The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-10-12

long-neglected shop. There was
bridge to be built across the river. He
hid with the rest, and secured the
job. He rallied his men, and once
more William Hatch was an energetic
builder.
AS the beautiful structure progressed,
men who had looked at him with pity
ing scorn a few weeks before, but new
er offered hand to turn him from the
awful chasm said:
'Ah, Hatch is a man again. Wonder
what has come over him?"
Five years have rolled around. He
has entirely relied upon his own
strength, and, with a few exceptions,
that strength has been sufficient. No
children were dressed better They
we're sent to the best schools in the
city. Their table was bountifully sup
Piled Everything he touched seemed
to prosper again. He had erected
cOmmodious 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-
connective 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 for
home, only an earthly dwelling place.
If 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
he in bed, pipe Fire! Fire!" but the
man who should be the most interest
ed in this condagration 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.
whats the matter? What's the
matter, sir?" X
Arouse yourself, man; your shop,
tools and all are burned. We worked
hard to save them, but could only get
q stream to play half an hour ago. It's
SO cold, everything seems frozen up.
! Are you insured?"
ooh, Heaven! my insurance policy
expired yesterday"
He dressed and hurried down
|" Alas! it was too true! Everything
had been swept away. At sixty, p
comparatively old man, he must COM
mence again.
In the gray dawn he crept back to
his home
They were all up and dressed, and
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-t tossed father. The eld-
est said he would give up his dancing
school And the little six-year-old Eva
said she would make tides, and sell
them, and pretty soon papa should
have another and better shop.
He clasped them to his heart and
said:
Heaven bless you! If it were not for
these, 1 could wish 1 were dead"
They sat down to a silent breakfast.
NO one could eat. At last Mrs. Hatch
asked:
Chow much do you think you have
lost?"
"About five thousand. 1t would not
have seemed much in the past. am
getting old now. l am completely dis
couraged. Then, all of my men lost
their tools, and, if anything, there
are many of them worse off than 1
J 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
shade of sadness. Still he kept at his
= work. Beautiful structures went tow
ering up toward heaven, and he was
7 their builder still there was less OF
2 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
r world"
"Ah. William, you rely too much up
: On your own strength. Think Of the
I children growing to manhood and wo-
1 manhood. Oh, think Of the hereafter.
e In a gruf voice, he assumed at times
, he replied:
"Let the hereafter take care Of it.