The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-12-25

pa enIS NeiCOmSl AZael ClGrk, the son
of the minister, and himself stud
ent Of divinity, when he begged to
csrry his suit to Mistress Eun'ce.
Under such influence their dear child
would be safe.
Weeks passed, however, and he
seemed nearer his goal. To be sure.
Eunice and he walked at nightfall as
did the other young 70 k of the little
settlement, along the riverside, where
willows and elder fringe the meadow
land, but Eun'ce chose the topics Of
their talk and her words might well
at times disquiet a clergyman
"Azael. have been thinking much
OF these facts" she said one evening.
1T seems to me we fly. in the face Of
Providence, fasting so oft in the fal'."
Fly in the face of Providence?"
There are tines" she explained
when the Lord makes to Himself
fasts Surely we would follow His
leading did we set ours in consonance
with His.
II do not understand" said the
puzzled student.
"ln the late winter, when stores are
low, and early summer before the
crops come in. The fall is the one
season when plenty is all about us"
I'VE are so weak we forget the un-
seen Giver," explained Azael gently
so our min 'sters set us days of rec
objection to draw us from Gods tenn
poral gifts to those that are eternal"
IF the days are of mans setting
there can be no more harm in disre-
garding them than in not keeping
those appointed in Eng and for the
who'e people"
But" expostulated the Independent
anxiously, the days of the Church
of England have no regard to the
needs of the people, but only to the
calendar. 1t is but chance II taey
| meet any want"
THE lot is in the hand of the
Lord" she quoted. Your father Is a
truly wise man, yet for most men
would as soon the calendar as they
| should Judge of the need of any soul
save their own. ! cannot but think
Thanksgiving Day is another form OF
| Christmas.
| Azaels clear face clouded.
us our beautiful day of thanksgiv-
ing to you only the English day of
reve'ry?"
"You tell but of the wrong in the
observance not of evil in the day D."
IF the Lord had wished us to keep
His birthday He would have told us
the date" frgued the young man very
eagerly.
He gave us the time OF Ills death
and rising again, and we think u
wrong to keep those. If He wanted Us
to be thankful one day above another,
would He not have given us that date
even as He gave one to the children
of Israel? Nay, they are all, Old Eng
lands and new England's alike, man
made days, Azael."
They had walked back a'ong the
straight road that led from the river
to the lines of houses set beneath the
wooden hills. It was growing dusk
and here and there candle fi'ckered
In the small windows. He turned to
her entreatingly
"Why do you speak thus, Eunice?
Often when you talk a fear comes
over me that you"
"Oh, If you are afraid of me. Mas
ter Clark" she interrupted teazingly.
What would care or fear II d.!
not love you,' Azaels voice was deep,
How long will you keep me waiting,
Eunice? Tel me- and he caught her
hands. But she broke from him.
81 will tell you at Christmas" she
said. lifting the heavy latch OF her
cousins door. Good night" The
words seemed lightly spoken, but
there was an unaccustomed note In
the voice and Azael held this in his
memory rather than the day, whose
name troubled his Puritan spirit.
The long delayed snow covered the
rough road and drifted in the tiny
door yards. Early that keen winter
day Eunice started through the woods
TO fetch the back logs from the clear
ing. The sober oxen stalked obedi
emily behind them; the snow crunch
ed beneath their steps; the ice snap
ped in the branches; birds, unmind
full OF the cold. gave forth now ant
then few gay notes; and the sun
light, slipping past the bare boughs
glittered on snow crust and icicles
The tallest trees stretched out shor
arms into the vast space OF the chill
blue sky arching above them. While
A1aal rollad tho logs on the low