Mower County transcript., 1902-12-17
Moral Heroism In Overcoming the World.
BY CHARLES M. SHELDON,
Of '1n His Steps" "cruciA,don Of Philip stron


! Kirk said nothing. He looked out Of
his window. Right across the campus
| stood the beautiful residence Of Doro-
thy Gilbert's father. 1t was not the
first time he had looked in that direc-
ton.
"Of course" continued the superin-
tendent briskly, "you understand the
church is home missionary church
and cannot offer you a large salary.
They can raise perhaps $400 or possi-
bly, $3.50. The society will grant 5000
or $3.50. You could count on about
$500 probably"
Kirk was silent. He turned his head
away from the window and glanced
around his room. The shabby backed
books, the simple pieces of furniture,
! the faded carpet, the meager furnish
ings, all smote him keenly. 1t was not
the first time his poverty had thrust it.
self upon him coarsely, but he seemed
! to feel it more deeply than ever. AS
he faced the. superintendent who was
waiting for reply Kirk had most
astonishing and absurd feeling come
over him. He was not thinking about
! his German scholarship or about the
superintendent. The superintendent
would have been smitten into bewilder-
ment If he could have read Kinks
thought. What Kirk was saying to
himself was, How can Dorothy Gil
bert and I live on $500 a year in q
hoYoo ro@ccinnorv churoh ~
"WeI," the superintendent spoke,
with a slight trace Of impatience,
"what do you say? Give me favor
able answer. You can make your mark
out there; plenty Of hard work, but q
good field. Tell me you'll take it."
Every we'll, I promise to take the
| field If it is open when finish my
studies abroad"
Kirk spoke quietly, but his lips closed
firmly, and he turned his head and
looked out over the campus again.
There was a little more talk between
them, and the superintendent went out.
| The minute he was gone Kirk pulled
down his curtains and locked his door.
1t was a little after noon, and the reg
at /. He walked up and down his
darkened room talking to himself. His
future was at last decided-at least for
! q time. He had some place in the
world. Some one wanted him. He was
| ambitious, s@ a Christian gentleman
should be. He wanted to do great
things in the kingdom Of God on earth.
! Gould he do them in that little home
missionary church,.
It was not at all contrary to his reg
ular habits of life that he kneeled down
and prayed. It was prayer Of thanks
! giving and also one of petition. He
knew with perfect clearness as he
| kneeled in his darkened room that he
loved Dorothy Gilbert With all his
might. The complete absurdity Of his
position had nothing to do with the
fact that he loved her. She was rich,
she was accomplished, she was beauti-
ful she was of an old and distinguish
| ed family, but he loved her. He was
poor, he was plain looking, he had no
prospects beyond his scholarship and
$500 or $500 year in home mission
ary church, but he loved Dorothy Gill
bert. 1t made no difference that his
Christian training seemed to rebuke
his choice Of one so far removed from
him in every way. That did not de-
stroy his feeling for her and did not
change it. In his prayer he cried for
wisdom; he asked to be led by the
Spirit.
He was not the man to wreck a life
Of Christian service on passion of the
heart, even if it's hunger were never
fed. But when he arose and went over
to the alumni hall to join the class
there at the final banquet he carried
with him the knowledge that the fu-
ture for him must have Dorothy Gil
bert with it If he would do or be all
that he felt he had right to pray for.
The week that followed commence
ment day at Hermon found Kirk al
most alone in the seminary building.
He had been employed by one of the
professors in doing some special copy
ing Of book manuscript. In few
days this would be finished. He had
fixed on the following Thursday to sail
for Liverpool. He had determined to
begin his studies as soon as possible.
He had been to see the president of
the faculty about his scholarship and,
to his great relief, found that he was
largely free to studyain the: way that
seemed Of most value to himself.
''You see, it's this way, sir" he had
explained to the president. 1T will do
me very little good to go to a German
university aud take some special course
in language or history feel the need
Of another methcd Of study. If can
use this scholarship to study human
conditions in large cities, going to the
people for my material at first hand, II
will be Of infinitely larger value to me
and to the seminary than a course In
lectures and books" z@z r :.
/ "You are free to mark out your owl
methods Of study" replied the presi
cent. According to the terms of the
scholarship, the only condition Is q
year spent abroad In some regular
/ slS- : -. - =,