Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-03-27
)r, Christian Stewardship
BY CHARLES M. SHELDON.

coeraIsns. lspe. ~ ooHn1aAslo1A1
the valley for the music room. The
last lvccY ton attended in New York
the Dumcys decorated the entire house
with lilies of the valley. The effect
was lovely"
What did you say 1t cost?" asked
Stuart. lousing himself to take part in
the conversation. He had heard only a
part of what Aunt Royal had said.
She looked over ut her nephew in sur
prise.
II didn't say. heard that it cost
about $1,000. That is small item for
flowers In the Duprey receptions"
ut must have been lovely" said LOU
Use, clasping her hands SO that her dia-
mond rings We're the most conspicuous
part of her in the light of the fire.
81 think 1t must have been horrible"
said Stuart quietly.
"HorribleT Aunt Royal spoke as If
she had not understood her nephew.
Eyes; not the flowers, but the use of
that much money to decorate for pleas
ure any mans private residence for the
enjoyment Of people who could see
lilies of the valley any time they want
ed to-
"Well, WE'LL" Aunt Royal could not
get any further. Louise broke In with
a laugh.
"Oh, Stuart's been converted lately
to some of the communistic socialistic
ideas. Didn't you know that, aunt
The next we know he will begin to OBJ
ject to, our using roses for decoration
next week here in the house."
Stuart did not say anything. He was
thinking of Eric's speech that after,
noon, and his heart beat heavily as he
thought of oil the wasted music and
| flowers Of the earth. Who was getting
the best of these two great and beau
tiful gifts of God?
Was it not the very people who wert
able to pay the highest prices FOL
them? Where was the right in squan
dering thousand dollars Of Gods
own money to enjoy the beauty Of
flowers when people were dying Of
hunger and misery in the nearest tene
ment? II 1t was Gods money and II
men were only trustees Of the funds
would God probably consider that 9
right use Of the money? It was only
one phase Of the doctrine Of steward
ship which Stuart had lately begun t.
believe In.
But Aunt Royal was not the person
to remain silent after Stuart's use Of
the word ..horrlble" in connection witt
'I'm told that she is familiar al
ready with nearly every case OF SUI
fering in Champion" continued An
drew. "She has even been out on thu
hills US far as Cornishtown. It's &
pokerish place in winter, full Of pit
holes and abandoned prospecting
shafts. wouldn't want to get caught
out there and lose my way after darh
with this new snow covering up bad
places"
Stuart did not answer. He was look.
ing from the window and saw Rhena
and the woman come out Of the hall
with bundles. They crossed the street
and disappeared behind the engine
house. going in the direction Of thu
Cornishtown path.
What did you sayY asked Stuar,
suddenly as he came back from his lit
tie Journey with Rhena. Andrew and
Eric were sitting where they did moi
see what Stuart had seen.
co "a <Eok In, nos, ,,1,, ,,,o,. AcN a~,A
hole in Cornishtown 1t might be just
as well to leave the spending of that
money to Eric and me-" replied An
drew, nodding at Eric. "That is, leayt
it before you fell in. Tor the chances
are that no one will be prospecting
around Mt this time of the year with 1
rope to pull you out"
II beg pardon" said Stuart. LET vi
get ut the subject again. It's very evi
dent we cannot settle this matter OF
hand or in hurry. But I'm sure tn,
Lord will lend us to do something
right. He hasn't given us brains an,
hearts and then left us to make fool
Of ourselves, especially when we dom
want to-
We do not need to give in detail tn
afternoons discussion. The plan 70
using the money was not fully shape,
in any definite way. 1t could not be.
Even Eric was obliged to comics
that the element Of time was necessar,
to help in the solution. They were no
planning for day or month or on
winter. but for good many years t,
come.
So Stuart finally went home afte
running into the office and leaving
word there with a clerk to supply Gel
tain families that were known to be Il
want with fuel and food for the imme
date time aud also leaving word (
send for him in case any special de
mand came in later on in the evening
The miners had recently made severa
personal requests for help, and Stuar,
In his growing eagerness to know a
much as possible Of the facts in tn
town. had determined to go himself q
the next pressing call and satisfy hi
desire for the truth.
After supper that evening Louise an,