Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-09-06
my that minded like your Carl


any that minded like your CarT.r
I'm afraid they obey their father
better than me-" Barbara answered,
slowly. "But they are lovely chill
dren. Did you ever see anything
more funny than the look on his face
as he said: Why don't have some
Of thisT And as for Martha" Bar
bara's eyes dimmed at the vision of
that little one upstairs; and when
she came back to her conversation
Mr.. Ward was saying: "That was q
trying time, Barbara. tell you now,
that I had no sort of expectation
that you could hold your own in
Marble Square. The night you were
married I knew there were dozen
families fully intending to leave the
church and never come back"
"And yet they didn't. At least, not
more than two>o three. How do you
account for it2" Mrs. Vane asked the
question. and then answered it her
self: plain enough. They learned
to love the minister's wife"
"Same's 1 did," said Ralph, bowling
to Barbara. II knew 1 was safe all
che time"
"But there are some people that
never called on you yet, my dear?"
Mrs. Dillingham; asked.
eyes. quite number" Barbara an
swered, quietly. ut does not hurt
me. I am very happy"
The little company was silent a mo-
ment. Each was tracing in memory
some of the eventful things of the
last Ave years.
1T is great work you and Mr..
Morton have done." Mrs. Ward said,
at last. when you came into my
house, Barbara, six years ago, was
fretful, irritable, cross woman.
Your definition of Christian service
really saved US our home. What you
are doing for other girls in training
them to have Divine thought Of
service is saving many other homes
in Crawford. know it, because I
see the effects on 'my friends wher-
ever your girls have gone. You will
never know. Barbara, all the good
you have done amongst US"
God has been very good to me-"
said Barbara. softly.
HE has been good to us ALL" her
husband added, gently.
After supper Barbara went upstairs
to see her mother and say good night
to her. Mrs. Clark had for two years
been confined to her room through
an accident. This was one of the
cheerful burdens tina. Barbara had
carried since her home began. She
stayed with her mother for some
time, and Ralph came up and joined
her. with Mrs. Ward, until the invalid
ordered them all downstairs again.
"Fhe children are company for
me-" she said, and Barbara's tears
fell as she said to Mrs. Ward: 81
do believe mother is glad that she is
one of the 'shut-ins.' She does enjoy
Carl and Martha SO! They play to-
gether all the time, and even when
they are asleep mother calls them
company" She kissed her mother
good night and joined the company
downstairs.
"Oh, did tell your" she said, as she
came down. Ralph and invited in
. little group of friends among the
young people tonight. They'll be
here pretty soon"
1--WE hope they're from class of
society that is equal to ours, Bar
bara." said Mr.. Ward. gravely. "The
last time I was here Morton intro
duced mo to lot of people who work
with their hands in making an hon
est living. That isn't the best So
oiety' you know in Crawford"
Barbara looked at him humorously.
Remarks like that do not brighten
me any more" she said. ''The best
society to me is made up of people
who have begun to learn the lesson
Of Divine service for human needs"
The young people arrived little
later. They were young men and
women whom Ralph and Barbara had
met and drawn into the circle Of
their companionship in service. There
were eight or ten girls who were out
at service and had been trained in
the school as Barbara's own pupils.
There were three or four girls from
Bondman's, who were trying to live
in little apartments, in one or two
cases, to Barbara's own knowledge,
in terrible danger of losing their vir-
tue on account of their surroundings.
The careless-looking girl was there,
the one whom Barbara had actually
saved from the pit; and with the
light of life in her transformed face
she was living useful life as man
| ager of temperance restaurant in
the oity. She was engaged to one of
the clerks in Bondman's, and they
were to be married soon and begin
. little business of their own in con-
nection with the restaurant. As Bar
bara watched them talking together
with her husband she said to her
self: ut is worth all it cost to save
her." and only God and Barbara will
ever know how much 1t cost, and
they will never tell.
Then there were half a dozen
young men from various places in
the city. all OF whom had no homes
and had been saved by Morton from
an aimless or sinful life. Nearly all
Of the young people were among the
wage-carners.
There were light refreshments
| passed after an evening of animated
| talk, interpreted with much good
music and several games. in which
Mr.. Morton surprised even Barbara
with his good spirit and an ability
like genius in setting everybody at