The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-08-17
THE MINIsT ER's MOTHER.
BY SUSAN HUBBARD MARTIN.


BY SUSAN HUBBARD MARTIN.
The richest parishioner of the little
church told the pastor on prayer.
meeting night that she was going on
journey, and then she spoke of the
proposed route.
"Why, your way leads through
Finley" the minister exclaimed, his
pale face lighting up, "and-at Finley
lives-my mother. / wonder if you
could-if you would stop and see
herr"
The richest parishioner looked into
her pastors expressive face.
II am going to stop there two
days." she answered gently, 'and I
shall be very pleased to call upon her.
How long since you have seen her ?"
she queried, still gently.
A shadow crossed the minister S
face. Give years, in reality, but in
spirit am always with her. My
blessed mother No son has had a
better one." Then, with wistful in
sistence; "You are sure you will
stop at Finley?"
Very sure, and will bring you
back your mothers every word"
The richest parishioner arrived in
Finley in due time.
"Aunt Katherine" she said to the
elderly relative she was visiting, "my
PASTORS mother lives in this town.
Perhaps you know herr"
Aunt Katherine, comely and conf
Portable, was bustling about in the
kitchen. "What is her name 7" she
asked.
"McDonald-Mrs. Rachel Nc
Donald"
Aunt Katherine came to the win
dow and pointed to dwelling only
little distance up the street, small and
unpretentious and guarded by white
picket fence.
"Mrs. Mcdonald lives there" re-
waff; one one 81 # lily Jes ntigIDurs Arr
almost the oldest inhabitant.
"Will you go with me to see her,
then :" asked the niece.
"Gladly, and whenever you like"
And so it happened that same after.
noon they knocked at Rachel Nc
Donald's door. A woman, large,
noble and white-haired, opened it.
She glanced at her two visitors, at
the older woman with a smile of well
come, at the younger one with a gen.
tie kindness, quite unmixed with Curl
osity.
"My niece-Mrs. Percival-Mrs.
Mcdonald" announced Aunt Kathe-
rine. "She came to see you because
she's from your son S town in the West
and member of his church."
"Ah p 1t was good to see how
the beautiful old face lighted up.
"From my sons church. Oh, what
a privilege it is to see you Five
years-6ve years since I last saw him.
Is he wells he quite well? He
was never strong-but come in
come in"
She ushered them into clean little
room, with braided rugs about and
plants blooming in the windows. A
bouquet of carnations stood in vase
on a small table covered with a white
cloth.
IT had a birthday last week and
my son sent me these. They were
quite fresh all but one, and put that
away to press. Malcolm knows how
love flowers. Now sit down and
tell me about my boy-of his work.
of MS life, of the baby I have never
seen."
And so the richest parishioner, sit
ting opposite the strong, noble mother
in that humble room. told what she
knew. She spoke of the minister's S
Bible class, the young mems league
he had inaugurated, the sermons he
preached, the souls he had converted,
the calls he made, the friends he held,
and his kindness to the sick and weak
and afflicted.
The old mother sat and listened,
losing not a word. Her wrinkled
hands were clasped together, her head
bent forward.
"It's just as I knew it would be, -
she answered dreamily. Malcolm
was always such a blessing to hi:
mother. And he writes me such let
ters and tells me how he longs to see
me, don't tell him bow my hear
hungers for hint would grievt
him, so far away. My boy still, my
little boy that used to rock to sleeT
whose prayers I used to listen to
| Oh, if I could gather him in my arm
again And to think my little lad i
out in the world helping people. Oh
I am glad, like Hannah of old, tha
I had him to give to the Lord. 1t !
all right, only the separation is hard.
| And then as she looked into tn
strong, old face, with its lines O
character and kindness, the riches
parishioner knew whence had com
the minister's religion and what
goodly inheritance was his.
"How alike they are" she unused
"and how wish he might see her.
And then the thought came to hel
Why not-why not?
| "Kate," her husband had said t
her at parting "I'll get tickets fe
two this time, and then if anyone
your friends want to come back wit
you just bring her along"
"Rut there will be nobody" Ralpl