The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-02-21

father and mother; that no real want
| of her being shall be forgotten; that
whatever sacrifice it might cost, every
| advantage should be given the child
| which would have been hers had she
not been bereft of those who gave her
birth. In the midst of these resolves a
sense of the vastness OF the response
bility in the training of an immortal
soul caused her almost to tremble. Ex-
pressing something of her. feelings to
John, he had said; mo privilege more
! glorious could be granted to woman
than the fashioning of a soul for grand
eur in life and in eternity. God in Civ
| ing you this work is proving to you His
! him in perfecting his own designs" Pa
thence gratefully accepted the thought
and gained inspiration from it. Johns
ideas were always beautiful to her.
Magnifying his gifts as she did, and in
her wifely devotion partially binding
herself to his weakness, she hardly
realized that while his theories were
perfect, unaided by her own superior
energy few of them could be success
! fully carried out.
When the care of little Myrtle was
assumed school duties were of necessity
given up, and consequently still greater
economy must be practiced. When
Myrtle had reached her second year
John and Patience had received per-
feet gift from Heaven, which was soon
recalled. When Patience wrote Grace
| of her loss, she said Though I have
loved Myrtle fondly, l knew nothing of
the joy and blessedness Of real mother
love until my own little boy was given.
l cannot describe to you my sor-
row. l always knew John had a noble
heart, but never had fathomed its
depths until our little one was taken
away SO manfully he struggled against
his own grief to soothe and comfort
mine.'
In the three years which followed, a
portion of his fathers Indebtedness
had been removed, but the prospect of
freedom from debt still seemed far
, away. They now decided to dispose of
their home and begin life anew in the
southwest. Every debt was paid, and
| though but little remained Patence's
brave hopefulness never deserted her;
while John, but for her example, would
i many times have yielded to discourage
/. ment. John was to go alone, and as
soon as possible Patience was to follow
with the children, for they now had a
| little daughter; but soon after John de-
parted the little one sickened and,
alone, save for Myrtle and kind sympa-
thizing neighbors, she saw the cherish
ed life go out. Her letter to Grace
breathed the chastened meekness of her
spirit. Il have watched her growing
beauty and had thought so fondly Of
taking our treasure to John. Our kind
| friends, and neighbors helped me so
much. How could l have met it sur
rounded by strangers? My dearest
plans for my children are doomed to
| disappointment. My bright dreams of
their future have persisted, and only a
pang is left. Nor would l see them
back. God is perfecting in Heaven the
work | had scarcely begun on earth. /
have only little Myrtle left; henceforth
my thought must be for her God grant
that l may be to her true mother. -
Thus Patience in all her anguish turned
always toward the light. With forced
cheerfulness she left the home in which
she had met life's heights and its
| depths; left the two little graves, which
were to be to her only memory, yet so
sweet and precious that it's chastened
influence fingered with her to the end,
and with her young charge she went to
| ileeG IeI husband anu The new scenes
awaiting her.
At the close of the third day of the
| journey little group of onlookers at
woman with delicate child leave the
train. John was waiting to receive
them. The place they were to call home
was some ten miles away. John had
made study of the soil and decided
that his selection was favorable. He
had had little experience in agricul
ture and his work must be experimental.
His means were insufficient to make
anything but meager purchase. A
badly constructed house and shanty
were the only buildings. A rude place,
indeed, to those accustomed to more re-
fined life. But the little family were
again united; the sorrow of their past
separation led them to cling more close
ly together, and they were happy in
each other. Patience in her new home
would allow herself no regret, feeling
that the right course had been taken.
She pillowed her weary head in quiet
satisfaction and with grateful prayer
slept in peace.
The population was somewhat scat
tered and of mixed character. There
was not much wealth. There were
| udIly WHOoC dill udu DCCll WICChCu LII
the late war Families of means had
settled in the vicinity. There seemed
an element of sociability among the
people, who combined western freedom
of action with southern hospitality.
On the first Sunday after Patience's ar
rival the family attended service in a
queer little church over three miles dis
tant. They were impressed with the
social spirit and freedom from coven-
tionalities which characterized the peo-
pie. Such chattering and handshak-
| ing in every part of the house. The
women were delighted to see each
other and discussed with eagerness
their various interests. Men in groups
under windows and around the doors
talked of their farming with CORE
spending ZEAL The meek-faced little
man in the small pulpit was hardly
noticed until he quietly arose andabegan
to read his hymn. Suddenly the babel
of sounds ceased and more devoted
congregation in appearance could hard.
ly be found. Such a variety of cos
tunes met the eve. Sunday faces look.
ed out of funny bonnets, made in styles
long in the past. homogeneous colors
were blended in strange confusion. The
most pious worshipper unused to the
scene could hardly suppress smile