The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1912-02-17
aary Eta bad not bad to do as much


to do her washing and ironing and
scrubblng. And yet Mary Eth look
ed very tired this fall Indeed. there
was faded look about her usually
blooming face that Ben did not un-
derstsnd and secretly worried about.
And yet his anxiety was not no great
a. bis pride. He could support bis
wife. but he would do 1t In Ills own
way. They would board all winter In
the city where be could get fine wages.
and In the spring they would return to
the farm.
Once in the city streets he did NOT
know which way to turn to look fol
work. BY the time he had bought
morning newspaper and hunted Its col
umns In vain for Advertisements re
quiring the especial services he bad
to offer he was rayenously hungry
When he had appeased his healthy ap
petite be was troubled at the inroads
made upon his little store of money,
and this money had been a. sum that
Mary Eta had produced from some
secret hiding place. for their money In
the savings bank had been drawn upon
to meet necessary expenses.
Mary Eta was wonderful man
ager he thought as he left the eating
place and walked aimiessly down the
street. She had planned and contrived
all through the autumn mouths while
the dread Of going hack to the bench
still hung like dark cloud over him.
He paused in front Of gaudily
painted doorway and read the posters
of moving picture show. In few
moments he had yielded to the temp
tation to enter and found himself seat
ed well down In front In the long. mar
row theater. At the moment there
were being produced the pictures Of
thrilling rescue from flames as a tall
tenement house burned.
Ben watched hreathlessly and cheer
ed az heartily as the rest when the
last picture faded away. He did not
look ut the card announcing the next
production. The thenter was warm,
al j he was removing his overcont.
When he looked up he heard tho
family familiar sounds of an organ re-
produced from large phonograph on
the stnge. and there flashed into view
on the curtain scene that toOk his
breath away and left him sitting In
stunned silence while 1t lasted.
Before him was the interior Of the
village church at home. rows and rows
Of familiar heads. while up in the pull
pit the thin, angular form of the new
minister sat stifny on the red velvst
sof. while the choir rrouped ON his
ia. -. .,..,.,. =
iele were s.nkns.
He saw MS own grave race Desi0e
young Harry Fray, the tenor. He saw
Mr. phiIlirsn fhe NJ sforsa wife. and
HAry Ettn. Mary Eta, looking very
GWoQt and Riri3eh, was singing, aud
III c<hefA should have bean 5etning III
~ re1s1in, 10r their iaon&ha wefe
.epened. mt ftwn6 only Mary Etfas
W6o sah6. hss sweet. high v0&ce rising
Ike that Of an angel to the very roof
OF tie church even now as It was re-
pROduced from the. photograph ana
noated above the heads Of the mixed
audience. who hung breathiessiy upon
every word she sang. Now ana then
there was stransled sob as the mean
Ing OF the song was borne to the
hearts Of the hearers ana touched
some tender chord.
Ben listened. seeming to near the
broken trill OF robin from the church
yard outside. ms had happened the last
time Mary Eta had sung that o'o
eeotch hymn My AIN Couhtrie'
am far fras my hame. an I'm weary
aItehwhNes
Faith.r's welcome smiles.
An. ri ne.ar be flu content until mine cen
do see
Ahe ovw.rn SAVES ''a' ." ny ~-'
VINE" me "s. no'e """ u'e'. "w".
a.u s''e"ee .,l"' "as uo'v e'oH"en
man .ne no,sies' app"uee Den .o ..N
me- WY 10 tne 'iisnuse. nene VI ,ne 'ne
a.e' anu "us se' w ."e pevp,e ..o'
uom ''i1 ~, pe'1'e ua' nau "een ~.