The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-13
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II
By
A
CLUB
WOMAN

bring the JOY of life to his children. True.
there were no trees, but delightful expe-
dition to a creek bottom. some miles away,
brought home sacks full of maple keys.
which were sown to make plenty of trees
in time. Meanwhile. on his way home from
the long and tiresome drive to the mines
for load OF coal, the father passed some
tall, slim young willows. big armful of
these was cut and piled on top Of his load.
Thrust into the ground. and their tops
twisted together and covered with morn
ing-glory vines, they made shady bower
for the children play in. When it was
necessary TO go over to the wild prairie
where the cattle of the neighborhood pas
tured, to see if the yearlings were all safe,
instead of mounting a horse, as MS nelgn-
bors did, he harnessed team to the
democrat wagon, and took the family Tor
a pleasure drive. When there was held
of corn to be picked, and it seemed I'M
probable that he could finish IL alone De-
fore cold weather, ne offered the older
children-two delicate little girls of twelve
and eight and a sturdy boy of six-so many
cents row to help He picked two rows
on one side of the wagon, the little girls
two on the other side, while the small boy
took the down row." with some help.
When the field was finished, the children's
earnings counted UP to nine dollars. What
do you suppose was the luxury the father
suggested should be bought with the
money? An unabridged dictionary! The
children agreed, the book was bought, and
eldest child learned the Greek alphabet
from that book. picking it out from the
derivations as if it were puzzle.
Every fruit tree and rose bush that was
set out was a thing to consult together
about, and to watch with joy and hope.
Every wild flower that blossomed was
source of delight If there were no hills
or mountains, all the greater was the sky
panorama and the glory of sunsets and
thunderstorms. So the children were taught
to see the beauty that was there, instead Of
pining for other beauty that was not, and
they were happy in spite of privations that
some might think would make life in
tolerable. If there was no dessert coming
to them, they got all the apple fritters that
the situation would admit.
Do you know what IL is that people really
take an interest in? The natural answer to
that question would be, THAT depends on
the person-business to many men, clothes
to many women, his sweetheart to the
lover, the baby to the young parents, his
fad to the collector, and the latest style
to Flora McFlimsy and Cholly, the dude"
But there is one subject that, so far as
can discover, interests them all. interests
even those who are supposed never to think
of it-and that is religion.
Let the subject be introduced naturally,
without any cant, or any phrase or tone Of
conventional piety, or any impertinent at
tempt to pry into his personal experience,
and any one will kinde with eagerness.
will listen intently, will talk earnestly.
Almost all mankind seem to feel even
as did the old Hebrew poet, my soul
longeth, yea, even fainteth, for the living
God; my heart and my flesh crieth out"
Then why don't they go to church,"
For many reasons-reasons which it is
much easier to discover than to remedy
but, nevertheless, their souls are longing
for real religion.
There have been three sets Of moving
pictures" shown at Fairview this summer.
Do you know which set called out the
great crowds, the crowds which filled every
seat. and all the standing room whence
glimpse could be obtained? 1t was not
the sets which gave fairy stories and funny
scenes, exciting athletic contests and
famous prize fights No, it was the Passion
Play. 1t was inferior to the others in the
quality of the photographs and in manipu-
lation, but that did not matter; II was the
story of the Son of Man that the people
wanted to see, and that they watched with
breathless and reverent attention.
81 read this in novel the other day."
said the Elegant One. starting a topic