Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-05-16
ROBERT }tARDf'S
SEVEN DAY&>
A DREAM AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.
REV. CHAS. Il. SHELDON
1.-THE Crucifxion
Strong" Etc.

earnest, warm hearted letter, eApress'
ing much pleasure at the service he
had rendered so many years as trus-
tee and asking him If he would not
come to the Thursday evening meet
ing that week and take some part,
whatever he chose, to help along. 1t
was season Of anxious interest among
many In the church. and the pastor
earnestly desired the presence and help
of all the members.
Robert had read the letter through
hastily and smiled q little scornfully.
What! He take part in prayer meet
ing! He couldn't remember when he
had attended one. They were too dull
for him. He wondered at MIR. Jones
for writing such q letter and almost
felt as though he had been imperti-
nent. He threw the letter in the waste
basket and did not even answer 1t. He
would not have been guilty Of such q
lack of courtesy In regard to q busi-
ness letter, but letter from his minis.
ter was another thing. The idea Of re-
plying to letter from him never oc-
CURED to Mr.. Hardy. And when
Thursday night came he went down to
meeting of the chess club and had a
good time with his favorite game, for
he was a fine player and was engaged
In q series Of games which were being
played for the state championship.
The superintendent of the Sunday
school had lately timidly approached
Mr.. Hardy and asked him If he would
not take q class Of boys in the Sunday
school. What. lie take class of boys!
He, the influential. wealthy manager
of one of the largest railroad shops In
the world-HE give his time to the
teaching of Sunday school class! He
excused himself on the score Of lack of
time, and the very same evening Of his
interview with the superintendent he
went to the thcater to hear roaring
farce and after he reached home spent
an hour in his favorite study Of chem
istry in his laboratory at the top Of his
house, for Mr.. Hardy was n man of
considerable power as q student, and
he had an admirable physical constitu-
ton. capable Of the most terrible
strain. Anything that gave him pleas
ure he was willing to work for. He
was not lazy. but the idea Of giving his
personal time and service and talents
to bless the world had no place In his
mind.
And so as he lay on the lounge that
evening and listened to his wife'S plain
statement concerning his selfishness he
had no intention to give up single
thing that gratified his tastes and fed
his pride.
After a silence just about long
enough for some one to give the eXpla.
nation just given. Mrs. Hardy said,
speaking coldly, as If it were matter
Of Indifference to her:
"Mr. Burns. the foreman, called
while you We're out"
"He did? What did he want?"
"He said four Of the men in the cast
Ing room were severely injured this
afternoon by the bursting Of one of the
retorts. and the entire force had quit
work and gone home"
Couldn't Burns supply the place OF
the injured men? He knows where the
extras are"
"That was what he came to see you
about. He said he needed further di'
rections. The men fatty refused to
work another minute and went out in
body. | don't blame them much
Robert, don't you believe God will pun
ish you for keeping the shops open on
any Sunday"
Nonsense Mary" replied Mr.. Har'
dy. Yet there was shadow Of un'
easiness In his tone. "The work has
got to 60 on. 1t is q work of necessity
Railroads are public servants; they
can't rest Sundays"
"Then when God tells the world that
it must not work on Sundays he does
not mean railroad men? The fourth
commandment ought to read: 'Remem
Der the Sabbath day and keep it holy
except all ye men who work for rail-
roads. Ye haven't any Sunday"
MARY, l didn't come from one ser
mon to listen to another. You're worse
than Mr.. Jones"
Mr. Hardy half rose on the lounge
and leaned on his elbow, looking at his
wife with every mark Of displeasure
on his face and yet rs he looked some
how there stole into his thought tht
memory Of the old New England home
back in the Vermont hills and the vi
sion Of that quiet little country village
where Mary and he had been brought
up together. He seemed to see the OLE
meeting house on the hill, ut the er(
Of long, elm shaded street that strag
gled through the village, and he saw
himself again as he began to fall II
) love with Mary, the beauty Of the vii
lage, and he had a vision Of one Sun
3 day when. walking back from churcl
by Mary's side, he had asked her to be
his wife. 1t seemed to him that a
breath of the meadow just beyond
Squire Hazen's place came into the
I room Just SIS it was waited up to him
! when Mary turned and said the happy
word that made that day the gladdest
] proudest day he had ever known
What, memories Of the old times!
What!
He seemed to come to himself and
, stared around into the fire as If won
, dering where he was, and he did not
see the tear that rolled down his wife's
cheek and fell upon her two hands
clasped in her lap. She arose and went