The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-03-13
JONATHAN LONGS ORDEAL

UUuN iIIu EVuA " OdiOLA L.
Rev. Jonathan Long was trying to
write his sermon. 1t was a hard task.
He laid his head on the table and
moaned:
go, Lord. if it were prayer instead of
a sermon, / could write fast enough
and yet, would it be a prayer that min
lister of Coda man of faith-should
write? Lord, believe, help Thou mine
unbeliefr'
Yes, it was hard. The wolf was at the
door. For the past week Beth's life had
hung in the balance, and the minister
was worn with much watching and nurs-
ing Even now, when the scale had
turned definitely = "prayer-tipped, he
said-in Beths favor, incessant care and
vigil were required to hold the advan.
tage for her. And the things she needed.
And he had no money!
Water, papa!'
Rev Jonathan had dropped asleep. 1t
was an effort to wake, to pull himself
together. Re was so weak and so tired.
Water, papa!
Eyes, dear"
In the coolest corner of the room was
dark gray bundle Rev Jonathan Long
knelt over it. and from many unfoldings
of blanket anu newspaper. withdrew Il
stone jar This contained. embedded in
ice number Of tiny, large-mouthed jars
such as come from the apothecary's or
grocer's, holding concentrated food for
wrapped the big jar: and from the little
one filled a feeding-cup with cream
which he held to his daughters lips,
coaxing her to take the last drop.
Rev. Jonathan was a graduate of
Yale. He was graduate. too, in the
school of small economies. taking equal
hOnors with Mary, his wife. This re-
frigerator arrangement and division Of
milk into minute quantities prevented
waste.
In the next room Mary was sleeping
poor Mary! 1t was. tiny apartment,
chamber at night. There Rev. Jona-
than had kept his regular Office hours
during the past week. He always had
callers during Office hours. He was not
an eloquent preacher, but he was a popu-
lar pastor; People came, to him with
their troubles. Yes. he had sat there
listening to the mother, who asked him
to pray with her that her child might be
converted; to a man whose wife had
bad temper or whose business was go
ing to ruin; OR who wanted to conquer
thirst for strong drink; to a wife whose
husband neglected her: to girl unhap-
Ply at home; to a great, strong, slothful
fellow who couldn't get work; to a wom
an who showed black bruises on her face
and who asked him to pray that she
might be able to forgive the husband
who, had struck her-pray that God
would help her to be more patient and
long-suffering. He had talked with them
all, prayed with them and tried to es-
tablish their faith. On his knees he
would plead
80, Father, we know that thou lowest
and watchest over us and our dear ones
or11 Orfc hi 10 Il - ~
termost-"
And all the while he would hardly
know what he was saying. his unstrung
senses falsely informing him that he
heard Beth's wall for water to a tired
mother who, worn with much watching,
had fallen asleep, Then he would re-
cover himself and with passionate fer
vor beseech the Almighty to give these
people the thing they desired; with more
passionate fervor still-almost with ago
ny-that He would give the best gift Of
all-belief in His love and wisdom
whether their desire were granted or not.
Papa"
He was asleep again, the sermon yet
unwritten. He got out another jar Of
cream, gave it to the child, and read
dressed himself to his task.
Rev Jonathan, as a rule, prepared his
sermons with great care. He would
shut out Interruptions, give himself up to
ties, and, keeping the color of his own
sorrows, struggles and trials out of it.
construct for his people carefully
thought-out discourse-a good academic
sermon that would not cause any poor.
doubling soul to tremble in these times of
agnostic, questionings and unbelief He
did not have large congregations. and he
could not understand why. when he tried
so hard and gave such good, sound doe
trine.
John, DEAR his wifes gentle hand
lay on his head, Il hate to wake you, but
it's nearly time for church. Here's your
breakfast" 1t was only coffee and rolls.
no butter. Il wish had an egg for YOU.
poor DEAR
He looked at her with wistful yearning
and with something of the old lover look
that she always saw in his eyes She
was very young; she had been little more
than a child when they had married.
Stunning in sharing his lot? When. later,
he was offered a choice between a COM
Portable country parish and this strug-
Cling city mission and had accepted the
latter, feeling that he followed his Mas
ter's guidance in working among the poor
and the outcast she had sustained his
decision. But again, had she realized
what it would bring upon her?
Mary" he said, with sudden heat.
I'm not going to let you struggle as YOU
have. I'm not going to let Beth suffer
for, necessaries. I'm a man, able to
make living for my family. I'm going
to quit the ministry, I'm a failure in it.
20, John, darling, hush! you're tired
and overweight. Finish your break
fast, now, there's dear! so you can
hurry off to the mission
81 have no sermon ready" he said.
Il don't know what to say to my pee
pie"
"Just tell them the truth. then, John.
Say Beth's been sick and Gods making
her well. and how good God is. God
will teach you what to say. Depend OH
God for your sermon, today, john"
"God bless you, Mary"
A few minutes later. as looking his
best in his worn. black suit, he kissed
her goodby, he felt a CULVER run through