The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-05-27

+! his church "The church Is not all bad.
There is great hope in its young life.
There is where am going to put my
own strength and enthusiasm. have
stopped preaching great sermons to old
people. I have begun to teach my chill
dren. I have begun to learn that the
Office of the ministry is not to draw the
crowd, but to instruct handful and
make disciples. Gordon, see some
hopeful signs in the church Of the fu-
ture."
"Glad to hear it," Gordon answered
! gladly. Il always believed the church
contained leayen. There is always
hope for any institution that has leay-
en- in it."
The leaven Of the church of this
century is its children" the minister
said and went his way, leaving Gordon
to muse over the power of that force
that represented through all the ages
the love Of Jesus, an organization OBJ
scured and at times almost extinct,
! but glowing yet with an inward illumi-
nation that has not forgotten the COM
mands of a Master who loved the
church and gave himself for it. that he
might sanctify it and make Of it an in
! stitution al last without spot or wrin-
kle or any such thing.
Mrs. Penrose was one Of Gordon's
most interesting visitors. She came in
and chatted familiarly and at times
flippantly Of all things on earth and
under heaven. At last she said sud
denly:
$50 Luella has got her feshpots.
They contain bitter brew for her. Are
you satisfied"
"There was nothing else for her to
do" Gordon answered after a mo-
ment's silence.
You're going to grow better for it.
She's going to grow worse. did my
best for you
'sThank you" Gordon answered SIM
ply.
"Archie tried again the other day. He
will never make another attempt. l
| udfS az lSC0 u4iI W SN ooANSAN' ~
sails next month"
Gordon made no reply. Mrs. Penrose
sighed.
"Why don't you and Miss Andrews
Gordon gave her look that stopped
her.
Pardon me. Go on with your good
work for the children. Let me come
down once in awhile and help. I'm
not altogether bad, Gordon. Simply
born so. But Nfes a drcary sort Of
jumble to me. I made my choice.
Goodby. Best wishes to you"
When she was gone, Gordon, hesitat-
ingly to himself, lifted the curtain Of
her future as it might be. It was q
future Of contradictions Poor. wasted
life Of an immortal spirit! How you
have missed and shall miss forever the
joys Of triumphant womanhood! Poor,
pitiable creature! Homeless! Child
less! No two words in all human
speech can more deeply describe your
poverty, your loneliness!
julius Chambers was one Of the most
welcome callers as Gordon daily grew
stronger and more buoyant:-
"The city is looking up," he said in
his cultured voice ''This housing prob
lem is something tremendous. 1t will
simply have to come to cheap trans
portation, city OWE the means, con-
demn all this property, tear down,
build up, make suburban residence pos
sible for the poor; in short, we've got
a dozen questions in one involved in
the tenement problem. But Pm hope,
full. The business men are getting
walked up. Best Of all, the saloon is
getting lot Of free advertising. The
cranks are right, as they have been all
the time, and we've got to come to it
wipe out the saloon, put home in It's
place, that's the only substitute worth
anything. Public entertainment halls,
resorts, gymnasiums, libraries, parks,
lighthouses, all that, good as It's, can
not equal a good home. The salvation
Of the city lies in it's ability to build up
Christian homes. That's civic reform
in a sentence
He stayed longer than Ford said was
good for Gordon. But Gordon said be
was a tonic, md when he was gone he
stretched himself, got up, walked
across the room exulting in his return
ing strength, and when Ford came in
and began to eXpostulate Gordon
laughed. ~
"You don't dare let me hit you," he
said, facing Ford sturdily.
Ford looked at him critically, then
backed off to safe distance.
Don't believe I will risk it with
man who helped knock out Tommy
Randall"
'Not yet" Gordon answered gently.
'We've got our lifework cut out for
us, Ford. This is only the beginning"
Miss Andrews came in. They We're
in the library now, for Gordon had
been downstairs for one Of his meals.
"a letter from Mrs. Captain George
Efinghan," she said with q smile,
handing the letter to Gordon.
It was hearty message Of good
cheer from the old lady to all the set
tlement workers, especially to Gordon,
whom it congratulated on his recovery.
She commended the use Of her money
in the campaign, and promised 100000
more toward the proposed park or to-
ward the education of public sentiment
for removing the saloon.
LET US get ct some Of the causes Of
human sin and misery she wrote. Il
anu willing to give money to relieve
misery, but I would much rather re-
move causes I don't want to think the
money goes all the time for remedies.
I would like to think some Of it goes to
preyentives.'
Gordon sat by the window reading.
When he finished, he looked up, and
Miss Andrews was standing near. Ford
and the others were at the table.
You are feeling quite well again,