The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-12-06

rAAN stNVut lite-iA@ AH1At AVbDfko* ADN
see we open the trap-door nights, and
put the mailbag right down into the
cellar; ana I've been a-thinkin' IL we
had one Of these heavy stones hitched
| on to the under side Of the door, SOS
two Oh three men couldn't raise it.
twould be safer a
But don't see how you are going
to raise 1t yourself then objected
4 Jack.
well, can't tell exactly said
i Uncle Joachim, somewhat Gscomtit-
ed, but persevering. Wen have to
think some way, for If anybody got
down there to rob, and just touched
OFF some powder down there, why,
they could blow us all to finders to
flinders, Jackln
The young man watched With an
amused smile for moment or two, as
he wandered about near by examining
one stone after another, then forgot
him in his own occupation. A train
went laundering by on the heights
Iabove, and the old man paused in his
search to watch it.
Dear! how these rocks crack now
and thepfs be exclaimed, as sudden,
sharp sound fell upon his ear
Jack started and looked up with
thrill Of horror as his quick eye de-
tected the rapidly widening fissure that
was separating mass of overhanging
rock from the main wall.
Uncle Joachim he shouted.
j But before the warning cry had left
his lips the old man, too, had seen, and
turned to fly, but stumbled and fell.
In the brief moment that followed
rush Of conflicting thoughts swept
through Jacks mind. Should he catch
up his treasure and bear that to a
place of safety at all hazards: 1t was
/ the first, the natural Impulse. But his
old companion could he leave him
Must he make SO great a sacrifice for
him! Was that WORKOUT, useless life
worth SO costly q price the hardly won
fruit OF toilsome months, his brightest
hopes for the future? Ought he-dare
he--to caculate the worth OF any hui
man life, however weak?
Thought lives in region above time.
It was but an instant that he paused
irresolute in the sharp, fierce strug-
gle; then he sprang to the old mans
side, raised him up, and, half drag
ging, half carrying, bore him away,
with the speed and strength that only.
such an hour can know--hurrying UP
| the sl0ping bank until deafening
crash behind them told that they were
4 safe.
They paused then, exhausted, and
sank down upon the ground to survey.
the scene. A great mass Of broken
stone covered all the place where they
had stood, and Jacks model was
crushed to atoms and buried beneath
it.
well, well,r murmured Uncle Joa-
chin, TREMENDOUSLY breaking the solemn
silence that had succeeded the dying
echoes, that was narrow chance,
and I'd never lave got away but for
you, Jack. I'm 'bIiged to you, really
am; though, seem as somethin' is sure
to happen some time, don't know as
'twould have made much difference
only for the women folks; 'twould
have been a great loss to the women
folks. More'n likely I'll be sick for
n week or two now Jack" las sud-
den thought struck him why, Jack,
you left that limerick Of yours down
there, didn't you? Kind Of a pity to
have it smashed up, though l s'pose it
wasn't of much use.''
Jack turned his eyes from the ruin
and looked at him with strange smile
ON his pale face. How little he knew
Of all the hopes and plans that had
been, or could comprehend the value
Of that which he SO carelessly called
worthless! And yet, perhaps lie him.
self could as little understand this
work of the great Creator beside him,
OF comprehend His purpose in even
this seemingly feeble and useless life
! that he had saved. There was nothing
of contemptuous pity in the gentle
ness of Jacks voice as he said:
Hadn't you better so home now,
Uncle Joachim? l viii go with you"
He told Content the story that day
only Content ever knew it ail--and she
listened with the light that shone
through her fearful eyes growing
brighter at every word. 'Sorry but so
gladv' she said, not SO paradoxically
but Jack could understand it.
1T was hard to decide for minute,
though it seems a shame even to say
it now Jack said, honestly. "But
couldn't sell myself. you know, and SO
a good many of our hopes and plans
are ended for long while to come,
Content"
but Jack, dear" answered Content,
softly, II think our work often reaches
farther than we know. 1t may be in
building our earthly houses we are
building for our heavenly homes as
well, and some things that crowd and
cramp these may make those all the
fairer.
SO Jacks house is only little one,
but Content thinks Uncle Joachim
speaks more truly than he knows
when he calls it "weIl built" and
| watching it from over the blooming
meadow, she sees more than the
daisies, ana marmurs to herself. as if
the words were aetto inward music,
'sThe path that leads to it is white
clean and white, thank God" Good
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