.
did not see the paper last week at al
The last time knew anything of yor
baby he was well and happy. l woul
never have come with my trouble II
had known yours" She paused for
moment, while two tears ran dow
over her thin cheeks. Dorothy bega
to sob. She had not cried before sine
that day when the baby was laid in Il
coffin; not even at the grave.
"Oh, ma'am," Mrs. Barton went o.
"your baby will never be q drunkar
My husband was. We lost a good far
back in Ohio on account Of the drin
and then my husband died, and toe
the boy and came out here. I wei
purposely to a lonesome place to kee
my boy from the town. I may ha,
made a mistake. but did the best
knew, and 1 feared for him on accoul
Of his father. Oh. ma'am. your hea
is sore, know 1t. but It's not as sore ,
mine. for your baby never broke yo'
heart. l would sooner see my boy
his coffin than see him as l have maj
a time during the past two year
There's trouble and trouble. May G.
help US to bear our own But 70,
baby's safe now. How can 1 tell
mine ever will ber'
She spoke the last words in such
tone Of hopeless sadness that Dorotl
lifted up her head and looked at her.
Don't say that!" she said. and t
tears flowed down her face fast'
They were merciful tears. Her hea
which had been fast bound within b
as If 1t would burst. felt the first reli
she had known. God was leading b,
She still did not know that what NJ,
com had experienced had come to b
also. But the lonely, stricken wom
|. in the little study, representing
= much human sorrow Of q kind th
i neither Dorothy nor Malcom knew, h
n touched her. She Also was able to s
s to her husband years afterward th
she felt as II the coming Of that 9th
burden into their own heavy heart