Year: 1875

WIN the shadow OF winter chill and gray
/ ~ --HaTper's Weekly.
FARMER BRILL'S NEW PLEASURE.


FARMER BRILL had been hard-worIk
ing, industrious man, and now in his
later years he was enjoying the fruit of his
well-directed toll but not in the large
measure that might have been his if he
had known how to get the most from his
possessions. The farmer had worked mar
rowly all his life, and now he was irving
to enjoy himself narrowly, still hoping to
hnd pleasure in receiving instead of Civ
ing. He did feel less kindly toward his
nelghbors than he should have felt, for
he had never been so kind and helpful
toward them as he should have been, and
the consequence was that great deal of
coldness and ill-will lay between him and
some of these neighbors. The origin of
this ill-will could be traced, in most in
stances, TO some denial of service or favor
asked in by-gone time. Farmer Brill
was staunch believer in the doctrine of
selthelp; he asked no favOrs and gave
none, except grudgingly and with bad
grace. And yet, hidden away down in
his heart and covered over by selfishness
and the love of gain, was an element of
kindness that often stirred his nature and
| tried to assert itself in action.


The farmer sat in his shady porch one
lovely autumn day, trying to enjoy him
self His fields had been reaped and his
barns held the treasures of golden grain
which the generous earth had given him.
All around him bent fruitladen branches,
and the air was musical with bees gath.
ering honey for his hives. But, somehow.
he was not happy. A neighbor rode
past and bowed to him cO1d1v


Miserable fellowl" said the farmer in
his heart. ~ can't bear the sight of
him."


Another went by and the farmer turned
his head so that no sign of recognition
might pass between them. He knew this
man to be in trouble, and he never cared
to have anything TO do with men in diff
culties; they were apt to want help or
favors, and to be offended when denied
them.


Then the voice of a child called to him
from the road: Cant have some ap-
pies, Mr. Brill?'


No, you can'tP' growled the farmer.
"Of with you! don't believe in beg
gars."


The last sentence was spoken to him.
SELF half in excuse and half in repentance
for the selfishness and ill-nature he had
betrayed.


Farmer Brill did not feel any more
comfortable after this. Tho frightened
look of the child as he added threaten.
ing gesture to his hard speech remained
with him and he could not shut it from
his eyes, turn them which way he would
Nor did he see them less distinctly when
he shut his eyes and hung his chin upon
his breast. Just how long he had re-
mained in this attitude the farmer could
not say, when a click from the latch on
the gate caused him to look mp and he
saw little woman in plain attire advanc-
ing up the walk. She was a stranger and
yet there was something familiar about
her The freedom and plainness of
speech with which she at once addressed
him did not so much surprise as shame
the farmer.


" 1t was not well of thee, Friend Brill,
to deny with harsh words the request of
child. Thy trees are laden with fruit and
the ground is covered with thy unused
abundance. Thee might have given the
child one little apple"


The woman stood with her calm, accus-
ing eyes fixed on the farmers face; they
seemed TO penetrate his soul and to read
his very thoughts.


"No, it was not we'll of thee Friend
Brill she repeated.


" hate begging" answered the farmer,
rallying himself.


THAT was not common begging and
thee knows it" replied the stranger


"The child's father should have had
fruit on his own trees. But he was too
idle TO plant them and now his children
go begging of his neighbors."


"That is not his children's fault. If
the poor little ones are hungry for apples
and thee has more than thee can use why
shall thee not be a better father in regard
for them than he who is of their own
flesh and blood? Would thee not give
thy own children applesy'


MY own childrenl That is another
thing. have taken care of my own chill
dren."


"The earth is the Lords and the full
ness thereof and we are all His children"
answered the little woman. "He gives
in charge to some His broad grain-fields
and fruitful orchards that they may fill
barns and store-houses and lay up food for
the hungry and seed for the sOwer, so that
His people die not for lack of bread. Does
thee think that thy trees bear fruit and
thy fields give their harvests for thee alone
If thee does, thee has not understood the
ways of God with men,"


The farmer did not reply. He was
dumb in the presence of the stranger;
dumb because of sudden convictions and
a new light breaking into his soul that
blinded and bewildered him.


"Thee has thought and cared only for
thyself and for thy own until now," said
his visitor, "but there is a truer and
better life before thee. Thee must grow
broader and more generous. Thee must
become giver instead of only a receiver
of good things. Thee must learn the
meaning of that wise saying, TO give is
TO live.' Will thee not go with me?"


And the little woman turned from the
porch, Farmer Brill rising and following
her. a. .HrI


g Thee must bring basket of apples
with thee" said the woman, pausing at
the gate.


The farmer filled great basket and took
1t on his arm


"lt is so kind of you, sirn said the
weary-looking woman in whose poor lit.
tie home he set down the basket. And her
grateful looks and tones sent TO his heart
II feeling of warmth and pleasure, purer
and deeper than he had known for long,
long time.


"Thee understands, now," said his
companion, as they left the cottage, "what
n true, sweet life thee may live if thee
will. God has given thee Of His earthly
bounties more thar hundred. fold be-
yond thy own needs, and leisure 10 care
for thy neighbors, and health in thy de-
Ginning years. And yet thee is nothappy,