Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-04-22
BORN TO SERVE
BY Charles N. Sheldon.
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CONTINUED
Ihere was little embarrassment at
me hrst greeting with the Wards, but
NJ soon passed off and in q few mo-
ments the young minister was chat
ting delightfully."-. His happiness was
on his face and in his manner. He
mad never looked SO noble or so hand
some, Barbara's heart said to herself,
almost wondering whether it was all
q dream from which she would soon
De rudely awakened. But it was no
dream like that. Her heart sang as
sne began to realize it's reality.
20, by the way" Mr.. Ward said sud-
denly, turning to his wife, martha,
how about that rule that we made
long ago, that the hired girl should re-
ce1ve her company in the kitchen?
why did go to all the expense of
furnishing that new kitchen if the girl
is going to sit here in the parlor?"
Mr.. Morton jumped to his feet, and
walked over to Barbara.
Come, Barbara" he said, with
touch of humor that equaled the occa-
sion. Come out into the kitchen
where we belong. This is no place for
u.s."
Barbara rose, blushing and laugh
ing.
"Yes, see. Just an excuse to get
rid of u.s." Mr.. Ward said, as the lovers
walked out.
.- I'VE want to live up to the rule Of
the house." Mr.. Morton retorted.
They went out into the room where
Barbara had spent so many hours of
hard toll and, when they were alone,
the minister said: "Dear, do you
know, this room is a sacred spot to
me? I have thought of you as being
here more than anywhere else."
IF had known that" Barbara said,
gently. and she no longer avoided the
loving brown eyes that looked down
at her, lit would have lightened a good
many weary hours. I feel ashamed
now to think of the quantities of tears
i have shed in this little room"
THE thought that your life has
gone out in service here, Barbara, is
a beautiful thought to me. What a
wonderful thing it is to be of use in
the world! l thank God my mother
brought me up to reverence the labor
'of the hand in honest toll. There is
nothing more sacred in all of human
life"
Then they talked of their love for
each other, and were really startled
when the door suddenly opened and
Mr.. Ward called out from the entry:
~'Gas and coal come high this winter.
n s~,f1
They rose, laughing, and came back
into the parlor, where Mrs. Ward
:apologized for Mr.. Wards Interrupt
tion.
Don't say word, Mrs. Ward"
Morton said. gayly. II shall soon have
Barbara all to myself"
'How soon?"
II don't know quite" Mr.. Morton
Hooked at Barbara.
There will be mourning in this
household when she goes" Mrs. Ward
replied. Il never expect to have an
other girl like Barbara"
I'm sorry for you, but you can't ex-
pect me to feel any sorrow for my
self"
Eyes, that's it," Mr.. Ward put in,
ironically. You preachers are al
ways talking about sacrifice, and CIV
ing up, and all that. l notice that.
when it comes to personal applica-
ton. you are just as grasping after
the best there is as anybody
"Of course" said Morton, cheerful.
1y, looking at Barbara.
HE is going to suffer for it.
though" Barbara came to the rescue
of Mr.. Ward. He may lose his church
Just as you are going to lose me-"
II don't think So" Mortar answered
calmly But if l do" He did not
finish, but his look at Barbara spoke
volumes. 1t said that he had found
something which would compensate
for any earthly loss.
When Morton had gone, Barbara
slipped up to her room. Her happi'
ness was too great to be talked about
The thought of what her lover, hel
~'lover," she repeated, had said about
service, about the image of herself
daily in that kitchen, made her trem
BILE. She had tried to accustom herself
to the thought of Christ's teaching
about service. Her study of the diff
derent passages in the Bible referring
to servants had given her new life OF
the subject. 1t had all grown sweete'
and more noble as she went on. And
now that her life had been caught
up into this other life. q newer ant
clearer revelation of labor and min.
istry had come to her. Never had Bar
oara offered truer prayer of thanks
giving than the one that flowed out
Of her heart to God tonight Never
had the depth and beauty OF human
service meant 50 much to her as now,
when human love, the love sanctioned
by Jesus and made holy by His bene-
I1iction, had begun to translate COM
mon things into divine terms.
In her Bible-reading that night she
found . passage in the sixth chapter
Of Second Corinthians that pleased
her very much. It did not belong
first OF all to the service of house