The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1906-11-27
OUR NEIGHBOR.
BY LIZZIE HUNT.


er offered hand to turn him from the
awful chasm, said:
All, Hatch is man again. Wonder
what has come over him?"
Five years have rolled around. lie
has entirely relied upon his own
strength, and with a few exceptions,
that strength has been sufficient No
children were dressed better. They
were sent to the best schools in the
city. Their table was bountifully sup
piled. Everything he touched seemed
10 prosper again. He had erected a
eommodious shop, bought timber lands,
and was about to build another home,
when early in the fall OF 1889, the
timber caught fire from a passing To-
comotive and was entirely destroyed
thousands of dollars gone to ashes!
Was this man discouraged? His
shoulders took on an added curve. His
brow became mere wrinkled and care
worn. But he worked steadily on tor
home, only an earthly dwelling place
IL he had toiled half as hard for that
other home, what a lovely mansion in
our Fathers kingdom could have been
his His luck, as some call it, had
changed. Again the fire bells clang.
engines go rushing by, men Shrek
Fire! Fire!" Little boys. who should
be in bed pipe Fire! FIRE." but the
man who should be the most interest
ed in this conhagration slumbers on.
Some one is pounding at his door. He
is aroused
Who is there?"
He opens the door, and standing in
the Pickering gaslight is a fireman.
with the icicles hanging from cape.
cap and hair.
What's the matter? What's the
matter, sir?"
Arouse yourself. man; your shop,
tools and all are burned. We worked
hard to save them, but could only get
stream 10 play half an hour ago. It's
so cold, everything seems frozen uD
Are you insured?"
"Oh, Heaven, my insurance policy
expired yesterday"
He dressed and hurried down.
Alas! it was too true! Everything
had been swept away. AT sixty. y
comparatively old man, he must COM
mence again.
The tears rained down his cheeks
He felt as if he could curse his Maker
fer this bitter, bitter blow.
In the gray dawn he crept back to
his home
They were all mp and dressed, ana
the breakfast waiting for him. Mother
greeted him with a sympathetic cheer
full face. The little girls ran and
threw their arms around this world
weary storm-tossed father The eld-
est said he would give up his dancing
school And the little six-yearold Eva
said she would make tides, and sell
them, and pretty soon papa should
have another and better shop.
He claspcd them to his heart and
said:
Heaven bless you! II it were not for
these, could wish / were dead"
They sat down TO n silent breakfast.
No one could cat AZ last Mrs. Hatch
asked.
How much do you think you have
lost?"
About five thousand. 1t would not
nave seemed much in the past. | am
getting old now. am completely dis
couraged. Then, all of my men lost
their tools. and, if anything. there
are many of them worse off than ]
am"
Time. that wonderful healing salve
for all wounds, glided by. Our neigh
Dor came and went as usual. Some
thought he was secretly indulging
again. His step was not as firm. nor
his eye as clear The wife's face wore
a shade of sadness. still he kept al his
work. Beautiful structures went tow
ering up toward heaven, and he was
their builder; still there was less OF
comfort in the little home. At last
the overtired wife demonstrated with
him. He would not admit the fact He
asked
Did you ever know me to break my
word"
"Ah. William, you rely too much up
ON your own strength Think OF the
children growing to manhood and wo-
manhood Oh think of the hereafter"
I'm grun voice. he assumed at times
he replied
let the hereafter take care of it,
self the perplexities of one world at
time arc an man can be expected to
meet I hope iu the next. I. for one.
may have p little easier time"
The good wife sighed deeply. and
said no more.
At last the winter of 1901 was upon
them. There had been little change I'm
the family or The father. True tho
world said Hatch is drinking again.
what n piiy2' fs there minister Oh
layman in the city of his adoption
who can say. "I endeavored To- save
him?' Not one Sun he lived under
The sound of q ministers voice. and
could from his own door. hear him.
from Sabbath to Sabbath. expound the
Word of God TO his hearers. and with
OUT adding dessert or side dishes fin the
form Of pastoral visitation. or kindly
interest through the week, gave them