The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-02-15
Tongue Of
Fame
j
By Elizabeth Cherry Waltz

Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union-)
After supper was over, young Gid
con Sennett changed his rough cloth
ing for little better suit, then set to
walk up the road towards the Alstet
ter homestead.
He had worked hard in the bayfield,
all day. His back ached, his arms
were sore but this was Wednesday
night. On the white wooden steps of
the church mile away, Flavilla
Lingerel would wait for him. They
could sit there quietly until he was
rested.
Flavilla was there. He saw her
from affair." her pink calico gown max
ing a bright spot against the white
ness Of the steps. 1t was just after
sunset when he started, there were
rosy clouds still in the west. Flavilla
was not pretty girl, but she had
smile that meant volumes. 1t was
worth very long walk to see.
These two devoted young people
were shy and awkward in the express
sion of deep feeling between them.
Their very loneliness while boy and
girl at school had drawn them to each
other. He was an orphan and her
father had long since married wom-
an who resented her existence.
Neither Gideon or FlaSilla had any
but a grudged life up to the time each
was able to work. Then came days
of toll with little to enliven them or
breed aspiration.
Stranger things have happened than
that both should be absurdly ambi-
tious. In Gideon's family, two genera
lions back, there had been a preacher.
He was a devout man, well educated
for his time, and not without power
in oratory. His son, Gideon's father,
had been not only stupid, but ne'er-
do-well. In his grandson. Gideon re-
vived the devotion, the ambition, the
gift of speech, the sturdy industry.
F1avilla wanted a home different
from what her home had been. She
dreamed Of peaceful days, of thrifty
management, Of love, of being kind to
those about her. She entered en-
Enthusiastically into Gideons ideas, she
stimulated him from his boyhood to
daring dreams of success.
For seven years they worked, toiled,
dreamed. Tonight, as they sat on the
steps of the church where the grand
father had lifted up his voice, they
seemed little nearer to the fulfillment
of their hopes than before. Physically
weary, Gideon's spirits wavered.
Flavilla was year the older. That
counts a great deal at 10 and 90 Be
sides, in her burned a more enthusi.
astic and steady fire.
II don't see how it can be done this
fall, Flavie. I've got the money for
the college course, but how am l 60
ing to livew
"Twouldn't take much to keep us.
"Usl o, Flavie!"
you're never going without me
Gideon, I've got some money, you
know"
"Ir might be. When hayin's over
I'll go up and see."
This is the reason why meeting OF
the faculty of a certain college and
theological seminary was interrupted
one day by a stalwart country lad. He
came asking impetuously for entrance
into college, with little money and nc
church influence to back him.
Then Gideon talked. The spirit OF
his grandfather seemed in him. He
told of his dreams for years, his tot
and Flavilla's interest and encourage
ment. How well he expressed him
self at that time he never knew, bu
as the old president walked from Re
citation Hall to the library afterwards
with the professor Of Greek, he sait
gently.
1T is a long time since l felt that {
lad had such a clear call. l had beer
wondering if there was to be no more
inspiration"
They promised Gideon shelter in {
part of house on the campus. HI,
went back to Flaviila triumphant
Now was Gideon the very sword O.
the Lord.
In the quiet country neighborhoot
projects for lad of no propert.
caused the widest excitement. Fla
villa, from scarce more than drudge
at once became the most envied cir
in the township. Her setting-out wa
discussed far and near. She had man.
presents from women who though
that by helping her, they gave direct.
to the Lord. Meetings were held t
help her sew and 1t was from thes
grew that idea that afterwards cause,
such sensation at the college.
The neighborhood religion had BEEF
for years dead letter. The small
country church with its pulpit reache,
by winding stair, its benches blacl
with age, had not been opened 70
many years. Now sentiment grey
to open it one Sunday during the sum
mer and Gideon was asked to conduc
service by committee of gray
men.
II am but entering college," h
cried, this lad who had plowed from
sunrise. 81 know nothing yet of wha
7 avpoct IN Iaorn Men If will h