The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-18


and came later
So many of the little things which
spoil prosperity were left undone or done
| too late, and the woman who Stroye so
| desperately to stem the tide of indiffer-
ence and to bind up all the things that
were loose often felt tempted to strive no
longer. but just drift with the stream. II
was for the child'S sake that she still
kept struggling on.
She was a pretty child, fair haired,
IKE her mother, and already the quaint
est and most Industrious of housewives;
for Millie set her child the example of
| pe1ng always at work.
Ina had her own little garden, about
Inree rect by two, with an infant goose
berry bush in the center, and the pleas
ATTEST hours in Miles careWorn exist
ence We're spent with the little daughter
in the garden tending the flowers.
But IN farm no housewifery industry
| can make up for the masters want of
energy, and, although Millfe did her best
with the dairy and the poultry, things
went from bad to worse. and because OF
this West drank harder than ever.
AND still his wife tried patinentIy to
keep up all the old order and exquisite
neateneSS, only her face grew sharper
and more pinched and her tongue more
bitter.
But the mills of God were waiting
for James West, and it was fated that
ne should save his soul alive The well
OF drinking water that should have been
cleaned out was left untouched, and little
Ina Ieu a victim to diphtheria- The
mother fought desperately for her child'S
llfe-fOught as one to whom the passing
OF the innocent spirit might mean deS-
pair But the winds of God were stronger
IMAM her anguish of terror and love, al
though she well-nigh def1ed heaven it
self, clasping the little body to her, that
no power might wrest it from her. But,
close and 1mpassioned as was the clasp
OF her arms, death came and went, leav-
ing the mempty. Then she sorrowed, as
one quite without hope.
Inc doctor, an observant man, was
struck with her strange demeanor, which
mad no resignation in it.
1T is not all grief and heartbreak,' he
told some sympathizing neighbor; I'm
AFRAID there is more wrong than we can
see at present.
But to the deeply sorrowing and re-
morseful father came slowly a broken
ana contr1te heart. He knew himself
party responsible for his child's DEATH
put the knowledge was wisely tempered
to him, so that he was softened into
penltence and not hardened into des-
pair.
Once more he went sober1y and indus
trlously about his work, and the warm
tears would rain down his face as he
passed mas little grave, not so big as
the small grave. He took from it a tiny
geranlum plant that was whitening and
uylng IN the frost. He ported it and put
IL IN a warm and sunny window, and
tears dropped upon the withered leaves
as ne tended and cherished the feeble
dying plant.
Many times, unseen of all, he would
ask Divine forgiveness for the sin which
nad brought SO heavy punishment, and
DIVINE grace permitted him an entrance
INTO the right way.
1t was Henry Palk who noticed first
OF all, that West drank nothing at the
market dinners, and, remem berins the
poor, stl1cken Wife at home, he was hon
eStly giad that West had turned over a
new leaf.
Stick to it, man." he cried heartily
as they We're driving home together: be
ing only a widow man. I like NV drop
OF comfort, but for married men tits .
olHerent matter, and some can't pull up
as easy as others; rackon the Wife's
turr-ble thankful, baint she?"
West shook his head sadly.
She hardly takes notice of much vet.
II almost as though her spirit had gone
aIong OF the child. There's hardly sense
IN her at timeS''
The poor soul's about wored out. West.
9on must be tender to her, for she's been
a VIE IN ten thousand
Ihere was keen reproach in his tome
and West suffered it humbiy enough. 'o'ie'
ber S Ai1M IT, ,FaIk; and for all I've made
do!' -0'e Nei oe'Ariy' GOD knows
,e And / now's the time to prove it. I'm
rG 40 Tor, Ior bit AS L said, she is pretty
tb ana as West drove into his own yard
t Sne neglected look of the house struck
nm nm painfully; The steps were unwashed,
window plants dropping for want of wafer
save the one which he had Watered with
ms tears, but that was dying fast
1t was all so unlike Millie that it seemed
as though she We're dead, too.
Where could she be that she did not
come out to receive him? He was so ac-
Gustomed TO see her in the doorway spot
lesS ana neat, with an anxious smile of
welcome for him. that he could NOT under.
stand her falling to be there.
How desolate everything looked as he
entered, and how the ceaSeing of endless
houseW1fely care made all the shabbiness
so startlingly apparent.
4
colo as ne entered, and the fire which
was always part of her welcome for him
was on this occasion nearly out Tn the
ha1t dark he thought the room was empty
out IN turning to go out he saw a wo-
mans figure huddled up in an armchair
hair all disordered and uncared for and
her face foolish and wild. She had a
glass IN her hand, and there was a smell
or spirits in the room. AS he faced her
horror-str1cken, she looked at him vacu-
ously until her poor lips began to culver
glass down.
It's the only bit of comfort I'VE got
lei, James; the only comfort I can find
She sank back. half in stupor. half in
sleep, and he left her with the face of a
man Who had seen the fall of one of the
angels. But he knew whose the blame
was as he went, blind with grief and
horror, to the little grave, so pathetically
small and new. Kneeling down by it. he
raised his anguished face to heaven
God be merciful to me, sinner and
put me into the winepreSS of Thy wrath
but not her, the dearest, kindest woman
that ever was a. wife, lest my punishment
be greater than / bear