The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-27

surely can be with US" said his wife,
rs the children came running back
to her.
Il am afraid, Mary" said the min
ister even more reluctantly than be-
fore, that / shall be obliged to attend
| the temperance rally that night"
He looked at his wife and children
rather lingeringly. and as his wife did
not ask any more questions he stepped
out and shut the door.
| The next evening the minister at
tended the meeting called In the in
| terest of good citizenship and did his
| part like man, calling attention to
| the evils of bad men who were in po-
sitions of power in the city adminis-
tration. The next evening he was
found at the temperance rally, and
| lifted up his voice in behalf of over
| throwing the saloon and bringing in
a reign of righteousness and order and
law. He reached home quite late, after
| his little children had gone to bed and
| were asleep. Thursday night was the
| regular prayer meeting night, and, of
| course, the minister could not miss be-
ing there. II was late again when he
| returned to his house after that meet
| ing, where there were always very
many people who wanted to see him
| and talk over many matters of church
| interest, so that he and the sexton
were always the last persons to leave
| the church.
| When Friday night came, after sup
| per, the minister rather guiltily stole
| toward the hat rack and took down
| his overcoat. As he was preparing TO
put it on his wife came out OF the sit
ting-room, with two Of the children
clnging to her.
Now John" she said. in a decided
tone, which she sometimes used in
emergencies. surely you are not going
out again, you have been out every
night this week. You owe at least
one night in the week to your own
family
II know that. Mary" the minister
said with great sigh, still continuing
| to get into his overcoat. But l have
a duty tonight that | must perform.
You know our local association meets
at the North Church on the other side
of the river. l have not been to one
session yet. and my brethren will
think it very strange, seeing the as
ISOLATION Is held almost in the same
town, IL l am not present. Besides.
have been put down on the programme
| for an address on How to Reach the
Masses and / must 60"
1T seems to me" said the minister's
wife, speaking as nearly like a worldly
minded person as minister's wife ever
| ought TO write a paper on How to
spend one night a week at home
That is true" said the minister. fee
bly,, without attempting to argue about
the matter but | do not see how
can possibly avoid going out tonight.
| am public man and / must do the
duties of a public man"
The minister's wife turned, and with
out saying a word went back into the
other room. The two children followed
her. looking back at their fpther with
wondering eyes, but without any at
tempt to change his mind, and the min
lister. looking at them longingly, very
slowly opened the door and went out
again. 1t was very late that night
when he returned, in fact, K was 12
o'clock, for he had been Obliged 70
take the last car from across the river,
and then walk a good many blocks,
for he lived in the suburbs.
The next day was Saturday, and ar
ter supper in the evening the minister
looked rather anxiously Mt his wife
and SAID, as IL he were prepared for al
most anything after saying It:
Mary, / am very sorry, but think
shall be obliged to go out few min
utes this evening There Is very
important meeting of the trustees to
which they have asked me to come
and counsel with them concerning the
church finances. which ara In "a very
bad way"
The minister's wife said nothing at
first, and when she did speak at last
1t was in resigned tone, which seemed
to consider that all hope in the direc-
ton Of any more home life had been
forever banished.
Very WELL" she said, IF you must
you must, ! suppose. but next week 1
hope you will be able to save at least
one or two evenings for our own fam
lily life"
ooh, hope So" said the minister.
and yet he did not say IL with very
much courage, in fact, he was think
ing of his calendar of engagements
which he had posted up for several
weeks ahead, OF all sorts of ceilings
in public life or in connection with his
own church.
When Monday morning came, the
minister's wife confronted him before
he started out for his usual Monday
morning meeting with the ministers
down town.
Now, john she said, Tets plan
this week for a quiet time at home
There Is that new book that you
bought a week ago and promised to
read aloud to me, and the children need
your care. 1t is lonesome here for me
in the eveEing.
| we'll mary, said the minister. az
ne sat down and as IL In desperation
took out his notebook "let me look
over my engagements for the week"
There was silence in the room for a
minute, and then the minister said.
Tonight | have put down a meeting
or the social settlement workers. /
ought TO go to that. / do not see how
can De absent and give any proper
excuse. The social settlement work Is
| very important; II Is a monthly meet
ing, and | failed TO attend the last
one owing to absence from the CITY,"
We'll" said his wife, reluctantly. 'T
suppose you ought to go to that"
Ihen tomorrow night" said the
minister, with great hesitation, II see
! nave put down on the calendar a very
important caucus meeting. / have al
ways preached from the pulpit the duty
or good citizens attending the primar
les. and there Is a great fight Just now
over the nomination Of the right man
for county attorney. IL / don't 20
| down to that meeting, will be charged
with Inconsistency"
well" said his wife without max
ing any reply, next night YOU can
/ surely plan TO be with us?"
The minister turned over a page i'm
his memorandum book. and said, very
slowly: Il ought to go and see that
family OF Robinsons over on CLAW
street. You know they lost two Of their
children last week. and I can never see
the father In the home in the daytime
! owing to his work. They are I'm great
III