The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-06-19
drew up to the little stove. Creme
Mas greatly annoyel.

MAS greatly annoyed.
did you ever see anything Ike
fhat!" he asked-"old Nelson. the ard
est. savasest, toughest old sinner l. the
camp, on his knees before a IL of
men,"
Before God" could not help saw
Ing, for the thing seemed very raj TO
me. The old man evidently felt HIMSELF
talking TO some one.
"ies, suppose you're right. said
Graeme doubtfully, but there's lot
of stuff l can't swallow"
when you take medicine, you don't
swallow the bottle.' replied. fc his
trouble was not mine.
IF | were sure Of the mediche, I
wouldn't mind the bottle, and vt II
acts well enough" he went on. 81 ion't
mind Lachlan. He's a highland nrstic
and has visions. And Sandy's amost
as bad, and Baptiste is an impulsiNe
little chap. Those don't count 1ucl.
But old man Nelson is n cool blojdet,
level headed old fellow; has seen a lot
of life too. And then there's Craig He
has better head than have and Is AZ
hot bloodcd, and yet he is living lan'
shaving away in that hole and reall
enjoys it. There must be something il
it."
"Oh, look here, Gracme" I burst OIL
impatiently. whats the use Of you
talking like that? OF course there'I
something in it. There's everything il
it. The trouble with me Is l can't fac
the music. 1t calls for life where |,
fellow must 30 in for straight, steady
work, self denial and that sort of thing
and I'm too bohemian for that, and toe
lazy. But that fellow Craig makes on,
feel horribly uncomfortable"
Graeme put his head on one side and
examined me curiously.
Il believe you're right about your
self. You always were luxurious beg
gar. But that's not where it catches
me-"
We sat and smoked and talked OF
other things for an hour and then turn.
ed in. AS l was dropping of l was
reused by Grneme's voice:
"Are you going to the preparatory
service on Friday nightT'
"Don't know" l replied rather sleep
fly.
tory service at homer There was
something in his voice that set me wide
awake.
"Yes. Rather terrific, wasn't 1t? But
l always felt better after it." replied
"To me"-he was sitting up in bed
nOw-"to me it was like call to arms,
or, rather, like call for forl0rn
hope-none but volunteers wanted. Do
you remember the thrill in the old sov.
ernor's voice as he dared any but the
right stun to come On?"
"We'll 90 in on Friday night" said.
And so we did. Sandy took load of
men with his team, and Graeme and
drove In the light sleigh.
The meeting was In the church, and
over q hundred men were present
There was some singing Of familiar
hymns at first, and then Mr.. Craig
read the same story as we had heard
IN the stable, that most perfect OF all
parallels. the prodigal son. fBaptiste
nudged Sandy in delight and whisper
ed something. but Sandy held his face
SO absolutely expressiOnless that
Graeme was moved to say:
Look ut Sandy! Did you ever sec
such craven image? Something has
hit him hard"
The men were held fast by the story
The voice Of the reader, low, earnest
and thrilling with the tender pathO.
of the tale, carried the words to Oul
hearts, while glance, gesture,
movement Of the body, gave us thu
vision OF It all as he was seeing it.
Then, in simplest Of words, he tolt
the while with eyes and voice and ges
turC.
He compelled us TO scorn the gay
hoartleSs sclhshncss of the young foo
setting forth so jauntily from the bro
ken home; he moved our pity and Ou
sympathy for the young prohigate
who. broken and deserted, had still
pluck enough to determine to work hi
way back, and who, in utter despera
ton, mt last gave 1t up, and then b
showed us the hOmecoming-the rag
gcd, hcartsick tramp, with hesitatin
steps, stumbling along the dusty road
and then the rush of the old father, hi
garments futtering and his voice hear
in broken cries. see and hear it a
now whenever the words are read.
lie announced the hymn, "Just %
Am" read The arss verse. and then wen
, on: There ysu eSa Ds2. svsey man q
you. somewhere ea the ssal ce0s Z
you are tea lasy-isoro Graens nudge
, me-"and some q ys1 haven't q
enough yet OF The fa1 essatSy - oso
back. May there be chance fer -
when you want to come! Men, you
=, want to go back home, and when yO
60 you'll want to put on your sol
clothes. and you won't go till you can G
in good style. But where did the prod
gal get his good clothes"
Quick came the answer In Baptiste