The daily Alaskan., 1919-03-13
ENiIchael Henry, God bless youIln

been all QAy III IHe Stuuy. \ iuuoL tdhS a walk or shall get an exalted abdo- men. One is badly beaten in the race | O life when his abdomen gets ahead of his toes. Children, keep cur young friend happy here until I come back, and mind you, don't forget the good fellow in the green chair" ]. Mary helped her mother with the dishes, while I sat with book by the fireside. Soon Mrs. Racket and the | children came and sat down with me.
 Let's play backgammon" Mary pro! posed.
 'T don't want to-" said John.
 Don't forget Michael Henry" she reminded.
 "Who Is Michael HenryT I asked.
 "Sure, he's the boy that has never been born." said Mrs. Racket. He was to be the biggest and nobleSt of them-kind an helpful an cheery 1 hearted an beloved O God above all the others. We try to live up to him."
 He seemed to me very strange and wonderful creature-this invisible 0e- cupant of the green chair.
 I know now what knew not then that Michael Henry was the spirit of their home-an ideal of which the empty green chair was a constant re hinder. ...........- We played Backgammon and "old maid" and everlasting until HP. Racket returned.
 The sealed envelope which Mr, Wright had left at our home, long : time before that day. was in my pocket. At last the hour had come when I could open 1t and reed the message of which I had thought much and with a growing interest,
 rose and said that I should like to go to my room. Mir. Racket lighted candle and took me upstairs to 8 little room where my chest had been deposited. There were In the room Q bed, chair, 6 portrait of Napoleon BOnaparte and a small table on which were a dictionary, Bible and a num- Der of schoolbooks.
 "These were Mary's books" said MT. Racket. ''I told your uncle that ye could use them an welcome"
 I sat down and opened the sealed envelope with trembling hands and found in 1t this brief note:
 Dear Partner: I want you to ask the wisest man you know to explain these words to you. I suggest that you commit them to memory and think often of their meaning. They are from Job:
 "'His bones are full of the sins of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust
 q believe that they are the most impressive In all the literature have read.
 Yours truly,
 "SILAS WRIGHT, JR." l read the words over and over again, but knew not their meaning. Sadly and slowly I got ready for bed. The noises of the village challenged my ear after had put out my candle. There were many barking dogs. Some hOrsemen passed, with a Creaklng of saddle leather, followed by a wagon. Soon I heard running feet and eager voices. rose and looked out of the open window. Men were hurrying down the street with lanterns.
 Hes the son O Ben GrImshaw," l heard one of them saying. "They caught him back In the south woods yesterday. The sheriff said that he tried to run away when he saw 'em coming"
 What was the meaning of thisf What had Amos Grimshaw been do- Ing? l trembled as got back into bed-I cannot even now explain why, but long ago I gave up trying to fathOm the depths of the human spirit with an Infinite sea beneath 1t crossed by, subtle tides and currents. We see only the straws on the surface.
 Twas up at daylight and Mir. Racket came to my door while l was dressing.
 "A merry day to your he exclaimed. "Tn await you below and introduce you to the humble herds and 7fioeks of schoolmasteF."
 I went with him while he; fed his chickens and two small shOtes. I milked the COW for him, and together we drove her back to the pasture. Then we split some wood and filled the boxes by the fireplace and the kitchen stove and raked up the leaves In the dooryard and wheeled them away.
 "Now you know the duties O your office" said the schoolmaster as we went in to breakfast.
 We sat down at the table with the family and drew out my letter from inc senator and gave 1t to Mr. Racket to read.
 '"The senatorl God prosper hlmI heard that he came on the PlattsburG stage last night" he said as he began the reading-an announcement which caused me and the children to clap our hands with joy.
 Mfr. Racket thoughtfully repeated the words from Job with a most I'm. pressive intonation. ..