Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-08-04
In a Mysterious Way.

cupies and calls his home. But l
don't want to meddle with the matter
anyhow"
"Get frightened out Of it, eh ?"
mot at ALL
u suppose the old fellow begged
hard to be let off,
"Well yes, he did"
"And you caved in, likely ?"
YES"
What in creation did you do ?"
81 believe l shed a few tears.
1.-The old fellow begged hard, you
say ?"
mo, I didn't say SO; he didn't
speak word to me-"
well, may l ask whom he did ad-
dress in your hearing?"
God Almighty"
"He took to praying, did he?"
"Not for my benefit in the least.
You see, l found the little house easi.
ly enough, and knocked at the outer
door, which stood ajar, but nobody
heard me so stepped into the little
hall, and saw through the crack of the
door a cosy sitting room, and there
on the bed, with her silver head high
on the pillows, was an old lady who
looked for all the world just like my
mother did the last time l saw her Oh
earth.
"Well, was on the point Of knock
ing again, when she said
"'Come, father, now begin; l am
ready Down on his knees by her
side went the old white-haired man,
still older than his wife, should judge
and | couldn't have knocked then for
the life of me. Well, he began.
First he reminded God that they were
still His submissive children, mother
and he, and no matter what He saw
fit to bring upon them they should not
rebel against His will. Of course it
was going to be hard for them to go
homeless in their old age, especially
with poor mother so sick and helpless,
and oh, how different it might have
been if only one of the boys had been
spared Then his voice kind o broke
and a thin white hand stole from un-
der the coverlid and moved softly over
his snowy hair. Then he went on to
repeat that nothing could ever be as
sharp again as the parting with those
three sonf-unless mother and he
should be separated But at last ne
fell to comforting himself with the
fact that the good Lord knew that it
was through no fault of his own that
mother and he were threatened with
the loss of their dear little home, which
meant beggary and the almshouse'
place which they prayed to be de-
| livered from, if it could be consistent
! with Gods will. And then he quoted
multitude of promises concerning
the safety of those who put their
trust in the Lord. In fact, it was the
most thrilling plea to which ever
listened. At last he prayed Gods
blessing on those about to demand
justice.
Then the lawyer continued more
slowly than ever, "And-I-believe
I had rather go to The almshouse my
self tonight than to stain my hands
and heart with the blood Of such per-
secution and death.
"a little afraid to defeat the old
mans prayer, eh ?"
Bless your soul, man, you could
not defeat that prayer. tell you be
left it all subject to the will Of God /;
but he claimed that we are told to
make known our wants and desires to
Him. But of all the pleadings ever
heard, that moved me most. You
see, l was taught that kind OF thing
myself in my childhood, and why l
was sent to hear that prayer l am sure
I don't know-but l hand the case
over"
al wish, said the client uneasily,
"I wish you hadn't told me about the
old mans prayer.
"Why SOP"
well, because l want the money
the place would bring. l was taught
the Bible straight enough when 1 was
youngster, and I hate to run counter
to what you tell about it. l wish you
had not heard a word about it, and
| -: rrnr,II mt liafan 10