Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 7, Number 49, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 2 June 1877 — Page 6
TOTOfTO 5.
r,
r,
•to-
THE MAIL
Pai'lk
kok iih
People.
WHISTLISO JS HE A VEN.
Von'r«» »urprl*ed that I ever should say so Just walitlll thereaMJit I've given Why I wiv 1 Khan'tcarefor the music,
I:ul«-ssthere Is whittling In heaven Then you'll think ii no very great wonder, Nor so strange, nor
to
It was late Iti the autumn of '40 We had come from our far eastern home juat in season to build us a cabin
Ere the cold of the winter shouJ come And we lived all the while in or M'ftgon, Tliat husband wa clearing tb place "Where the house was to stati': ana the dealing
And building it took many days* So thai our heads were scarce sheltered In under our roof, when our atore
Of provisions were almost exhausted,And husband must Journey lor more And the ncnrest place where he could get them
Was yet such distance away, That It forced him from home to be absent At least a whole night and a day. You see we'd but tw er three neighbors,
And the nearest wa«* more than a mile, And we hadn't lotuid time yet to know them,
For we h«4 be°n bu^y the while And the man who hal helped at the raising,
Juststald till the Job was well done And *u« soon ash money Wd« pni him, Hud shouldered nts axe and had gune.
Well, h'isband Just kissed me and started, 1 could scarcely suppres a deep groan At the thought of remaining with oaby fio loDg In the house all alone For, my dear, I wus childish and timid,
And braver ones might well have feared, For the wild wolt was often heard howling, And savage* sometimes appeared.
But 1 f'mothered my grief and my terror Till hii-band wasoff on his ride, And tuen on my arms I took Josey,
And all dav long sat and cried, And I thought of the long dreary hours When tin-darkness of nlshtsLOuld fa.l, And was so utterly helpless.
With no one In reach of my call:
Anil whe n'ght came with lt*terrors, To hide ev'ry ray of light, I hung up a quilt by the window,
And, almost deal with ntiright., I kneeled by the side of t» cradle, Scarce daring to draw a fu 1 breath. Lest the baby should wake,and .is crying
Should bring us a horrible death.
There I knelt until late in theeveniitg, And Mcarcely an incti had stirred, When suddenly, far In llie distance,
A sound as of whistling 1 heard, I started up, dreadfully frightened, For fob 'twas an Indian's call And then very soon I rememberec
The red mai ne'er whlstlesnt all.
And when 1 wassure 'twas a white man, I toought, were he coming for ill, He'd surely approach with
Come to tarry with yen th ough the nlglit.
We saw yeur husband go eastward. And made up our minds where he gone, Aud I said to the rest of our people, 'That woman Is there all alone, Andl venture she's awfully louesorao,
And though she may have no great fear, I think she'would feel a bit safer If only a boy were but near.' "Ho, taking my axo on my shoulder,
For fear tbat a savage might stray Across my path, and need scalping, I started right down this way And eomlngln sight of the cabin,
And thinking to save you alarm. I whistled a tune, Just to show you
I didn't intend any harm.
"And so hero I am, at. your service But If you don't want me to stay, W hy, all von need do Is to say so,
And shoitldVlng my xe, I'll away.' I dropped In a chair and near fainted, Just at the thought of his leaving me then, And his eve gave a knowing bright twinkle
As he wild "I guess I'll remain."
And then 1 Just sat there and told htm How terribly frightened I'd been, How Ills face was to me the most welcome
Of any I ever had seen And then 1 lay down with the baby, And slept all the blessed night thiougn, For 1
felt
I
wss safe from all danger
Near so bravo a young fellow aud true.
So now, mydfar friend, do yon wonder, Wince such gold reason I've given, Why 1 say I sba'nt care for the music
Unless there Is whistling in heaven Yes, oftwt I've said so In earnest. And now what I've said I repeat. That un ess there's a boy there a-whtstling,
Its music will not be complete.
THE
Circuit Rider.
A LOVE STORY OK EARLY LIFE IN THE WEST.
BY EDWARD KUGLEi-TON.
AtUAtf*- o/ The Moosier Schoolmaster," End of the World," Mystery of bietropolisville" etc.
fThc Circuit Rider wnsc mini raced In The Faturdav livening Mail Vol.7, No.« April 2L Back numbers can be h-»*' o»»wsd (tiers, or at this odlce, or sent l\, ...tii fur Ave cents each.*!
CHAPTER XVII. PK1.1V ERAJiCK.
I'arson Dmaldaon was journeying down to Cincinnati—at that time a thriving village of about two thousand people—U. attend Presbytery and to contend utanfullv against the slnAil laxity of some of Ms brethren in the nutters of doctrine and revivals. In previoas years Mr. Donaldson hsd b?en beaten a little in his endeavors to have carried through the extremost measures against his more progressive "new side' brethren. He considered the doctrines of these IVesbvteriuns as very little better than tbe eraxy ranting or the ungraiMuiatical Mrcuit riders At that -moment of passing the tavern where Afnrton sat, condemned to death, be was eagerly engaged in Maying out' a speech with which be Intended to rout false doctrines and annihilate forever incipient fanaticism. Ilia square bead Allien ierward, and he only observed tbat there -was a crowd of godless and noisy men about the tavern. Ho could not spare
time
to note anythlcg ffcrtber, for the fates of Zion seemed to hang upon the weight and cogency of tbe speech which be meant to deliver at Cincinnati. He had almost passed out of sight when Morton first caught sight of him and when the young man, finding tbat no one woulu go alter him, set up a vlgo-
••publishe iu 11 lustrawd
li.
Ford
which
bold a conceit.
That unless there's a boy there a-whistling, its manic will not be complete.
more
boo*
I don't'low
caution-
Would come without warning and still. Then the sounds coming nearer and nearer, Took the f.trin of atunc, light and gay, And knew I lie dn't fear evil
From one who could whistle that way.
Very soon I heard footsteps approaching, Then canto a peculiar dull thump, As If someone was lioavliy striking
An axe In the top of a stump And then, in another brier moment, There une a light tap on tbe door, When (inlekly I undid the fas'nlngs,
And in stepped a boy, and be.ore.
There was either a question or answer, Or either had time to spenit, 1Just threw my glad arms around him,
A.nd tfiivtt htm 11 kis*» on tho cheek. Then Is artedbaok, scared at my boldness, But ho only sinlltd at. my frlht, As ho said, I'm your neighbor's boy, Luck,
form
Co New
by
J.
York.
rous calling of bis name, Mr. Donald- organs and choirs and refined preachers, son did not hear it, or at least did not as you sit in .your cushioned pew—had think for an instant that anylxxly in
that crowd oonld be calling his nwn nauie. IIow should he hear Morton's cry? For just at that moment he had reached the portion of his argument in
he triumphantly proved that his new-side friends, however unconscious they might bo of the fact, were of necessity Pelagians, and, hence, guilty of fatal error.
Morton's earnest entreaties at last moved one of the crowd. •Well. I don't mind,' he Baid '111 call him. 'Pears like as ef he's a-lyin' any how.
as he knows the ole
coon, or the ole coon knows hitn—liker'n not he's u-foolin' by lettin' on but t'wont do no harm to call him back.' Saying which, he mounted his g*unt horse and rode away after Mr. Donaldson.
w,
•Hello, stranger! I say, there! Mister! O, mister! Hello you ole man on horseback!'
This was the polite manner of address with which the messenger interrupted the theological meditations of the worthy Mr. Donaldson at the moment of his most triumphant anticipations of victory over his opponents. •Well, what is it?' asked tbe minister turning round on the messenger a little tartly much as one would who i« suddenly awakened and not at all pleased to be awakened. •Tbey's a feller back here as we tuck up fer a hoss-thief, and we had threOquartersof a notion ofstringin' on him up but he says as how as he knows you, and el'you kin do him any good, I hope you'll do It, for I do hate to see a feller being liung, that's sartain shore.' 'A norse-tbief says that he knows met* sold the parson, not yet fairly awake to the situation. 'Indeed?'I'm in a great hurry. What does he want? Wants mo to pray with him. I suppose. Well, it is never too late. God's election is of grace, and often he seems to select the greatest sinners that he may thereby magnify his grace and get to himself a great name. I'll go and see-him.'
And with that, Donaldson rode back
to the
tavern, endeavoriag to turn his thoughts out of the polemical groove in which they had been running all day, that be might think ofsouie
IHtiDg
words
to say to a malefactor. Bat when he stood before tbe young man he started with surprise. 'What! Morton Goodwin! Have you taken to stealing horses? I should have thought that the
unhappy
career of your
brother, so soon cut short in God's righteousness, would have been a warning to you. My dear young man, bow could vou bring such disgrace aiid shame on the gray hairs
Before Mr. Donaldson had gotten to this point, a murmur of excitement went through the crowd. They believed that tbe prisoner's own witness had turned against him and that they had a second quusi sanction from the clergy for the deed of violence they wers meditating. Perceiving this, Morton interrupted the -minister with so^ae impatienco, crying out: 'But, Mr. Donaldson, hold on you have judged sne too quick. These folks are going to hang me without any evidence at all, except that I was riding a good horse. Now, I want you to tell them whose Alley yon is.'
Mr. Donaldson looked at the mare and declared to the crowd that he had seen this young man riding that colt for more than a year past, and that if they were proceeding against "him on a charge of stealing that mare, they wero acting most unwarrantably. •Why couldn't he tell a feller whose mar he had, and whar he was a goin'?' said ftie man from the other side of the river. 'I don't know. How did you come here, Morton?' •Well, I'll tell you a straight story. I was gambling on Sunday night •Breaking two commandments at once,' broke in the minister.
Yes, sir, I know it and I lost everything I had—horse gun and all—I seomea clean crazy. I lost a hundred dollars more'n I bad, and I give th# man I was playing with a bill of sale for my horse and gun. Then he agreed to let me go where I pleased and keep 'em for six months and I was ashamed to go home so I rode oflF, like a fool, hoping to find soiue place wnere I could make the money to redeem my colt with. That's how I didn't give straight answers about whose horse it was, and where I wss going.' •Well, neighoors, it sooms clear to me
Hat you'll
young
have to let the young man
go. YOU ought to bethankiul that God in his good providence has saved you from the guilt of those who shed innocent blood. He is a very respectable
man, indeed, and often attends
churrn with his mother. I am sorry be has got into bad habits.' •I'm right glad to git shed of a ugly job,' said one bt tha party and ax the rest offered no objection, he cut the cords that hound Morton'* arms and let him go. The landlord had stabled Dolly and fed her, hoping that some accident would leave berin bis bands the man from the other side of the creek had taken possession of tbe rifle as 'his sheer, considerin' tho trouble he'd tuck.' The horse and gun were now reluctantly given up, and the party insde baste to disperse, each one having suddenly remembered some duty that demanded immediate attention. In a little while Morton sat on bis horse listening to some very earnest words from the minister on the sinfulness of gambling and Sabbath-bieaking. But Mr. Donaldson, having heard of the Methodistic excitement in tho Hissawachee settlement, slipped easily to that, and urged Morton not to have anything whatever to do with this mushroon religion, that grew up in a night and withered in a day. In /feet the old man delivered to Morton most of the speech he had prepared for tbe Presbytery on tbe evil of religious excitements. Then he shook hands with hitn, exacted a promise that he would go directly home, and, with a tew seasonable words on God's mercy in rescuingthiut from a miserable death, be parted from theyonng man. Somehow, alter tbat he did not get on quite so well with his speech. After all, was it not better, perhaps, that this young roan should be drawn into tho whirlpool of a Methodist excitement than tbat be should become a gambler? After thinking over it a while, however, the logical t'trMeet Jf the preacher luckily enabled him to escape tnls dangerous quicksand, in reaching the sound conclusion tbat a religious excitement could only result in spiritual pride and Pelagian doctrine, and tbat tbe man involved in these would oe lost as certainly as a gambler or a thief.
Now, lest some refined Methodist of the present day should be a little too sever*on o«r good Mend Mr. Donaldson, I must express my sympathy for the worthy old gentleman as he goes riding along toward tbe scene of conflict. Dear, genteel, and cultivated Methodist reader. you who rejoice in the patristic glory of
Methodism, though you hare
so for departed from the standard of the fathers as t» wear gold and costly apparel and sing songs and read some novels, be not tso hard upon oar good friend Donaldson. Had yon, fashions Methodist friend, who listen to
few
TERRE HAUTE SATURDAY E^V*ENIJSIG--MAIL:
you lived in Ohio sixty years ago, would you have belonged to tho Metbodistf? think you? Noi at al)I your nerves would have been racked by their ditties your grammatical knowledge shocked beyond recovery by their English yon could never have worshipped in an ex citement that prostrated people in religions catalepsy, and threw weak saints and obstinate sinners alike into tbe contortiwus of the jerks. It is easy to build the tombs of the prophet* while you reap the harvest they sowed, and after th«y have been already canonized. It is easy to build the tombs of the early prophets now while we stone the prophets of our own time, maybe. Permit me,
Methodist brother, to believe that bad you lived in tbe days of Parson Danaldson, you would have condemned these rude Tisbbitee as sharply as he did. But you wonld have been wrong, as he was For without them there must have* been barbarism, worse than that of Arkansas and Texas. Methodism was to tho West all that Puritsnism was to England Both of them are sublime when consid ered historically neither of them were verv agreeable to live with, maybe.
But, alas! I am growing as theological as Mr. Donaldson himself. Mean time Morton has forded the creek at point more favorable than bis orossing of tho night Uofore, and is riding rapidly homeward and ever, as ho recedes from the scene of his peril, and approaches his home, do tbo embarrassments of his situation become more appalling. If he could only be sure of himself in the future, tlfere would be hope. But to a na ture so energetic as his, there is no ac Won possible but in aright line and with the whole heart.
In returning, Morton had been direc ted to follow a 'trace' that led him toward home by a much nearer way than he had come. Alter riding twenty miles, he emerged from the wilderness into a settlement just as the sun was sitting. It happened that the house where he found a hospitable supper and lodging was already set apart for Methodist preaching that evening. After supper the sluirk bottom chairs and rude benches were arranged about the walls, and the intermediate space was left to be tilled by seats which should be brought in by friendly neighbors. Morton gathered from the conversation that the preacher was none other than the celebrated Valentine Cook, who wa9 hold in such esteem that it vas even be lieved that he had a prophetic inspiration and a miraculous gift of healing. This 'class' had been founded by ins preaching, in the days of his vigor. He had long since given up 'traveling,' on account of his health.' He was now a teacher in Kentucky, being, by all odds, the most scholarly of the Western itinerants. He had set out on ajonrnev among the churches with whom ho had labored, seeking to strengthen the hands of the brethren, who were like a few sheep in tho wilderness. The old Levantine churches did not more heartily welcome tbe final visit of Paul tbe Aged than did the backwoods churches this farewell tour of Valentine Cook.
Finding himself thus fairly entrapped again by a Methodist meeting, Morton felt no little agitation. His mother bad heard Cook in his younger dsys, in Pennsylvania, and he was thus familiar with his fame as a man and as a preacher. Morton was not only curious to hear him he entertained a faint hope that the great preacher might lead him out of his embarrassment.
After supper Goodwin strolled out through tho tre«s trying to collect his thoughts determined at one moment to become a Methodist and end his struggles, seeking, the next, to build abreastwork of resistance against the sermon that he must hear. Having walked some distance from tbe house into the bushes, he came suddenly upon the prescher himself, kneeling in audible prayer. So •rapt was the ol man in his devotion that bij did not note the approach of Goodwin, until the latter, awed at sight of man talking face to face with Gcd, stopped, trembling, where he stood. Cook tbensAw him, and, arising, reached out bis band to the young man, saying in a voice tremulous with emotion: 'Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thes a crown "of life.' Morton endeavored, in a
stammering words, to ex
plain bis accidental intrusion, but the venerable man seemed almost at once to have forgotten his presence, for he had tafcen his seat upon a l«g and appeared absorbed in thought. Morton retreated just in time to secure a place in the cabin, now almost full. The members of the church, men snd women, as they entered, knelt in silent prayer before taking their seats. Hardly silent either, for tbo old Methodist could do nothing without noise, and even while he knelt in what he considered silent prayer, he burst forth continually in audible ejaculations of 'Ah—ah!' 'O u«y Lord, help!' 'Hab!' and
other
groaning expressions of
his inwsrd wrestling—groantngs easily uttered, but entirely without a possible orthography. With most, this was the simple habit of an uncultivated and unreserved nature in later times the os tentatious and hypocritical did not fail to cultivate it as an evidence of superior piety.
But now the room is full. People are crowding the doorways. Tbe good old class-leader has shut his eyes and turned bis face heavenward. Presently he strikes up lustily, leading the c»ngrega tlon in singing: ••How teiious and tasteless the hoars
When Jesus no longer I see!" When be reached the stsnza tbat deslares:
While blest with a sense of his leve A palace a tor wwuld appear gr And prisons would palaces prove,
If Je»u» would dwell with me there, there were shouts of 'Halleluiah!' •Praise tbe Lordl' and so iortb. At the last quatrain, which runs, •O! drive these dark clouds from my skyl
Thy soul-cheeiing presence restore Or take met* thee u,-» on high, Where winter aud clouds are no more! there were the heartiest 'Atnens/ though they must have been spoken in a poetic sense. I cannot believe tbat any of the excellent brethren, even in tbat moment of exaltation, would really have desired translation to the world beyond tbe clouds.
Tbo preacher in hi* meditations, bad forgotten his congregation—a very common bit of abseut-mindedness with Valentine COok and &o, when this hymn
was
finisned, a sister, with a rich bat uncultivated soprano, started, to the tune called 'Indian Philoeopter/ that inspiring song which begins •Come on, my partners in distress,
My comrades In this wilderneM, Who still our bodies feel Awhile forget your griefs and tears, Look forward through this vale of tears
To that celestial hill.'
The hymn was long, and by the time it was completed the preacher, having suddenly oonse to himself, entered hurriedly, and pushed forward to the place arranged for him. Tbe festoons of dried pumpkin banging from the joists reached nearly to his head, a tallow dip, sitting in the window, shed a feeble light upon his fsce as be stood there, tall, gaunt, awkward, weather-beaten, with deep-sunken, weird, basal eyes, low forehead, a prominent nose, coarse black hair resisting yet the approach of age,*
Hvril -A-
and a tovl ensemble unpromising, but peculiar. He began immediately to repeat his hymn: '(saw one hangingou a trec^f (n agony ana blood
He fixed his languidrye on me,
A
As sear the cross I wood.' rilii tone was monotonous, bis eyes seemed to have a fascination, and the pathos of his voice, quivering with suppressed emotion, was indescribable. Before his prayer was concluded the enthusiastic Morton felt that be could follow such a leader to the world's end.
He repested his text: "Behold the day aoineth,' and launched at once into a strongly impressive introduction abon'the afl-prevadlng presence of God, and Morton found himself breathing fearfull v, with a sense ofGod's presence and ineffible holiness. Then he took up that neyer-failing thereof the pioneer preacher—the sinfulness of sin—and there were fuppres^ed ories of anguish over the whole, bouse. Morton could hardly feel more contempt- for himself than helsd felt for two dayg past but when the preacher advanced to his cli max of the Atcfnement and tbe Forgiveness of Sins, Goodwin felt himself carried away as with a flood. In tbat hour, with God around, above, beneath, without and within—with a feeling that since fife escape he held his liffe'by a sort of reprieve—with the inspiring and persuasive accents of this weird prophet ringing in bis ears, he cast behind him all human loves, all ambitious purposes, all recollec.ions of theological puzzles, and set himself to a self-denying life.
With one final battle he closed his conflict about Patty. He would do right at all hazards
Morton never had other conversion than his. He could not tell of such struggle as Kike's. A11 he knew was that there had been a conflict. When once he decided, there was harmony and peace. When Valentine Cook had concluded his rapt peroration, setting tbe whole house ablaze with feeling, and then proceeded to 'open the doors ef the church' by singing, 'Am I a soldierof the cross,
A
21
follower of the Lamb. And shall I fear to own his cause, Or blush to speak his name?' it was with a sort of Military exaltation —a defiance of tbe world, the flosh, and the devil—that Morton went forward and took the band of tbe preacher, as sign tbat he solemnly enrolled himself among those who meant to conquer though they die.'
He was accustomed to say in after years, using the Methodist phraseology, that'God spoke peace to his soul the moment he made up bis mind to give up all.' That God does speak to the heart of man in its great crises I cannot doubt but God works with, and not against, the laws of mind. When Morton ceased to contend with his highest impulses there was no more discord, and he was of too healthful and objective a temperament to have subjective fights with fancifnl Apollyons. When peace came he accepted it. One of Ute old brethren who crowded round him that night and questioned him about his experience, was 'afeard it warn't" a rale deep conversion. They wuzu't wras'lin' and strugglin' enough.' But the wise Valentine Cook said, when he took Morton'B hand to say good-bye, and looked into his clear blue eye, 'Hold fast the beginning of thy confidence, brother.''
CHAPTER XVI11.
THE PRODIGAL RETURNS.
At last the knight was in the saddle. Much as Morton griaved when he thought of Patty, he rejoiced now in the wholeness of his moral purpose. Vacillation was over. He was ready to fight, to sacrifice, to die, for a good cause, It had been the dream of his boyhood bad been tbe longing of bis youth, marred and disfigured by irregularities as bis youth had been. In tne early •twilight of the winter morning he rode bravely toward his first battle field, and, as was his wont in moments of cheerfulness, he sang. But not now the 'Highland Mary,' or' 3a' the yowe's to the know%s,' but a hymn of Charles Wesley's he had beard Cook sing the night before, some stanzas of which had strongly impressed him and accorded exactly «ith his.nhw mood, and bis anticipation of trouble and the loss of Patty, perhaps, from his religious life: •Jn hope of that immortal crown
I now the cross sustain. And gladl/ wander up aud down, And smile at toll and piiu I suffer on my threescore years,
Till»» Dollv'rer come And wipe away hi servant's tear#, Aud take his exile home.
'O, what are all my sufferings here If, Lord, thou count me meet With that enraptarea host to appear
And worship at thy fee!! Give Joy or grief, give ease or painj Take life or friends away, •I But let me And them all again
In that eternal day.' Long before he had reached nissawacbee be had ceased to sin. He was
Ee
sinfully endeavoring to imagine how would be received at home and at Captain Lumsden's.
At home, the wan mother sat in the dull winter twilight, trying .to keep her heart from fainting eutfrely. The story of Morton's losses at cards had quickly reached tbe sottlement—with the easy addition that be had fled to escape paying his debt of dishonor, and had carried off the horse snd gun which another had won from him in gambling. This last, the mother steadily refused to believe. It oould not be that Morton would qnench all tbe manly Impulses of his youth and follow in the steps of bis prodigal brother, Lewie. For Morton was Such a boy as
Tbe twilight deepened, and Mrs. Goodwin, unable now to endure the darkness, lit her candle. Then th'ere was a knock at the door. Ever since Sunday the mother, waiting between hope and despair, had turned pale at every sound of footsteps without. Now she called out, 'Come InP in a broken voice, and Mr. Brady entered, having just dismissed his sehool. 'Troth, me dair madam, it's not meself tbat can give comfort. I'm sure to say something not intoireiy proper to the occasion, whiniver I talk to anybody In throuble—something that jars loike a varb tbat disagrees with its nominative in number and parson, as I may say.
But I thought I ought to oome aud say you, and till you as I don't belave Moirton would do anything very bad, au' I'm shoo re he'll be home afore the wake's out. I've soipbered it out by tho Rule of Thray. As Moirton Goodwin wuz to his other throubles—comin' out all roight—so is Moirton Goodwin to his present difficulties. If the first term and tbe third is the same, then tbe sicond and the fourth has got to be identical. Perhaps I'm talkin' too larned but you're an eddicated women, Mrs. Goodwin, and you can say that me dimonsthiation's entoirely corrict. Moirton '11 fetch the answer set down in the book ivery toirne, without any remainder or mistake. Th air's no vulgar fractions about him.' 'Fractious, did you say?' spoke in Job Goodwin, who had held his nand up to his best ear, to hear what Brady was saying. 'No, I don't 'low he was fractious, fer the nros'part. But he's gone now, and he'll get killed like Lew did, and we'll all hev the fever, and then they'll be a war weth the Bredish, and the Injuas '11 We on us, and it 'pears like as if they wa'n't no end of troubles a comin'. Hey?'
At tbat very moment tbe latch was jerked up ana Henry canto bursting into the room, gasping from excitement. 'What is it? Injuns?' asked Mr, Goodwin, getting to his feet.
But Henry gapped again. 'Spake!' said Brady. 'Out wid it!' 'Mort's—a puttin'—Dolly—in the stable!' said the breathless boy. 'Dolly's in the stable, did you say? querid Job Goodwin, sitting down again hopelessly. 'Then somebody—Injuns, robbers, or somebody—'s killed Mort, and she's found ber way back!'
While Mr. Goodwin was speaking, Mrs. Wheeler slipped out of the open door, that she might not intrude upon the meeting but Brady—oral newspaper that he was—waited, with th« true journalistic spirit, for an interview.
Hardly
had Job Goodwin finished his
doleful speech, when Morton himself crossed tbe threshold and reached out hi* hand to his mother, while she reached out. both hands and—did what mothers have done for returning prodigals since the world was made. Her husband stood by bewildered, trying to collect his wits enough to understand how Morton could have been murdered by robbers or Indians and yet stand there. Not until the mother roleased him, and Morton turned and shook hands with his fathor, dirt the father get rid of the illusion that his son was certainly dead. •Well, Moirton,' said Brady, coming
out
of tho shadow,'I'm roight glad to see ye back. I tould 'em yefd bay home to-noight, maybe. 1 soipbered it out by
the
Single Rule of Tbray that ye'd git back about this toime. One dsy fer sinnin', one day fer tbroyin' to run away from yerslif, one day for repintance,
and
the nlxt tbe prodigal son falls on mother's neck and confisses bis sins. Morton was glad to find Brady present, be was a safeguard against too much of a scene. And to avoid speak ing of subjects more unpleasant, he plunged at once into'sn account of his adventure at Brewer's Hole, and of his arrest for stealing his own horse. Then be told how he had .escaped by tbe good offices of Mr. Danaldson. Mrs. Goodwin was secretly delighted it this. It was a now bond between tbe yonng man and tbe minister, and now at last she should see Morton converted. The religious experience Morton reserved- Ho want ed to break it to his mother alone, and he wanted to be the first to speak of it to Patty. And so it happened that Brady, having gotten, as he supposed, a full ac
count
Saswis had never been,
and the thought of bis deserting bis home and falling finally into bad practices, hsd brought to Mrs. Goodwin an agony tbat was next door to heart bresV. Job Goodwin had abandoned ail work and taken to his congenial enjoyment of sighing and croaking in tbe chimneycorner, building innumerous Castles of Doubt for the Giant Despair.
Mrs. Wheeler came in to comfort her friend. 'I am sure, Mrs. Goodwin,' she said, 'Morton will yet be saved I have been enabled to pray for him with faith.'
In spite of her sorrow, Mrs. Goodwin eould not belp thinking that it was very inconsistent for an Armlnlan to believe tbat God would convert a man in answer to prayer, when Arminlans professed to believe that a man oouid be a Christian or not as he pleased. Willing however, to lay the blame of her misfortune on anybody but Morton, she said, half peevishly, tbat she wished the Methodists bad nevercome to the settlement. Morton bad been in a hopeful state of mind, and they had driven him to wickedness. Otherwise, he Would doubtless have been a Christian by this time.
And now Mrs. Wheeler, on her part, thought—but did not say—tbat it was most absurd for Mrs. Goodwin to complain of anything having driven Morton away from salvation, sinoe. according to her Galvinistic doctrine, he must be saved anyhow if he were elected. It is so easy to be inconsistent when we try to reason about God's relation to his creatures, and so easy to see absurdity in any creed but our ownt
of Morton's adventures, and being eager to tell socboioe and fresh a story,
found
himself unable to stay longer. But just as be reached the door, it occurred to him that if he did not tell Mor ton at once what had happened his absence, some one else would anticipate bim. HebadBole possession of Morton's adventure anyhow so he straightened
himself
up against tho door and
8aidi 'An* did ye bear what happened to Koike, the whoile yo was gone, Molr-
^'Xothing bad, I hope,' said Morton: •Ye may belave it was bad. or ye may take it to be good, as ye plase. Ye know bow Koike was bilin' over to shoot bis uncle, afore ye went away In the fall. Will, on'y yisterday the Cantin he list met Koike in tbe road, and gives him some hard words fer sayin' what be did to bim last Sunthay. An' fwat does Koike do but bowldly begins another exhortation, tellin' the Captiri was a sinner as desarved to goto bill, an tbat he'd git there if he didn't whale about and take the other thrack. An' fwat does the Captin do but up wld the flat of hi* hand and be*es Koike's jaw. An I thought
Koike
weuldVaarved bim as
Magruder did Jake Snlger. But not a bit of it! He fired up rid, and thin got pale immsjlately. Thin ho t°rned round t'other soide of his face, and wid a thremblin' voioe. axed the Captin if be didn't want to slap that ehake too? An' tbe Captin swore at bim fer •hypocrite, and thin put out fer borne wid tbe jerk* an' he's been a lookln' loike a sintince thnt oouldn' be parsed iver
"l wonder Kike bore it, I don't think I could,'said Morton, meditatively. 'Avcoorseye couldn't. Ye re not a oonvsrted Mithodis". But 1 must be goin'. I'm a boardin' at the Captin a now.' [TO BB oojrrrsruKD
For sale by J. J. BACK.
•11
"?r*rr»v-
BAIilj
-IS-
ALL sells tho BELLE Cook Stove.
B-
ALL has the laigest stock of Stoves in the cits.
BALLsellsStoves
BALLCopperne
!u!
,in .a
intuitu
either in
moderate doses or as an alterative. For Sale by J. J. BAITS.
SMITH'S Aotm 8CR* CURB.—For the cure of Ague or Chiils and Fever. As a remedy for Ague no medicine stands higher, it is prompt, certain and safe. Priee only 50 cents.
*1 'rif •-M
/.
STILL IN MOTION. BALLissellingthebestCOOK
STOVES in
tbe Market.
ALL sells tl FAVORITE Cjok St«ve for wood and coul. I.-
BALLStove.-the
rells PRAIRIE CITY Cook
cheaper I han any house
in the city.
ALL warrasts every Stove he sells to give satisfaction.
ALL sells tho cheapest and "best Toilet Ware.
ALL has tlie largest stock of Tinware in the cily. ...
BALL
keeps a general variety of House Furnishicg Goods. ALL keeps everything usually kept in a tlrst-class house of this kind.
BALLisprepated
to do Jebblng, Guttering
and Spouting on good terms.
jg ALL Is a practical workman.
BALLfacturlng
personally superintends the ManuDepartment. work done at this ALL warrants all house.
pays highest cash price for old and trnss,
ALL pays the highest price for old Cast and \Vr6ughtlron. ALL is near corner of Tliltd st„ No. 803
Main, TERRE HAUTE.
gALL can be found at
Sign of The Tin Ball,
ALL is thankful for pa*t favors, and hopes by strict personal attention business, the
IB .A. Xj XJ
wnx KEEP ROLLING.
"FRANK HEINIG,
Manufacturer of
Crackers, Bread, Cakes
'AND CANDY.
Bar A11 goods bought, of nte delivered free of charge anywhere in the city.
'. CRACKERS.
Boston Butter, Milk, Pincic, Butter, Oatmeal, Soda, Graham, Pearl Oyster, Victoria Soda
BISCUIT.
Cream. Lemon, Cracknel, Wine- Ginger, {si KrostedCream Centennial Sugar Crackers.
SNAPS. Woo tell, Spice, CAKES. Lemon, ttalsln, Herriet,
Ginger, Lemon,
Red Top, Sugar, Scotch,
Macaroni, Rltlenuts,
Tea, Ginger, Ginger Bread
LARGE CAKES
Notice.
BREAD. English, French,, Home-made, Rye,
Square Loaf, Long Cream, Centennial, Rusks,
Twist, Graham Coffee Cake.
Purapernike Rolls,
128 Infayette
Street, 130
TERRE HADTE, IND.
PictureFrames
Made to order at the lowest prices.
Motto
&riil
Premium Cliromo
Framing a Specially. I Orders by mall, or left at Mrs. T. H. Riddle s, 403 Main street, A. Hoberg's, 675 Main street, Allen A Koch's, 26 south 4th street, tooali on you with moulding samples will be prorap ly attended to.
Frames Made for I he Trade.
J. F. PROBST,
(Late with R. Gagg.) j," t,.u 003 H. 4 th street.
M24-8m.
GRAINING, GLAZING, AC.,
ft«r.
MAIN,
BET 8TH and 9th
rjlEKRE HAUTE ICE CO.
5
All babies are diminutive Casars, since they come, they see, they conquer, sometimes by iheir gentle stillness but oftener by continued and uproarious crying induced by Colic, Teething, Flatulence, etc. Dr. Bull's Baty Syrup by its gentle yet specific inflaence quiets tbe little ones without ever producing tbe least injurious effect. Price only 25 cents per bottle.
WAYNE'S EFFERVESCING CRAB ORCHARD SALTS.—ASalient Aperient, possessing, in a highly concentrated form, the medicinal properties of tbe Crab Orchard Springs of Kentucky. For tbe treatment of Costivenes and Derangement of the Liver, the Effervescing Crab Orchard Salta are
excellent,
We cut our ice at home, employing home labor. All money paid for labor Iskeptat home. All Money Received for Ice Mid (Mays at Home. Ihe owners and managers b.long in Terre Haute, and are identified with tne
Interest of Terre Haute
We are home indmtry in the full sense of tbe term. We sell ice as cheap as the cheapest, and respectfully ask a continuance or the patronage of the people.
F. PURDUE.
orriCBt Itapp's Meat Market, No: All Main street, between Sixth and Seventh.
WHOOPING COUGH.
first
twenty-i'our
Dr. Detchon's
Whooping Cough Specific cures this disease in one week's time. If used generally, it will save the lives of hundreds Do not let yoor
child die of whooping cough when one
bottle of this
Speclfle will cure
eratesall
it. It
the
mod-
severer symptoms within the
hours. For sale by
m&
BUM-
TIN A ARMSTKONU* Terre Haute, Ind.
liil
