Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1902-01-24
TONGUE
OF ELAME
By ELIzABErH cHERRY Willy.
- sy DaIIy ss0ry Fus. 81

! A FTER supper was over, young
! ~ Gideon Sennett changed his rough
clothing for little better suit, then
set to walk up the road towards the
Alstetter homestead.
lie had worked hard in the hayfeld
all day. His back ached, his arms were
sore. but this was Wednesday night.
On the white wooden steps Of the
church mile away, Flavilla Lingrel
would wait for him. They could sit
there quietly until he was rested.
Flavilla was there. He saw her from
afar, her pink calico gown making
bright spot against the whiteness Of
the steps, It was just after sunset
when he started there were rosy
clouds still in the west. Flavilla was
not a pretty girl, but she had a 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 a wom-
an who resented her existence. Nei-
! Their Gideon or Flavina had any but a
/ grudged 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
that both should be absurdly ambi-
tious. In Gideon's family, two genera
tions back, there had been preacher.
He was q devout man, well 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-do-
we'll 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 enthus-
astically into Gideon's ideas, she slim
ulated him from his boyhood to daring
dreams of success.
For seven years they worked, toiled.
dreamed Tonight, as they sat on the
steps Of the church where the grand
father had lifted up his voice, they
seemed little nearer to the fulfillment
of their hopes than before. Physically
weary, Gideon's spirits wavered.
Flavilla was a year the older. That
counts a good deal at 10 and 90 Be
sides, in her burned a more enthusi-
astic and steady fire.
at 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"
"Usl Oh, Flaviel"
You're never going without me,
Gideon I've got some money, you
know"
cit might be. When haying's over,
I'll go up and see"
This is the reason why meeting Of
the faculty of a certain college and
theological seminary was interrupted
one day by a stalwart country lad. He
came asking impetuously for entrance
Into college, with little money and no
church influence to back him.
4
his grandfather seemed in him. He
told of his dreams for years, his toll
and Flavilla's interest and encourage
ment. How well he expressed himself
at that time he never knew, but as the
old president walked from recitation
hau to the library afterwards with the
professor Of Greek, he said, gently;
at is long time since I felt that
lad had such clear call. I had been
wondering if there was to be no more
Inspiration"
They promised Gideon shelter In
part OF a 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 lad Of no property
caused the widest excitement. Fla
villa. from scarce more than 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
lhelp her sew, and it was from these
grew that idea that afterwards caused
lsuch a sensation at the college
The neighborhood religion had been
for years dead letter. The small
country church with its pulpit reached
| by q winding stair, It's benches black
with age, had not been opened for
many years. Now sentiment grewto
open It one Sunday during the summer,
and Gideon was asked to conduct q