The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-03
gv REV. CHARLES M. SHELDON,
or OF 'sIn His Steps: What Would Jesus DoT
Kirk, Robert Hardy's Seven Days." Etc.
Copyright, 1899. by The Aduunc, Publishing Co.


quests door to waken him Tor preahi"S"
Not a sound could be heard within. lie
waited a little while and then knocked
again. II was as still as before lie
opened the door softly and looked In
To his amazement. there was no one
there The bed was made up neaty' eN-
srything in the room was In Its place pu'
che strange being who had called himseH
"Brother Man" was gone.
$50 our queer guest has flown lie
must have been very still ABOUT H.
heard no noise. Where do you suppose
he is? And who do you suppose he Is!
Are you sure there ever was such
person. Philip? Don't YOU think you
dreamed all that about the Brother
Man." Mrs. Strong had not quite FOR
given Philip for his skeptical duesuoh-
ing OF the reality OF the man with he
lantern who had driven the knife into the
desk. n
"Yes. it's your turn now, Sarah. Weh'
n our Brother Man was dream ne was
the most curious dream this famiy ever
had and IL he was crazy he was the
most remarkable insane person l ever
saw"
"Of course he was crazy. All that ne
eaid about our living so extravagantly.
..Do YOU think he was crazy I'm that
particular" asked Philip in strange
voice. His wife noticed II at the ume'
but It's true significance did not become
real TO her until afterward He went To
the front door and found II was unlocked.
Evidently the guest had gone out that
way The heavy storm OF the night had
covered up any possible signs OF foot
steps II was still showing furiously
Philip went into his study for the fore
noon as usual. but he did very little writ
ing. His wife could hear him pacing the
fioor restlessy.
At 10 o'clock he came down stairs and
declared his intention OF going out into
the storm to see IL he couldn't settle
down 10 work better.
He went out and did not return until
the middle OF the afternoon. Mrs. Strong
was a little alarmed
where have you been all this time,
Philip? In this terrible storm too You
are monument OF snow. Stand out here
IN the kitchen while sweep you on.
Philip obediently stood still while his
wife walked around him with a broom
and good naturedy submitted 10 being
swept down. "as II were being worked
into shape for snow man." he said
Where have you been? Give an ac-
count OF yourself
Il have been seeing how some other
people I've. Sarah, the Brother Man
more than half converted me-"
did you find out anything about him.
Yes: several of the older citizens here
recognized my description OF him. They
cay he is harmless and has quite his
tory; was once wealthy mill owner In
Clinton. He wanders about the country.
living with any one who will; take him In.
IL Is queer case. ] must find out more
about him. But I'm hungry. Can have
q bite OF something
Haven't YOU had dinner?"
No: haven't had time
Where have you been?"
Among the tenements."
How are the people getting or there?''
II cannot tell. II almost choxes me 10
eat when think OF it,
Now. Philip. what makes you take
It 80 seriously? How can you help all that
eunering7 You are not to blame for Il -
Maybe am for a part OF IT, But
whether j am or not there the suffering
u. And don't know that we ought Ia
ask who IL 10 blame In such cases. Al
any rate. supposing the fathers and
mothers In the tenements are to blame
themselves by their own sinfuIness. doe,
mat make innocent children and helpleI
babes any warmer or better clothed anf
Ted? Sarah, have seen things I'm thes,
four hours time that make me want tr
Join the bomb throwers OF Europe al
most"
Mrs Strong came. up behind his chat
ss ne sat at the table eating and place,
her hand on his brow. She grew NOR
anxious every day over his growing per
senal feeling for others. Il seemed t
her II was becoming a passion with him
wearing him out, and she feared its re
suits as winter deepened. and the strik
In the mills remained unbroken
loI cannot do more than one man
Pnil,p. she said, with sigh.
NO but IL ] can only make tn
church see its duty az this time and &C
(, knife and fork. wheeled around psp abrnpti II
n his chair and faced her with the ques
tfon Would you give up this home an
ne content % live In simpler fashlo
than We have been used 10 since we cam
Yes" replied his wife. gently. al wi
60 anywhere and suffer anything wit
you. What Is II you are thinking q
II need little more time. There
n crisis near at hand in my thought
what Christ would require OF me. "
eenT; er;r,, am ,ruth sure we shall be led by n
and for the better saving OF men
He kissed his wife tenderiy and WEI
upstairs again 10 his work. All, throug
enI, eysnIns xors a. * shared his church an
Man rang in his cars and the situate
panoramas before his eyes. A the stor
Increased in fury with the coming dari
ness. he felt that n was typical in ce
tain sense of his own condition
abandoned the work he had been doir
at his desk. and kneelng down at n
couch br prayed Mrs. Strong corir
up 10 the STUDY 10 see how his wol
was getting on, found him kneeling the
and went and knelt beside him. while q
eefher they sought the llght through Il
storm.
So the weeks went BY. and the AR
Sunday OF the next month found Philip
Christ message even more direct an
personal than any ne had brought 20
people before He had spent much
the time going into the workingmer
houses The tenement district was
crming familiar territory TO him nc
lie had settled finally what his own a
tion ought 20 be. In that action
wife fully concmred And the mer
bers Of Calvary church. coming In IN
Sunday morning. were astonished at {
mcssnge OF their pastor a. he spoki
them from the standpoint Of mooe
Christ
II said a month ago that the age
which we live demands a simpler le
cxtravaeant style of living did n
mean Dy that 20 condemn the beauties
art or the marvels OF science or I
products OF civilization. 7 merely ~
n Luff L.. ss.fr d