The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-01-16
TONGUE
OF FL.AME
By ELIZABETH CHERRY WALTZ.
copyrighted by Daily Story Pub. Coz

A FER SUPPER was over, young
IA Gideon Sennett changed his rough
clothing for a little better suit, then
set to walk up the road towards the
Alstetter homestead.
He had worked hard in the bayfield,
all day. His back ached, his arms were
sore, but this was Wednesday night.
On the white wooden steps of the
church a mile away, FlaYilla Lngrel
would wait for him. They could sit
there quietly until he was rested.
Flaylla was there. He saw her from
afar, her pink calico gown making a
bright spot against the wilderness of
the steps. Il was just after sunset
when he started. there were rosy
clouds still in the west. Flavilla was
not a pretty girl, but she had smile
that meant volumes. 1t was worth
very long walk to see.
These two devoted young people
were Shy and awkward in the express
sion Of deep feeling between them.
Their very loneliness while boy and
girl at school had drawn them to each
other. He was an orphan, and her
father had long since married wom-
an who resented her existence. Nei-
Their Gideon or Flavil1a had any but
erudged life up to the time each was
able to work. Then came days of toll
with little to enliven them or breed
aspiration.
Stranger things have happened than
tpat both should be absurdly ambi-
tious. In Gideon's family, two genera
tions back, there had been preacher,
He was a devout man, we'll educated for
his time and not without power in ora
tory. His son, Gideon's father, had
been not only stupid, but a ne'er-Go-
well. In his grandson, Gideon. revived
the devotion, the ambition, the gift of
speech, the sturdy industry.
Flavilla wanted a home different
from what her home had been. She
dreamed of peaceful days, Of thrifty
management. of love. of being kind to
those about her. She entered enthusi-
astically into Gideon's ideas. she slim
ulated him from his boyhood to daring
dreams of success.
For seven years they worked, toiled,
y
steps Of the church where the grand
father had lifted up his voice, they
seemed little nearer to the fultillment
of their hopes than before. Physically
weary, Gideon's spirits wavered.
Flaylla was a year the older. That
counts good deal at 10 and 20. Be
sides in her burned more enthusi-
astic and steady fire
81 don't see how it can be done this
fall, Flavie. I've got the money for
the college course, but how am going
to live? '
"Twouldn't take much to keep US"
Gus! Oh, Flavie."
You're never going without me.
Gideon. I've got some money, you
know"
at might be. When haying's over,
TT 90 mp and see.'
This is the reason why meeting Of
he faculty of a certain college and
theological seminary was Uninterrupted
one day by a atalwart country nd He
came asking impetuously fer entrance
into college. with little money and no
church Influence 70 back him.
Then Gideon talked, The spirit ~
his grandfather seemed in him. He
told cf his dreams for wears, his toll
and Flavilla's interest and encourage
ment. How well he expressed himself
'4Aa that time he never knew. but as the
old president walked from recitation
hall to the library afterwards with the
professor of Greek, he said gently:
at is long time since | felt that a
lad had such clear call. had been
wondering if there was to be no more
Inspiration"
They promised Gideon shelter in a
part of house on the campus. He
went back to Flavilla triumphant Now
was Gideon the very sword of the Lord.
In the quiet country neighborhood
his return, the projected wedding.
such prospects for a lad of 10 property
caused the widest excitement. Fla
villa, from scarce more than a drudge,
at once became the most envied girl in
the township. Her "setting-out" was
discussed far and near. She had many
presents from women who thought
that by helping her they gave directly
to the Lord. Meetings were held to
help her sew, and ii was from these
grew that idea that afterwards caused
such a sensation at the college.
The neighborhood religion had been
for years a dead letter. The small
country church with its pulpit reached
by winding stair, its benches black
with age, had not been opened for
many years. Now sentiment grew to
open it one Sunday during the summer,
and Gideon was asked to conduct
service by committee Of grave men.