The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-28

put into an organ, but Macgregor could
only think OF how the organ would
cheer up the missis, and Mrs. Hannis
,ihaily advanced the amount he asked
Tor the first payment.
| It was not time for good wages for
printers. and the Christian Champion
| was not gold mine By any means.
! Macgresor might have earned more in
another shop. but It was doubtful II he
could get another Job readily. Gen.
| orally he seemed content. 1t did not
! matter particularly how much heavier
became his burden. he did the best he
could. borrowed when he had TO have
money and paid back as best he could.
For all his tiny appearance. he was
soundly healthy. What would have hap
| pened to that big family had 1t been
otherwise is unpleasant to contemplate
Inc payments. on the parlor organ
were almost ended and AIncgregor was
looking forward to being really clear
OF debt when suddenly he was
threatened with disaster. He went to
Mrs. Hannis one morning SO upset that
he almost spoke as fast as an ordinary
person. His home-the house he had
lived in for all the years he had been
in this countryside house In which
several of his children had been born
would be sold at public auction If he
did not buy II at once for $500. He had
come 10 love the place. So had his wife
and the children. It would break their
hearts to leave 1t. Not only that but
he had Improved the land and the house
until the improvements represented
much to him. He had gotten the place
for 50 month because OF It's tumble
down condition. Each year he had made
repairs and improvements with his own
hands til now the house was honey
and livea BILE The garden. too had been
brought up to fine state of cultivu-
M - Il rs "a, =,
bear. No one could know how much
the loss of this house would mean to
him, and he begged Mrs Hannis to
lend $500 to him SO he could buy the
place.
Mrs. Hannis. tender hearted and sym
pathetfcally as responsive as ever, told
him she did not have $500 In the world
and she could not raise that much any
easier than she could raise s6,OoO,OOO
1t was a difficult task. in fact. TO keep
the paper going. and sometimes she
had 10 do some higA financing 10 pay
the wages of AacgreSor and the others.
Macgregor. downcast for the first
time. went home that night without
smile with which to greet the children.
but the next morning he was back In
the shop In his usual quiet. tenacious
humor when on borrowing bent. He
was accompanied By his wife. She had
In her arms her last born. girl two
weeks old. The wee man and his great,
tall Wife invaded the office of Mrs
Hannis. AS the owner OF the paper
looked at the foreman she was more
and more reminded of how he had
appeared the first day he had come to
the shop. Ii anything. he looked more
singed than ever. Ie went over the
same ground he had traversed in his
appeal to her the day before and as he
talked she became more and more I'M
comfortable. 1t was not what he said
1t was Mrs. Macgregor. She did not
say word She simply Rugged the wee
baby to her breast and looked with her
big. pathetic eyes al Mrs. Hannis There
was an appeal in those eyes that Mrs.
llanHis could not withstand. The baby,
too walled a bit just when Macgregor
was at the most touching part of his
story t
Mrs. Hannis loves babies. Most child
less women do The combination of
baby. mother and father was TOO much
for her. and she said she would do her
utmost to raise the money for them.
Like the ardent spirit that she is. Mrs.
Hannis did not delay. She went at
once to each man who she thought
might advance the money He could
not spare II, but suggested she 90 10
the Rev. Mr.. Burchard.
To the man whose Rum. Rornanism
and Rebellion" speech defeated James
G.. Blaine for the presidencyshe hurried
He listened to her narration and
did not show much interest. He seem
ed cold and unresponsive, and she
thought the case was hopeless The
prospect of defeat may have unnerved
her BIT. Maybe the tears came TO
her eyes. Maybe she said something
that touched sympathetic chord In
the clergyman's heart. Clergymen have
many stories of distress to listen to.
At any rate his manner changed a
trihe. and then he softened more and
more until finally she had his promise
of the 5000. Macgregor got the money.
purchased the house and land and
skimped and saved as he never had be-
fore. Within two years he paid back
the 5000. had his home free and clear
and was ont OF debt.
The Christian Champion continued
for some years and then passed out Of
existence. Mr.. Hannis, whose enthusi-
asm never wanes. turned her attention
to another field OF endeavor. AIacGre
ger plodded along printer for some
years and then managed to esta blish
a little printshop of his own. Oc-
ca sionally Mrs. iiannis heard of him.
He was making Roadway
1t was thirty years after the Incl
dent of the $500 that Mrs. Hannis re-
ceived a letter from David Macgregor.
Her hair is silver now, but time has
dealt gently with her. She still Is the
ardent, enthusiastic. helpful woman Of
former days. In the letter Macgregor
asked her as a great favor to come tot
his home and attend the wedding OF one
OF his daughters. He save directions
as 20 tho train by which she should
travel and said he would meet her at
the station. She went by the train he
specified and when she stepped from the
car he was there To greet her Els