Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-13
d STORY CT AHAPPY FAMILY


|, ton. I'VE hundred dollars. But here
why, Mount Mark had population OF
fully three thousand, and business
academy, and the Presbyterian col
lege-small, to be sure, but the name
had grand and inspiring sound. And
Mr.. Starr had to fill only one pulpit!
It was heavenly, that's what 1t was.
To be sure, many Of his people lived
out In the country, necessitating the
upkeep of a horse for the sake of his
pastoral work, but that was only an
advantage. Also to be sure, the Meth
odists in Mount Mark were in a MI
nority, and an Neutrality-suspicious.
Mark being a Presbyterian strong
hold due to the homing there Of the
trim and orderly little college. But
what Of that? The salary was six
hundred and fifty dollars and the par
sonage was adorable! The parsonage
family could see nothing at all wrong
with the world that day and the future
was rainbow tinted.
Every one has experienced the &C.
static creepy sensation Of sleeping In
q brand new home. The parsonage
girls reveled in the memory Of that
f1rst night for many days. 1T may
be haunted for all we know" cried
Carol deliciously. "Just think Con.
ME, there may be seven ghosts
camped on the head of your bed,
waiting"
Carroll"
When the family gathered for wor-
ship on that first Sabbath morning,
Mr.. Starr said, as, he turned the leaves
Of his well worn bible, II think 1t
would be well for you girls to help
with the morning worship now. You
need practise in praying aloud, and.
so We will begin today. Connie and
will make the prayers this morning,
Prudence and Carol tomorrow, and
Fairy and Lark the next day. We
will keep that system up for while,
anyhow. When I finish reading the
chapter, Connie, you will make the
first prayer. Just pray for whatever
you wish as you do at night for your
self. I will follow you" II
Comics eyes were wide with respon-
sibility during the reading Of the chap
ter, but when she began to speak her
voice did not falter. Connie had nine,
years of good Methodist experience
back Of her! ..
"Our Father, who art in Heaven,
we bow ourselves before Thy footstool
in humility and reverence. Thou art
our God, our Creator, our Savior.
Bless us this day and cause Thy face
to shine upon us. Blot out our trans
gressions, pardon our trespasses.
Wash us, that we may be whittier than
snow. Hide not Thy face from the
eyes Of Thy children, turn not upon
US in wrath. Pity us, Lord, as we
kneel here PROSTATE, before Thy
majesty and glory. ! Let the words Of
our mouths and the meditations Of
our hearts, be acceptable Gin Thy
sight, o Lord, our strength and our
Redeemer. And finally save us, an
unbroken family around Thy throne
in Heaven, for Jesus sake. Amen"
This was followed by an electric
silence Prudence was biting her lips
painfully and counting by tens as fast
as she could. Fairy was mentally 60
ing over the prayer, sentence by SEN
tence, and attributing each petition
to the individual member in the old
church at Exminster to whom it be-
longed. The twins were a little
amazed, and quite proud. Connie was
an" honor to the parsonage-but they
were concerned lest they themselves
should do not quite so we'll when their
days came.
But in less than moment the min
lister father began his prayer His
voice was little subdued and he
prayed with less fervor and abandon
than usual, but otherwise things went
off quite nicely. + When he said
Amen Prudence was on her feet
and half way upstairs before the 9th
ers were fairly risen. Fairy stood
gazing intently out of the window for
a moment and then went out to the
barn to see if the horse was through
eating. Mr.. Starr walked gravely and
soberly out the front door and around
the house. He ran into Fairy coming