The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-02-04

Take keer yerse1vee. boys. I'm all
answered Tom. as IL stumped his
way back TO his home.
A hound came close wagging his tail
and whining for i word Of love ard re-
cognition.
Well, Bob, old boy. you're the only
one left. You'll AVE 70 chase cotton
tails by yourself now"
Rob's eyes watered and he licked hi.
hand. apparently understanding
every word he said.
Breaking from his masters hands the
dog ran TOWARD the gate barking. and
Tom rose in haste as he r~ecognized
the sturdy tread of the Preacher, Rev.
Durham, walking rapidly toward !
The house.
Grasping him heartily by the hand the !
Preacher. said:
Tom. YOU don't know how it warns
my soul TO look into your face again.
When you left, l felt like a man who had
lost one hand: I've found it today.
You're the same stalwart Christian full
OF Joy and love. Some mems religion
didn't stand the wear and tear of war.
preacher, it's good TO have the Lords
messenger speak words like them. I
can't tell you how glad l am 10 be home
again and snake your hand. | tell you it
was a comfort TO me when ! lay awake
at night on them battIeields, a wonderin'
what had become OF my ole woman and
the baby, 10 recollect that you were here
and how often I'd heard you tell US how
the Lord tempered the wind TO the shorn
lamb. Annie'S been telling ne who
watched out for her them dark days when
there was nothin' to eat. / reckon you
and your wife knows the way to the
h. ~ "a q nttt or v,yNII a.
church."
Tom had pulled the Preacher down on
the seat beside him while he said this.
The dark days have only begun. Tom
I've come to see you to have you cheer
me up. Somehow you always seemed to
me to be closer to God than any man in
the church. You will need all your faith
now. 1t seems to me that every second
woman l know is a widow. Hundreds
OF families have no seed even to plant,
no horses to work crOps no men who
will work if they had horses. What are
we to do? [ see hungry children in
every house,
"Preacher, the Lord is looking down
here today and sees all as plain as you
and me. AS long as He is in the sky
everything will come all right on the
earth
'How's your pantry?" asked the
Preacher.
Don't know. Man shall not live by
bread alone you know. When l hear
these birds III the trees an see this OLD
deg Vaughn his tail at me. and smell
the breath OF them flowers. and it all
comes over me that I'm lone KILN men,
and Pm at home, with q bed to sleep on.
a root over my head, q woman to pet
me and tell me I'm sreat and handsome.
| don't feel like I'll ever need anything
more to eat. [ believe L could live a
whole month here without eatin' a bite
Good. You come TO the prayer meet
ing tonight and say a few things like
that, and the folks Will believe they have
been eatingg three square meals every
day
I'll be there. I amt asked Annie
what she's got, but | know she's got
greens and turrips. onions and collards
and strawberries in the garden. Irish
taters ii be big enough to eat in three
weeks. and sweets comm right on
The ~blackberries and plums and peaches
and apples are all on the road. All
Preacher, its my soul that's been starv.
ed away from my wife and childi'
You don't know how much neet
| help sometimes Tom. l am always Civ
Ills giving lIyStli III Sy lnDdIny ana neil
TO others. I'm famished now and then.
feel faint and worn out. You seem t.
ill me again with life"
I'm glad TO hear you say that
: Preacher. l get doWn-hearted some.
times, when / recolIect I'm notbin' but
poor white man. III remember you
T words. I'm going to do my part in tn
{ church work. You know where TO fin
4 me-"
We'll, that's partly what brought m
$ here this morning. [ want you to helI
me look after Mrs. CASTOR and her littl
boy. She is Frustrated over the deatl
. of the Colonel and is hanging between
{ life and death. She is in d GeliriOus con
: dition all the time and must be watched
day and night / want you to watch tn
Il first half of the night with Nelse, AM
s Eve and Mary will watch the last half.
t OF course, I'll do anything in tn
o world l can for my Colonels widder
He was the bravest man that ever led
+ regiment, and he was a father to us boys
III be there. But / won't set up wit
I that niger. He can so to bed.
t ri fix it with Nelse, then. You tax
t the first part Of the night till twelv'
2 O'Clock. III go down with you from TIL
church tonight" said the Preacher, as h,
shook Toms hand and took his leave.
Il = =
On the second Cay after Mrs. Caste
r was stricken a forlorn little boy sat i
the kitchen watching Aunt Eve get sup
u per He saw her NOD while she worke'
the dough for the biscuits.
n Aunt Eve, I'm going to sit up to-niEh
and every night with my mama, till sh
d gets we'll. 1 can't sleep for hours an
hours. l lie awake and cry when | hea
her talking till l feel like III die.
d must 90 something to help her
q Laws, honey, you'se too little. YO
cant keep wake tall. You get so lone
some and skeered all by yerself.'
Il don't care, I've told Tom to wax
me tonight if I'm asleep when he goe:
and I'll sit up from twelve till tw
d O'Clock and then call you
e A right, Mammy's darlin boy, bu
W YOU git tired en- can't stan it."
G. that prrht ~ SInsr hn fnnE hi