The National tribune., 1900-09-13

after He had sent His rains and His sun.
shine. and His earth had brought forth
the increase it was still more an obligation
to faithfully and gratefully garner His
gifts.
The neighbors used to say that nothing
but death or an earthquake would be al
lowed TO interrupt Deacon Klegg when
he was getting his crops in. When he was
younger man he had been little
touched by the Millerite excitement. One
day while hard at work cutting corn, he
was approached by prophet of the com
ing time" fully dressed in his ascension
robes"
Brother Klegg," he walled, 'why are
you toiling for morrow thatll never
come"
"How's that, Brother Myers?" asked
Deacon klegg, stopping to pull out from
his shirt some Spanish needles, whose
sharp points had reached his skin. ITO
mOrrows We bin coming right along, Std
dy and reger. What's going to hinder 'em
keeping right on that way?'
Everything. Everything pints to the
fulness O time and the end of all earthly
things. The heavens declare it. 1t is
written on every leaf of the trees, and
every blade o grass in the fields. They
all confirm the prophecies in the Book o
Revelations. The sun is now going down
for the last time. Leave off at once use
less harvesting and garnering of the per-
fishing things of this earth, for the earth
itself perishes. Hurry at once to your
house. put on your robes of Immortality,
and kneel in prayer with your family, and
await the awful summons"
Couldn't think o quitting now" an
Swered the Deacon, with a glance at the
sky, and drawing milestone from his
pocket, to give his cOrn-knife fresh edge.
Suns mOre'n two hours high yet. I'll
t.atv To NT..I b., Il lxof-
dark"
Vain, senseless, perverted man. Eyes
that will not see. Ears that will not hear.
Verify it will be more tolerable in the Day
of Judgment for them who turned a deaf
ear to NOahs call than for thee. What
will thy Maker say to thee when thou
turnest from Him to fill thy barns and
cribs?"
Il expect" said the Deacon, little i'm
patiently, for he wanted to get back to
work, that He had just as much purpose
is sending all this big crop o corn this year
as He had in anything else. He intended
it to feed His creatures. If He comes to-
night lie is most likely to ask me if put
in full day getting His corn in, and I'm
going to be able to say yes"
To this hard-headed, duty-dOing man
such an event as the arrival of his only
son from the front and from the perils Of
prison was no reason whatever for inter-
mitting the performance of the duty of the
hour. If he had gone down to the front
to see 81, and found him in line of battle,
blazing away at the enemy, he would have
taken up musket and stepped to his sons
side.
Are you well?" he asked. as he whet-
ted his corn slash and looked the boys
over.
'Nevcr felt BETTER" answered ST and
Shorty in chorus.
Mother know you're here?"
"Yes; seen the girls at the depot.
They've gone home to tell her."
Set down, pap" continued 81, taking
off his blouse and belt and rolling up his
sleeves. 'Set down there in the shade,
and rest and talk to Shorty. Cir me that
eorn-slash, and I'll spell you"
mo, indeed" said the elder gentleman
firmly. I'm fresh us morning glory.
I'll cut my own row. don't think you'll
make n first-class hand at cOrn-cutting
now. Toying with a musket has put You
out Of practice. But if you want to hack
around u little, get Sammy's corn-slasher
and go over there to the edge of the field.
! don't want you maggling around here
in the center, and making the field look
as if the hogs had chawed the stalks off,"
20, come off, now, pap" said ST. Il
know that you're admitted to be the best
cOrn-cutter in the neighbOrhOod, but / be-
lieve that IN mighty near as good as you,
and i IN going to show you by taking the
next row to you and keeping purity near
even with you. CIR me that slasher, SAM
my, and find me a milestone somewhere"
The Deacon looked doubtful Mt this
statement, but was somewhat reassured
by the skillful way in which 81 handled
the MILESTONE, and put an edge on the
long piece of scythe-blade, which had been
converted into cOrn-slasher by fixing it
on a handle.
"Count me in, too" said Shorty, pick
ing up another corn-slasher. which he saw
stuck into the end of rail. Il never cut
q stalk O. corn in my life, but I'll bet 1 can
give you rods start, 81, and then beat
you to the end"
Shorty" admonished 81, "better lay
that down and not try. Corn cutting'G q
business that's got to be learned. You'll
cut them big feet O. your'n off or slice
your nose if you go foolin' around with
that corn-slasher."
you just tend to your business and I'll
tend to mine. 81 Klegg," responded
Shorty, vigorously whetting his slash. 'I,n