The Republican journal., 1907-08-29

sire, and many people seem to live for
pleasure only, or chiefly. For the past
few months l have not travelled abroad
to any considerable extent. l have
made few trips to X ansas City, which
is doing finely. 1t is fine, pleasant
city to live in, and if I,had for any rea-
son to leave the Queen City of the
Ozarks know of no city in the West in
which l should prefer to locate; but
sometimes we cannot choose our place
of residence.
There is divinity which shapes our
ends
Rough hew them how we will
And happy is the man or woman who
finds his own desires and purposes in
harmony with the plans of Providence.
We have at length been favored with
the entrance of new railroad into
Springfield Many years ago, the
Frisco built its main line through this
city, running east and west; then ex-
tended its lines to the southwark,
then northward. A few years later
the Memphis system was constructed
from Kansas City to Memphis, and
later to Birmingham. Several years
ago the Memphis system passed under
the control of the Frisco system, and
Springfield had no railroad competition.
For years efforts had been put forth to
persuade the Missouri Pacific to ex-
tend its lines to Springfield. At length
these efforts have been rewarded with
success, and we are connected with the
south and west directly, and indirectly
with the north and east by the new
line ;and by the extension of the Spring
field branch northward about 125
miles We will be directly connected
with Jefferson City and St. Louis.
Possibly few old friends, readers of
The Journal, and certainly all of us
must be getting older, for twenty years
is no inconsiderable portion of human
life, and twenty years have passed since
we babe good bye to Belfast-may be in
terested in the whereabouts and wei
fare of the writer and his family.
Springfield has been the home for over
sixteen years and is likely to be for
years to come if life be prolonged to
that extent. For seven and half
years of this time the writer was pas
tor, and for three years more he preach
ed on Sundays in neighoring town,
until business engagements necessi-
tated some release. For some time
business interests have engaged his at
tention. At the present time l have
nearing completion a gravel roof 400
feet by 100 feet. Two and half years
ago l had the opportunity of buying
out feed and fuel business, and have
devoted much of my time and energy
to this department of enterprise. The
business necessitates the employment
on the average of about six horses, and
five men. This year expect to handle
something like 250 cars of merchandise,
consisting of -four, bran. corn chops,
meal, hay, wood and coal. Yesterday
morning had six cars Of material on
the track, one of -four, one of chops,
one of coal and three of hay. We sell
mostly prairie hay-there is not much
demand for timothy. The selling price
at the present time is about $3.50 per
ton. Corn chops are worth s1.1O per
sack of 50 lbs. Flour sells in sacks of
"a and 4s lbs. for s2.4o per cwt. Bran
is worth S1.00 per cwt, oats about so
cent per bushel. The coal we sell CONF
mostly from Kansas or Illinois; there
is not much demand for the Pennsyl-
vania anthracite here, the price being
too high. My better half still presides
over the domestic arrangements of the
household and sometimes wonders
why am not on hand promptly at ~
noon and $50 p. NJ, and l sometimes
wonder myself. l am like the Irish
policeman of Brooklyn. l was certain
that was in the vicinity of Plymouth
church one Sunday several years ago,
but was not certain as to the exact To-
cation. Saluting policeman l inquir-
ed of him if he could tell me where
Beecher's church was, to which he re-
piled in the negative, adding "and.faith
if you'll believe me l don't know me-
self, SIR Two of our boys are west,
one in Salt Lake City and one in
Pueblo, Colorado. One of the twins is
in st. Louis, and the other two boys
are at home.
Some of your readers may ponder the
question, Is it right and proper for
man who has been ordained to the work
of the ministry to quit the work and
devote his energies to secular pursuits.
Is it proper? Is it right? My impression
is that this is question which every
man must settle for himself if he is
brought face to face with the question.
The writer spent twenty-seven of the
best years of his life exclusively and
consecutively in the passionate. At the
end of the period conditions not of his
own choosing appeared to close up the
avenue to further service in the pastor
ate. 1t did not appear practicable to
move the family from Springfield NOR