The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1902-05-16
TONGUE
OF FLAME
By ELIZABETH CHERRY WALTZ.


set TO walk up the road towards the
Alstetter homestead.
lie had worked hard In the bayfield,
oil day. His back ached. his arms were
sore. but this was Wednesday night.
On the white wooden steps Of the
church a mile away. flavilla Lingrel
would wait for him. They could sit
there quietly until he was rested.
flavilla was there. lie saw her from
afar. her pink calico gown making n
bright spot against the whiteness OF
the steps. II was just after sunset
when he started. there were rosy
clouds siill In the west. Flavilla was
not n pretty girl. but she had a smile
that meant volumes. II was worth a
very long walk 20 see.
These two devoted young people
were Shy and awkward in the express
sion Of deep feeling between them.
Their very loneliness while boy ard
girl AZ school had drawn them to each
other. lie was an orphan. and her
father had long since married n wom-
an who resented her existence. Nei.
thcr Gideon or Flaviila had any hui, n
grudgcd lie up to the time each was
able to work. Then came days Of toll
with little 10 cnliven them or breed
aspiration.
Stranger things have happened than
that both should he ~nhaurdly ambl-
tious. In Gideon's family. Two genera
tons back. there had been n preacher.
lie was q dcvout man. well educated FOR
his time and not without power In ora
tory. Ills son. Gidcon's father. had
been not only stupid. hut a ne'er-do-
well. IN his grandson. Gideon. revived
the devotion. the ambition. the gift OF
speech. the sturdy industry.
Fiavil'a wanted n home different
from what her home had been. She
dreamed - peaceful days. ~ thrifty
management. - love. % being kind 10
those about her. She entered cnthusi-
astically into Gidcon'a ideas. she slim
ulaied him from his boyhood to during
dreams % success.
For seven years they worked. toilcd.
dreamed. Tonight. ~ they sat on the
STEPS ~ The church where the grand.
father had lifted up his voice. they
seemed little nearer 20 the fulhllment
OF their hopes than before. Physically
weary. Gidcnn'a spirits wavcrcd.
Flavilla was n year the older. That
counts n good deal NJ ~ and 20. Be
sides. In her burned u more enthusl-
nstic ard steady ERE.
~ don't see how Il can be done this
fall. Flavic. I've got the money for
the college course. but how am I going
To ilve?"
"~'Twoultn't take much to keep MS"
"Us. oh. Flayir!"
You're never going withou, me.
Gideon. I've go, some money, you
know"
at might he. When hnying's over.
I'll go up and see"
This II the reason why n meeting Of
the faculty Of n certain college and
theological seminary was uninterrupted
one day by n s%talwArt country lad. lie
came asking impctuously for entrance
into college. with little money and no
church Influence Ia back him.
Y Then Gideon talked. The spirit Of
his grandfather seemed In him. lie
told 81 his dreams for years. his toll
and Flavilln's interest and encourage
mont. How well he expressed himself
ut that time he never knew. but ms the
old president walked from recitation
hail 10 the library afterwards with the
professor Of Greek, he said. gently:
at " n long time since I felt that n
lad had such n clear call. ! had been
wondering II there was to be no more
Inspiration"
They promised Gideon shelter In a
part OF n house ON the campus. lie
went back TO Flavilla triumphant. Now
was Gideon the very sword Of the Lord.
In the quiet country neighborbood
his return. the projected wedding,
such prospects for a lad Of no property
caused the widest excitement. Fla.
villa, from scarce more than a drudge,
at once became the most envied girl In
the township. Her "setiing 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 "a
help her sew, and It was from these
grew that idea that afterwards caused
such a sensation at the college.
The neighborhood religion had been
for years n dead letter. The small
country church with its pulpit reached
by a winding stair, its benches black
with age, had not been opened for
many years. Now a sentiment grew to
open it one Sunday during the summer
and Gideon was asked to conduct q
service nv II committee Of grave men
~ I'm but entering college" b
cried, this lad who had plowed from
sunrise. ~ know nothing yet Of wha
expect to learn. Men, It will be sew
en- years before l am At 70 teach tn
Word Of the Lord"
The Lord will tell you what 70 say.