The Newtown bee., 1907-04-26
CIRCULATION
Ten Pages.
THE HOME CIRCLE.
THE THREE WISE HEN OF TO-
 DAY.-A CHRISTMAS STORY.
BY ANDREW CHEsLEY FURBUsH.
45OO

BY ANDREW CHESLEY FURBUSH.
 It was quiet morning in June, and | the sun rising cloudless over the New England hills fell aslant the narrow valley dotted with peaceful homes. A the morning light, as it glided now by mills, now by church. and now by stores and houses, and finally splashed into the dark pool below, and was lost in the mountain glen. Almost before the village folk were astir, the sun darted one gleam of light over the hill. top till it rested upon single bright ball surmounting the new church tower. For only moment did it rest there, but child looking from her home on a nearby hill exclaimed, sOh papa, see the star on tor, of the church." Her father grunted in rough reply, not even turning to the light.
 In fact he was in bad temper that
 morning, his head ringing from the de-
 bauch of the night before. He turned sputtering to his wife because the
 steak was overcooked and the toast
 he must slave every day and never
 have any rest. But, father," said
 afternoon HHHolidayl yes, a goody-
 goody time at that blamed church that
 must stare us in the face the rest of our HveS.'
 The noon whistle had blown and the
 hundreds of employees, rough in ap-
 pearance and grim in determination,
 rushed from the mill yard, and soon were lost among the hills. Outwardly a stiffness, like that of night was set tling over the valley, but in the homes
 an unusual activity arose like the buzz ing of many wings. Mothers and daughters, as well as fathers and sons, were quickly arraying themselves in ornaments and trinkets that could be found. This was the day of the Dedi- cation, and the Bishop of Claire was to be present.
 It was ste ne church, the finest for
 miles around and the first stone build ing the village had ever held. The fame of it spread way up and down the valley and already deIuge of people was pouring out of every village, not even the aged or the babes were left behind. ''That's the Bishop going up to the pulpit now, and that man on his cost as much as S4O,O ,OOO" So whispered
 one to another in seat or aisle or vesti-
 bule, as the church was now crowded
 to the doors.
 Standing with his back to the wall
 just inside the vestibule was George
 Farley, the rough mill hand, who had repulSed his little daughter and cursed
 the church that very morning. He vowed he would never step inside it's
 walls; but somehow, perhaps because
 he had taken drink and his will was less stern, he found himself swept by the crowd to the very doors. He clung however to the door, ready to slide out any moment.
 After the impressive opening service, in which the deep-voiced organ thrilled the great audience, the Bishop arose, tall and StalWart, the image of perfect manhood. A hush, so deep that it might almost be felt, spread over the room, and into it the silverY tones of his voice carried the beautiful story of this occasion; how as a little
 boy this person on his right had longed to build house to God and during his youth had saved hundred dollars to repair the old meeting house of his childhood. He ever looked with pride | upon the little cupola it bore, for it
 was the work of his own hands. A
 time. and the old church had served it's usefulness. The time was ap- preaching when he too must go to the
 far-off home. What sacrifice could he ! make, what consecration of himself? Yes, he would now realize his lifelong
 all. his children who might live within
 reach of it's call. It should be a resting place for the weary, a refuge for the oppressed, an inspiration to the dis
 couraged, and safety to the sorely
 tempted and the fallen. "All this is 1 the beautiful structure that stands here as tribute. to God and memorial of divine sonship. It will ever remain
 as light to this community, point ting to Heaven as it's source. 'This
 morning. continued the speaker, 'as 1 awoke with the sunlight streaming into my room, I glanced from the windows down upon the village, and just then gleam of light struck for an instant the bright ball on wonder
 tower, and it shown like star from heaven crowning man s labors."
 He finished and sat down, and not
 an eye was dry in that vast congrega- tion.
 Slowly and thoughtfullY the audi ence left the church only to stand out
 side, in little groups, recounting in Subdued words the message they had heard. But George Farley said not a l word, but left the church stealthily as though his very step was irreverent. A single sentence burned into his mind and wdA blindly seeking for his
 the sorely tempted and the falien," he repeated over and over again"
 "He don't know, he can't know how it eats to your very vitals, when this
 cursed appetite comes," he said, all
 most aloud. ''Then l would go
 oA1A tug u III ddu WdUcI duu even nell
 to get a drink.'' "A place of safety,'
 what can a mere pile of granite do in
 such a fight? And so he dismissed
 the troublesome thought from his
 mind. That night, however, he didn't
 go down to Jack Waters, where he had always spent his evenings in drinking and gambling.
 But it was no use. He couldn't
 keep from it. The boys were going to
 have a grand "blow-out' on the hill, Saturday night. They had made great preparations and it was to be
 the great time of the year, especially
 as it fell on the eve of the "Glorious Fourth" He determined he wouldn't go, but would lathe the little room in the garrett, which he had long planned to'fnish. He kept his hammer rap ping pretty fast to deafen his senses
 But occasionally he would hear above it the shouting of his companions, and then his lips would burn and his eyes flame. But still he pounded it away, till one loud bang of cannon and the prolonged shouting of drunken revelry snapped his will like a dead branch, and he rushed headlong like mad man down the stairs by leaps and up the hillside, tearing through hedges and over gardens, till, breathless, he landed in the midst of the midnight revelry. He snatched from a reelfng companion rusty can and trembling