Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 25, Number 26, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 22 December 1894 — Page 12

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"Written for The Mall,

A NINETEENTH CENTURY JACOB.

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all Perry county there dwelt no fairer maiden than Helen Vennard. can see her now, in my mind's eye, she came slowly up the aisle of the little country cbureii at Cross'Corners that Sunday morning with her fresh young face so earnest in its repose, her dark chestnut hair lighted up by a chance aunbeam that strayed though a broken shutter till it looked like nothing so much as pure gold, her deep blue eyes so eloquent to tell of love and devotion she looked like some rare flower that nature in its willful generosity had set here among such rude surroundings.

So thought the young minister, Her bert Evans, as he sat in the little pul pit, communing with himself, while he waited for the hour for morning ser vices.

For Herbert Evans loved Helen Ven nard—Herbert Evans, whose earnestness of purpose, and devotion to his life's work, had prompted him to surrender his position as assistant to the pastor ot one of the largeand fashionable churches in a western city to take the itinerancy that brought him to this rude little country church every other Sunday, to preach the gospel of good will to those Southern Indianians.

Ye*, Herbert Evans loved Helen Ven nard. He know his love was returned, and he intended making her Sis wife, could he ever hope to win the approval of her father, old 'Lish Vennard, at once the m^st hardheaded, profane and obstinate old farmer of whom Perry county could boast, but the most generous of fathers, in whose eyes his daughter was a treasure never to be surrendered to any man, no matter what his qualifications might be or condition in life, except he be big and strong as old 'Lish himself.

Old 'Lish was a firm believer in physi cal strength as the surest test of perfect manhood, and looked not kindly on the attachment that be was quick enough to see was developing between his daugb ter and the tall, slender young minister He bad never expressed himself in the matter, for he felt his daughter was dutiful, and would never bestow her hand without her father's consent.

A minister of the cloth can love as earnestly, as devotedly,and as beroioally as any layman, and what man could not be eloquent when his sweetheart sat be fore him, her loving eyes fixed on him and every glance telling of the affection she bore him, even though their troth be not plighted.

The text that morning was taken from Oenesis, "And Jaoob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love be had to her." As the young minister stood there in that plain little church, with its unpretentious congregation, and told that old, sweet story that has been ringing down the ages, and will forever ring —that story of man's deyotion and woman's faithfulness, he told it with an earnestness and eloquence that, under other ciroumatances and before a fash able audience, would have won him re nown as a popular divine. "Greater love hath no man, we are told, than that he lay down his life for his friend, but how much greater than all loves is that which enables a man to labor seven long years, and then seven, through the sunshine and the shadow, through sickness and distress, through winter's cold and summer's heat, that he may win for his own heart's comfort, that peerless creature on whom his hopes, his ambitions, his very existence, are centered. Next to his love for his God, should be his love for the woman he hopes to call the blessed name of wife. Greater love hath no man, I hold, than that be be content to toil, to suffer, through long months and years, to win a pure woman, a loving heart, to comfort him, to cheer him, through this vale of tear* till he finds the everlasting peace that comes to those who reverence God and obey His commandments. We cannot all imitate Jacob in his servitude, in this day and generation, but au honorable man will not hesitate at any honorable means to win for himself that most precious of all treasures, a tender, loving wife."

These words and others rang through Helen Vennard's brain, telling her that the speaker was pleading his own cause. It gave satisfaction to her heart, and brightness to her faoe, and made the brief walk home through the shady lane •with Herbert, a dream of paradise. The deep red sumac along the roadside seembrighter, and even the golden rod nodded its head sagely, as if It knew something it couldn't, or wouldn't., tell, about two loving heart* that were in its immediate neighborhood.

And who is it that says birds can't talk? They fluttered from limb to limb and with every pipe of their tiny throats told the love story in a manner so plainly to be understood that the two, as they sauntered along, looked around quiltily to *ee if any others were near enough to understand what the little rogues were telling.

"It's just like this, Parson. Of course, you're a good enough kind o* feller -fer a preacher—but you're not 'xactly the kind man I'd sot my heart on that gal a ketchln'. You see I've spent a beapo' money on her eddicatioo, sen din' her to one of them female simtnaries in Louyville, where they learned her all about book*, an' playin* thepiany,an' palntln' an'all them hlfalutln' things. An'that's not all, neither. She can go In the parly there an* shine an' she can sew an' darn an' ccok, an' ain't one o* them nambypamby things that aint wuth a dem but to set down, fold their ban's an' look party.

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her to marry till she oan git some big strong man that can provide fer her, an' take care of her. Not that I want her to marry any big, rough feller like me. He's got to be well eddioated jiat like her and he's got to be a good man."

Vainly this earnest, sober eyed young man, with his slim, erect figure, expostulated with old 'Lish. •'It'll never do," said the latter, "It'll never do." "But she loves me," urged the young minister, "and I can provide for her. Why should you insist on any further qualifications?" "It's no use talkin'," old 'Lish expostulated. "That sal o' mine '11 never marry anyone till I say the word"—here his habits got the best of his respeot for the cloth. "By God! she'll never marry any man that can't stand up and lick old 'Lish Vennard in a fair fist fight— an' he'll have to do it if he gets her."

He glanoed with a sneer at the slight figure before him and added: "I guess figbtin' ain't iu your line, Parson, an' you'd better give her up."

Then the feeling that enabled the Jaoob of old to serve bis long years that seemed but a few days, stirred in the breast of Herbert Evans. "Very well, Mr. Blisha Vennard, if this is your final decision, I will accept Its conditions. To be compelled to resort to vulgar brute force to win a wife is something that is repugnant to me, and contrary to the teachings of my profession. But if Helen were my wife, I would not be half a man should I refuse to use brute force to protect her from insult or injury, Why then, should I refuse to resort to it to win her? Within a year I shall come to olaim her on the conditions you have named. And you can rest assured, sir, that I will comply with the conditions so' thoroughly that you cannot question it."

There was an air of quiet determination in the voice, a flash in the £rown eyes, as he spoke, and he strode from the room with suoh a suggestion of sup»ssed energy that old Vennard was quite bewildered. And the bewilderment had beoome admiration by the time he fully recovered and was able to remark, "Well, I'll be durned if ever I thought that quiet preacher chap had that much spunk about him."

A pretty young woman cried herself to sleep in her own cozy room that night, and the pretty young woman's father, as he paraded up and down the old sitting room below, dodging the antiquated hanging lamp that shed its rays on hipi, had thoughts like these "If I hadn't sot my foot down so blamed hard, I'd obange my mind. But 1 can do it now, an'I won't I"

The next morning a tow-headed urohin from the Corners trudged up the path from the "big road," with a note addressed in a firm, round hand, to "Miss Helen Vennard." Its contents must have been pleasant reading from the passionate way in which she kissed it, and yet they could not prevent the tears that fell from the bonny eyes as they read.

This note doubtless explained why it was, when the second Sunday rolled around, instead of the Rev. Herbert Evans it brought an antiquated theo logian, who sang through his nose, and hem'd" and "haw'd" and wheezed in a manner that excited merriment among the younger members of the little congregation, but did not inspire the respect in whioh his predecessor was held.

And when following Sundays brought him, again and again, it dawned on the minds of the members that the Rev Herbert Evabs was lost to them, much to ttysir regret.

Many were the questions they asked each other, and many were the reasons assigned for this nnlooked for step on bis part. It was remarked after a time that Helen Vennard took no-part in this questioning, and that her father had a knowing air about him, but vouchsafed no information when approached in regard to the matter.

Putting this and that together, it was finally agreed that the reverend gentleman had been jilted by Miss Helen, and bad sought some more congenial locality which to solace his broken heart.

Could these knowing ones have seen the letters that came at regular Intervals addressed to the young lady in question, bearing tne postmark of a city whose name is a synonym for energy and push, they would perhaps have changed their opinion. Ike Bolton, the postmaster, might have enlightened them as to these letters, but it was contrary to Ike's rnles of life to give satisfaction to any person, and so the Corners' gossips remained in ignorance.

As the months rolled on, Miss Helen came to be looked upon as a young woman of lofty ambitions, who had had an opportunity to marry, a handsome young minister, beloved by all, and had refused him. His departure was looked upon as a personal loss to each nember of the little congregation and she was held responsible for it.

The antiquarian continued his semimonthly visits, his listeners decreased number with each succeeding Sanday, and aome o! the more irreverent among them came to the conclusion that salvation indeed was priceless, to be secured at the expense of sitting through his tedious sermons.

Vague rumors reached the Corners from time to time, of the attention that was being attracted to young minister in a western metropolis, whose sermons were copied in the leading journal*, and whose burning eloquence in pointing out to sinners the way to repentance was fast making him famous. His surname was the same a» that of their former itinerant, but as their sluggish imaginations had never pictured him as rising

Now, I shan't aay the word fer) beyond the level of a mere circuit rider

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It was so seldom that a passenger alighted at the Corners that when this one stepped down, it caused no little excitement among the group gathered in front of the postofflce. His was a figure to attraot attention, too, as he stepped up the street toward the only tavern of which the Corners could boast. The ripple of excitement over the new arrival grew into a perfeot gale when he was recognized by one of the orowd as the Rev. Herbert Evans.

The year of bis absence had wrought a wonderful transformation in him, a ohange that only the most earnest devotion to physical culture with a fixed purpose in view, could have accom* pllshed. His well knit figure, erect and muscular, indicated strength, and there, was something in his carriage that implied confidence in himself.

It was but a short time after that, this same figure stepped on the porch Of the residence of 'Lish Vennard and pulled the old-fashioned knocker. And before the sound had died away the door was opened and—well, who can write down calmly the doings of two long separated lovers, and do it justice? Not I, at any rate, and I'll not attempt it. Then they walked into the sitting room where the father was waiting. "Mr. Vennard, I have served my time, like Jaoob, and I have come to claim my Rachel." "Well, Parson Evans, you've got more grit than I ever give you credit for, but I ain't goin' back on my word. I never done that yit, tin' I never will. That gal is the apple of my eyean' no man'll ever git her till he's proved he's abetter man than I am. If you kin lick me you kin have her. Them's the words with the bark on 'em." "I am prepared to do that, if it is ab soiutely necessary, but I protest against it heartily. It Is brutal and unchristianlike, and should not be expected of me merely to satisfy a whim of yours. It is foolish and I ask you to forego it." "Well, if you're oome to talk me out of It, .you're wasting your time. If you're afraid to fight, aay so."

Vainly the daughter added her appeals. The old man had given his word and waa obdurate.

There was only one way, to bis thinkitig, that the matter could be settled, and that was by a resort to the physical strength be so greatly admired.

Now, the Jacob of old, had he been a practical kind of a fellow, would doubtless have preferred a contest of this kicd to the yean of drudgery lie served to win a wife especially would behave preferred it bad he felt as oonfideot of win* nlng as did the Rev. Herbert Brans, as

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TERRE HATJTE SATURDAY EVENING MAIL, DECEMBER 22,1894.

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of limited opportunities, they did not conneot the two. Had they known that he was the foremost promoter in that metropolis of the physical culture and development that of late years has inspired so much confi dence and respeot for muscular Christianity, they would have been less likely to connect the two personages. For the most imaginative among them would scarcely have oonceived of the Rev. Herbert Evans as an exemplar or promo ter of muscular Christianity, so slight and seemingly frail was he, as they remembered him.

Thus the uneventful tide ot affairs moved on in this little out of the way community until one bright morning late in the autumn the haok from Cannelton drove up to the Corners, with its semi-weekly mail, and a passenger alighted.

Muffs at 75c, $1, $1 25, $1.50, $1.75, $2 up to $12. Fur Sets for Children at 75c, $1 up to $2 75 a set. Japanese Cups and Saucers at 15, 19, 25, 28c up to $1.50.

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Under the branches of the old oak they Btood facing each other, bareheaded, with ooats and vests thrown aside, the only witnesses being the softeyed cattle, who stood* at a respectful distance, wondering, no doubt—if they ever do wonder—what was the ocoasion for this display. Not the only witnesses, either, for a monster old turkey gobbler, his interest aroused by the sight of two stalwart figures shaking hands in such a business-like way mounted the fence as if to assume the duties of referee in this novel contest. "Onoe more, Mr. Vennard, I protest against this brutal oontest. It is unjust, unfair, and, above all, is inhuman and unchristianlike."

There was a shade of oonfidenoe in the old man's voice as he answered, "If you want that gal, you can't back out now," and there was undisguised admiration of the splendid physique that confronted him. "I warn you, then, I will not be answerable for the consequences," and they said no moro.

I would that I had the pen and the ability of the modern sporting writer that I might picture that contest as it deserves to be pictured. I would tell bow the old man, with long-treasured memories of the "back holt" and the "under holt" and all the tricks of his younger days, tried tbem in vain against the young athlete.

How, failing in these, and driven to desperation by his futile efforts, he tried to break down the "guard" of bis oppo nent with blows that, while they lacked science, were powerful, but equally unavailing. Then bow, all at once, there was a stinging sensation in his face, everything seemed to get black about him, and he felt himself falling, falling, it seemed to him an age, until suddenly there was another peculiar sensation in the back of his head—and then he lost consciousness.

I would, as I said before, that I could picture this scene in its proper light, for then my readers would know that the athlete bad toyed with his opponent until opportunity offered for a "knockout" blow, and then bad delivered it.

If defeat was a hitherto unknown sensation to 'Lisb Vennard, be bore it more gracefully than do most men when tbey first experience its humiliation.

As he lay there with returning consciousness, soft bands bathing his brow and stronger ones chafing his own, it came to him like a sudden inspiration that be bad acted like a perfect brute. He laid there thinking long before he opened his eyes, wondering bow be could ever regain bis own good opinion of himself. A man with strong convictions is pretty thoroughly bumbled

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So it was finally decided that these two.gladiators for love's sake should repair to the "woods' pasture" that ran up olosO to the house, and without attendants, deoide who should be the future custodian of the anxiously beating heart they left behind, with its every throb threatening to break from the beautiful bosom, its owner's pretty eyes red with weeping.

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he stood facing the rough old man, who insisted on such an unheard of test. Doubtless many will condemn the young clergyman for his determination to abide by the old maa's rule, but I can't find it in my heart to do so. Oo the contrary, I am free to say that I ad mire him for it. The love he had in his heart would have led him to faoe a whole battalion, if necessary.

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when he finds himself in this frame of mind. Then he opened his eyes and arose silently. He placed the soft bands in the strpnger ones before he said: "Parson, you've fought the Devil, and you've licked him. I alius thought I was a purty good kind o' man in my way but I haint. But if you an' the Lord'll be good to me, I'll be a better one hereafter."

Then to the owner of the soft hands and deep blue eyes: "Helen, my dearie, this to the first time your ole daddy has been licked in forty-odd years, but I'm glad I am. Tbe Parson has won you an' he's licked me. He'll make you tbe best husband a woman ever had."

And, fvould you believe it, right out there in tbe "woods pasture," Stronger Hands clasped Soft Hands to his heart, and kissed her, with tbe cattle and the pompous old turkey gobbler looking on in perfect amazement.

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Fire, Life, Accident, Liability Insurance.

I also furnish security bonds for those in positions of trust Don't fail to oome and see me before purchasing property or placing your insurance.

Household Brevities.

Clean hard finished walls with ammonia water. Rub whitewash spots with strong vinegar.

Rub soft grease over tar and then wash in warm soda water. Straw matting is best cleaned with a. cloth wet with salt water. Wipe dry.

If the drain to an iron sink becomes ologged with grease, have reoourse topotash.

Grape fruit is more popular year by year, and it is recommended by physicians as better as a breakfast fruit than the orange

Two or three spoonfuls of kerosene in?, a pail of water greatly lessen tho work of washing windows and mirrors.

When threading a needle in a dim light, hold in such a way as to outlino a white thread against your dark gown. If using dark thread, the hand o* anything white makes a helpful background.

Dam thin places in blankets as you would stockings. Oilcloth may be improved in appearanoe by rubbing it with a mixture of & half ounco of beeswax in a saucerful of turpentine. Set this in a warm place* until tbey can be thoroughly mixed. Apply with a flannel cloth and then rub, with a dry flannel.

What Christ Taught.

Before Christ came men did not know God. They "did not understand his fatherhood and affection. They had all along supposed that whoever would enjoy God's favor must purchase it in some way, and so before the coming of Christ men crouched and trembled before God as though he were an almighty tyrant and they worshiped before him with sacrifices of slavish fear. But the coming of Christ brought a new element into human faith. He taught not tho Jew alone, but he taught all men everywhere that God lovea them that he loves them as sinners that he loves them with a love that is more devoted and tender than any mother bears her child that he is not only ready to forgive them all that is past of transgression and sin, but to make them heirs of a glorious and eternal inheritance that all God asks of man is love.—Christian Advocate.

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The woman who is awakened by tho first streak of dawn wiU dcrwell to drink a hot cup of cocoa if many hours are to elapse before breakfast is served. Cocoa furnishes both food and drink and is easily digested by most people. It will relieve any faint feeling and give one the necessary strength to dress. The cocoa may be made tho night beforo and can be heated in throe minutes over an alcohol lamp. If the cocoa is made with fresh milk, it will keep perfectly over night.— Health Journal.

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Broker,