Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-05-12
CHAPTER TAREE-cOntInued.

4 CHAPTER THREE-continued
.
Indeed it wns the tin soldier, who
stood ON his little shelf looking out
of the window, who first reminded
Bob of the loneliness and discomfort
of the cola. AS a rule whenever the
conscience of the boy was touched
Mr. Bloggs had something to say.
1t was late in February >and every
one was complaining of the cold. Even
the Oldest inhabitants Of Bingville
could not recall so severe winter.
Many families were short of fuel. The
homes Of the working folk were In
sufficiently heated. Money in the bank
had given them a sense of security.
They could not believe that its magic
power would fail to bring them what
they needed. So they had been care
less of their allowance of wood and
icoal. There were. days when they
had none and could get none at the
yard. Some men with hundreds of
dollars in the bank went out into the
country at night and stole rails off
the farmers fences. The homes of
these unfortunate people were raw
aged by Influenza and many died
Prices at the stores mounted higher.
Most of the gardens had been lying
idle. The farmers had found 1t hard
to get help Some Of the latter, In
deed, had decided that they could
make more by teaming at Millerton
than by toiling In the fields, and with
less effort. They left the boys and
the women TO do what they could with
the crops. Naturally the latter were
small. SO the local sources Of supply
had little to offer and the demand up-
on the stores steadily increased. Ger
tain Of the merchants had been, in a
way, spoiled by prosperity. They were
rather Indifferent to complaints and
demands. Many of the storekeepers.
irritated, doubtless, by overwork, had
d0st their former politeness. There
were days when supplies failed to ar
rive. The railroad service had been
bad enough in times Of peace Now,
IL WdO NOIcC l4Atiil CNCIs
Those who had plenty of money
found 1t difficult to get sufficient
Quantity Of good food, BingviIle be-
ing rather cut off from other centers
of life by distance and poor railroad.
Some drove sixty miles to Hazelmead
to do marketing for themselves and
their neighbors.
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. Patterson Bing
however, in their luxurious apartment
at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New
York, knew little of these conditions
until Mr.. Bing came up late in March
for q talk with the mill superintend.
ent. Many of the sick and poor suf.
fered extreme privation. Father O'Neil
and the Reverend Otis Singleton OF
the Congregational church went
among the people, ministering to the
sick, of whom there were many. anC
giving counsel to men and womer
who we're unaccustomed to prosperity
and Unqualified wisely to enjoy il
one day, Father O'Neil saw the Wild
ow Moran coming into town with ,
great bundle of fagots on her back.
''This looks a little like the old coun
try" he remarked.
She stopped and swung her fagot,
to the ground and announced: "It d,
that an may God help usl It's hart
times, Father. In spite o. all the mon
ey. it's hard times. 1t looks like ther,
wasn't enough to go 'round-the ship
be- takin' so many things to the oil,
country"
+ "How is my beloved Shepherd?" tn
good Father asked.
Mother o Godl The house is tha
cold, he's been layin' abed for wee
an Judge Crooker has been away o.
the circuit"
''Too badl" said the priest. NV
been so busy with the sick and tn
dying and the dead l have hardly ha
time to think of you"
Against her protest he picked u
the fagots and carried them on hi
own back to her kitchen.
He found the Shepherd in a sweate
sitting up in bed and knitting socks.
"How is my dear boy?" the good Fs
thcr asked.
"'Very sad," said the Shepherd. :
want to do something to help and NJ
legs are useless"
"CourageI" Mr.. Bloggs seemed 1
shout from his shelf at the window
side and just then he assumed a mo.
valiant and determined look as
added: forward! march |"
Father O'NeiI did what he could
help in that moment of peril by sa
ing:
"Cheer up, boy. I'm going out
Dan MulIir's this afternoon and 7
make him bring you a big load
wood. I'll have you at your work I
morrow. The spring will be comir
soon and your flock will be back
the garden"
It was not easy to bring a smile
the face of the little Shepherd tho
days. A number of his friends II,
. died and others were sick and he W
helpless. Moreover, his mother h
told him Of the disappearance of Pa
line and that her parents feared s
was in great trouble. This had VIZ
ried him, and the more because /
mother had declared that the girl W
probably worse than dead He cor
not quite understand II and his hap
spirit was clouded. The good Faith
eseered him with merry jests. Ne
me end Of their talk the boy sal