rm
x ,)
k
MP'"
Elfc. V
S&ivl
jAtNMMMiiig
w
l'HE RED CLOUD CHIEF.
i
A. O. HOSMER, Publisher.
RF.D CLOUD. .--- NEIJRASKA.
'TIIEDEATIL'S-HEADCANE.
Pathotio Story aa Told by a
Statoly Primn-Donuu.
Sho npponrcd almost transllgurcd for
the moment, seated before the old
spinet, pausing in tlu midst of thu soft
nocturne to contemplate the old teak
wood walking stick with Its sallow ivo
ry death's head sind leathern tassels
and triple bands of gold invorlliod
with pompous flourishes Muduliiii!
Murk, thu .stately priniu-donnn, upon
whom now the world had turned it, fa
voring eyes.
"Come; sit closer to me," she said.
"Thu carriage will not be here this
half hour. 1 w 111 tell you of one who
loved me, who gave up his life that
triumph might be mine. Would to heav
en 1 had been worthy!
"That cane was my father's. He was
one of the brave few who survived
Trafalgar, and whom the good queen
decorated with her own hands. Koran
especial act of bravery she also gave
him this token, and beautiful indeed
was it then, a solid gold head where
now is a staring skull, more of an Im
perial scepter than the staff of a hero.
That cane has witnessed all thu divine
comedy of our lives.
"I was just sixteen when 1 made, my
li.lmt. I recall with what rapture. 1
uprang from the stage after the third
encore and felt my proud father's arms
about me, his dear kiss of grntnlutlon
upon my fevered brow. Hut ah! with
the coming of triumph came the mon
ster which has crossed the threshold of
many a happy home and driven peace
into thu heiirth-llames. Ambition'.
ah, what have I not to unsweryct for
theu!
"As arisen star I was much sought
by the curious and the sincere alike. I
was invited everywhere, received with
flattering honors for so small an
achievement, my father ever beside
me. One night an incident occurred
which diicetcd the whole course of my
future. It was at aieceptionof a great
lady whose mansion faced a fashion
able square. After quite an ovation 1
btartcd down the marble stairway,
tkued at the magnificence about me.
.Inst us I stepped bv the great candle-
abrum, the fair hostess, who appealed
indeed angelic at that moment, with
whitest shoulders nud da..llng jewels,
glanced up and approached me. 'Hless
incr she said. 'The poor child has no
iloak;' and. with perhaps u pompous
desire to be thought gracious, she
threw her own magnificent white
mantle over my shoulders, walking by
jny side. Suddenly, in the great mirror,
I caught sight of the great lady and
myself side by side. It was a lovela
tion. I became the deformed trans
formed. Under the enchantment of
this one moment I grew tall, noble,
lii.nile. Was I not her en mil, and more
beautiful than she'.' Wherein lay the
difference- between tiiis one of the
greatest ladles of the land and the
btruggling singer'.' A white silk clonk
nothing more!
"It was two years before 1 met the
great ludy again, and that was when
my father and I were celebrating one
of his rare Sabbaths of rest In the park.
A swift regal carriage turned down
from an unexpected nook, and my eye.-.
met tliose oi my ueueiauircss. um
could shrink into sunburn, as was my
foolish impulse, she locognied me,
saluted, then ordered her carriage
drawn to the curbstone, beckoning me
thither.
" 'Mv dear,' she murmuied, seductive
ly, 'I'lmvu watched your struggles
these two years, and know the ambi
tions of your heart. 1 am going to give
the initiative to the success you covet.
Day after to-morrow night the prince
of will honor mo at a reception
given for him at my house. You will
come, and perhaps l snail request you
to slug. If you do, you may win a
glance of favor from his highness,
which, I need not say, means a pass
port into public favor. Come. Am I
not very good'."
"In my speechless gratitude I made
pome Inarticulate murmur of surprWu
and delight.
" 'Kcmember! Tuesday night at ten.
Do not disappoint iue!' And with a
wave of the hand, and a smile half of
iiatronairo. half pit.V. thu carriage
rolled down under the intertwining
trees.
"1 stood still a moment, scarcu rea
lising my good fortunuj then I rail to
my good father, and exultantly told
lilux all. , , ,,,,,
" 'Father! fathurl' 1 exclaimed. '1 hlnk
of It! 1 shall mcot the great prince.
and I shall slug for him. Why is not all
the world mlnu now'."
" 'Delightful, my child!' ho said, with
that half lov that was so full of mean
ing. 'And you shall go by all means!'
"'The dress!' I said, at length; 'whoio
and how shall 1 ever obtain one fit to
bear the scrutiny of a princes0
"For a moment ho looked bullied.
Then he turned his face away, striking
his palm with the gold-headed cane.
'You shall go,' he mild, calmly.
"For thu two days I worked liko a
battle-painter like one who prepares
for a great coup d'etat. The lovuly
gown was procured; and even when I
noted that the solid gold head of my
good father's staff was icplncedby this
sallow death's-head, I did not even feel
reproach at this one unspeakabh) sacri
fice. 1 was to meet the giand prince
and to sing for hint; to get a glimpso at
myself in the great mirror ouco more;
and, Hweoter than all, to Rpoak and bo
spoken to, not ns a patronized menial,
but as an equal. Ah! to those
achievements of splendor what were
the sacrifices of a single soul, though
ho were indeed my father?
"Ho had brought mo a huge bunch
of roses. Ah, yes; his daughter must
have flowers, If not jewels. I found
them places of favor upon my bosom,
nnd one burning, scarlet bud for my
'hair, I reached up and klssou hlm for
his dear and generous thought, lie
turned his face aside and choked. It
mut have seemed to hlm like the kiss
of betrayal, giving him ocr in hostage
to the Heads of ambition.
" 'Come, my child.' he said, softly.
Tho carriage is waiting. Let us not
delay.'
"Hut, once In the whirling niiilstoi
the assemblage of celebrltles.the vision
of the death's-head cane vnulshed be
fore the magniliccneo about me. The
great lady was so dazzled at my sud
den transformation that Instead of
placing me In one corner, deputizing
certain gallants to take turns In amus
ing me till I should be summoned to
sing, she took my arm and Ted me once
or twice up ami down before the great
piimtiimv. This crownlnc act of di
plomacy taught me the secret of world
ly success.
"When at last I was called upon to
sing, there was a generous flutter of
Interest in my behalf; the murmurs
suddenly hushed as 1 ventured, with
the timidity which gave my voice an
added sweetness and tremor, upon the
opening notes of a Spanish love song,
and I felt the hot blood mount to my
cheeks. Oh, how strangely sweet and
tender were mv own notes to mo! like
the mellow colors of a rare ptoiuic
taken from a garret, framed In white
and gold, and set up in a place of favor
lu a royal salon.
"1 had sung twice ere I noted the
great prince's eyes upon me, and from
that moment I sang but for him. When
the soft cadence fell trembling at the
olie. I turned shyly. His highness
hud risen, and stood staring with that
eulni linncrtlneneo which Is the prerog
ative of royalty only; but I struggled
bravely under the glance, conquering.
Then came the presentation anil few
interchanges of civilities, and, offering
his arm, ho led me down befoie the
htarimr army of rivals foi the honor of
his interest, and a moment later I
found myself seated beside him amid
the rare and odorous exotics of the
conservatory.
" 'You sing divinely!' he said. 'I
brought you lieie. first, that 1 might
lull you so; second, that the remem
brance of vour sweet voice mij'ht not
be marred by those whose elVoits fol
low your.s. Come; Is not this a naive
coiif-sslon'."
" 'Your highness is very gracious,' I
mummied. 'lean but thnnic you.'
"For half an hour I walked as in the
clouds of glory upon somu sublime pin
niii.n.. and then sunner was announced.
To my surprise and added tiiuinph,
and to the dismay of my rival lienors,
I was granted the privilege of accom
panying him to tho banquet; and
thither, down through the lantern-lit
vista of palms and flowers we wan
dered, chatting leisurely, my former
awe somewhat diminished, my better
qualities in command. F.vcn at table 1
was at ease. Nothing seemed to over
whelm me now. The great silver can
delabra, thu ever-recurring surprises
nt emeuioun art. the sparkle of cut
glas , and the inconso of rare flowers,
h'eumed my due. as if I had been born
amid them In tome prenatal existence,
and at last was restored totliem. huu
denly oh, how could It have hap
pened! I overturned a glass into the
prince's lap. A slight shudder at the
icy shock, and with the deftness of a
magician the great man covered my
disgrace, and leisurely bore on the
thread of conversation as if nothinghail
happened. His tact made a profound
impression upon me.
'"Your highness,' said I, a moment
later, almost whispering like an ere
mite saving Ills bends before his patron
saint, 'you have taught me wherein
ties a ruler's success: tho tact which
helps others to conceal their errors
while bestow ing their homage.'
"Ho smiled, much pleased at the
naivete. 'Ah, my dear lady,' ho said,
softly, 'I would rather you had poured
It upon my head, In tho manner of the
vestals of old.'
"When the guests were about leav
ing I was one of tho first to iccelvo thu
service of the maids, and soon loitered
down the grand staircase as I had
done some two years before. I recall
that far-off hour as an angel might re
call the poor little triumph of earth
recall and sialic pityingly. Suddenly,
through the da..llng groups, I spied
thu prince. With a sign of recognition
he arose and camu toward me, abrupt
ly leaving a bevy of thu favored, who
watched their defeat In angry conster
nation. " 'Ah! and 1 shall have the added honor
of escorting you toyour carriage,' he ex
claimed, bowing; uiuu.o led me oil, How
thankful I was that I had a ourriuge!
HUSKTNG TIME.
HnrvoBt Homo Dlsoourso Dy Rov.
Dr. Tnlintigo.
i
Ml
ml
"11
en
ai
it
Ci
w
esf
l
stl
GflthrrlftB tho drum Tliilt I ttlfM
lliu llurttMt Tho I'lnul (tumor.
I nil at tlin tit-rut Crop
if MoiiW.
Fr
iped nurse win bending, and
from the brilliant corridor, out upon uouii wnose piuows lay iue cairn, sweet
iln. w!ili.Mnnrhlo stei.s before whiehl f-aturcs of that one so dear to me. Oh,
was the long lino of equipages await
ing the guests
"At tho first breath of thu outer
world 1 was struck with a terrible
thought. Fathor! how could I con
ceal hlm from tho groat prince?
" 'You aro alone?' said his highness,
interrogatively.
" 'No; my father is is here or, at
least he he wai to be!' I faltered; for,
peering yonder, I spied my father open
ing thu carriage door to receive me. Oil,
how forlorn, ignoble, liko the whipped
dog ho looked! I shuddered, and a
secret, wicked pride surged the blood
into my temples. If tho earth would
only part and swallow him, and so save
me from utterest downfall, the climax
of this haughty, Imperial role In the
drama of worldly ambition.
" 'Is your father not heie then?' said
tho prince.
" 'No,' I choked, wincing under the
lush of my own falsehood 'Hutmy
cr coachman Is very trtistwmtliy.
and' but we now stood ue.siuo tne
carriage door, beside that pale face and
attenuated figure. I gave hlm one
glance, noting the Ulumlif.itlonof pride
and love In his supernatuial eyes, then
I turned away. That caiicaturo of a
former greatness, that mete semblance
of a man, that whipped-dog attitude
no, no, no. 1 could not look hlm in the
eyes again, much less make hlm known
to tho great man who now bent and
wiMseil mv llniror-tlpi which trembled
In his grasp, and whlspcied a word or
two in mv innocent ears which must
fame bhot the hot blood iuto my poor
how ghastly he looked against llio
white sheets! and the mirsii was wip
ing blood fiom tho dear forehead!
" 'Fathui ! father! fathor! Speak to
me! It is I I your Madeline your
child! Sec! see! look up and say that
that you forgive forgive! Don't you
bear me? It is I your child your
Madeline!'
"1 diew the dear head from thu pil
low and clasped my weak armsabjut
his neck, pressing my face to his, my
hot tears mingling with tho blood that
trickled from the wound on his fore
head. Suddenly thu clear eyes pai ted
wide oh, so w hie, so bright, so super
natural, yet kind, soft, forgiving!
Then his fingers raised, ho touched my
faco and a great tear fell upon his
stinlien uheok as ho murmured: M'uor
child! poor child!' Then ho laughed,
then he moaned and died."
I bowed my head at thu recital of
this pathetic history, so vivid, no real,
from tho great singer's lips, heightened
by tho marvelous changes of that
mobile face and made music by thu in
tense clearness of thatti emulous video.
When 1 limited up Madollne had turned
and, with eyes full (of tears, ngatd
Ing that death's-head cauo hanging
before her, she struck on tho old spinet
thu opening chord of tho great opera
xvh'iso fair heroine she was soon to re
vivify with such irresistible pathos.
"Hark!" situ said, pausing, "what is
that rumbling?"
"It Is thu carriage," said I. Churlei
Edward Harus, in Demorebt's Mngatluo,
In a recent sermon at llrooklyn Dr.
T. DuWItt Talmage discoursed upon
the harvest season. The text selected
was: "As a Shock of Corn Cometh In
In His Season," dob v. tin, Dr. Talmage
wild:
'I his Is tho time of the year for husk
ing corn. If you have recently been In
the fields you know that the corn Is all
cut The sharp knife struck through
the stalks and left them all along the
Ileitis until a man came with a bundle
of straw and twisted a few of these
wUps of .straw into a Kind, nnd then
therlng up ns much of tho corn ns he
hsnild compass Willi Ills arms, ho ooumi
Ith tils wisp of straw, and then stood
t In tho Held in what Is called a shook.
Altout corn as an Imported cereal or
orn ns n metaphor, the Hlblo Is con
stantly apeaklng. You know about
oplo in tho famine coming to buy
orn of Joseph, nnd tho foxes on flro
unnlnir Into tho "standing corn," anil
ibout thu oxen treading out tho corn,
uid about tho seven thin ears of com
nt in Pharaoh's dream devoured tho
ven good oars, and the "parched
orn," handed to beautiful Uuth by tho
arresters of llotlilnhom. and Abigail's
Ive measures of "parched corn" with
vhlch she hoped to appease tho ouo
nles of her drunken husband, and
)avld's description of tho valleys "eov-
red over with corn," and "tho handful
if corn In tho earth," and "the full
ni in thu ear," and Christ's Sabbath
ornlng walk through corn Holds, and
the disciples "plucking ears of corn,"
and so I am not surprised to Hud corn
husking tlino rufurred to In my text:
'As a shock of corn coincth In in his
season."
There Is a difference of opinion as to
bother tho orientals knew anything
ibout the corn as It stands In our fluids;
t recent discoveries lrtvo found out
it the Hebrew knew all about Indian
lire, for thuro have been grains of
rn picked up out of ancient crypts
nnd exhumed from hiding plsecs where
hey wero put down many centuries
igo nnd have Iwon planted In our time
mil have como up just such Indian
lalo as wo raise in New York and
hi-' bo I am right whim I say that my
oxt may refer to a hock of corn just
is you and 1 bound It, just as you and I
hrcw it, just as you ami l husked it.
I'hcro may come some practical and
seful and comforting lessons to all our
ouls, while wo thluk of coming In at
lust "liko a bhock of corn coming In In
Is Rcasou."
It Is high tlmo that tho King of Ter
ors wns throw n out of the Christian
;ocabiilary. A vast multitude of po-
ile talk of death as though it wero the
isastcr of disasters Instead of being to
good man tho blessing of blenslngs.
ta moving out of a cold vestibule into
warm temple. It is migrating iuto
ovesof redolence and perpetual fruit-
e. It is a change from bluak March
roseate June. It Is a ohango of
naclos for garlands. It Is the
nsinuting of the iron handcuffs of
rthly Incarceration Into thu ilia-
nded wrisleti of a bridal party;
to use the. suggestion of my text. It
nly husking time. It Is tho tearing
of the rough sheath of tho body that
; bright and tho beautiful soul may
free. Coming in "liko a shock of
n comuth in in his season." Christ
he up a funeral proeevdon at the
,e of Nalu by making a resurroctlou
for a young man aud his mother.
1 I would that I could break up
sadness and halt the long funeral
:o.slon of tho world's grief by some
ring and cheerful view of tho last
sitlou.
e all know that husking time was a
i of frost, trust on tho fence.
t on the stubble. Front on the
ntL Frost on the baro branches of
trees. FroU In tho air. Frost on
anils of tho busker. You reinuin-
.re used to hide between tho corn
cs so as to kuep off tho wind, but
you remember how shivering was
body and how painful was the
- nnd how benumbed wore the
s. Hut after awhile tho sun was
up anil all tlio frosts went out of
ilr ami hilarities awakened the
find joy from ono corn shock
wont up, "Ala, uhiil" and was an
wered by joy frbm another corn shock.
"Aha. alia!" So wo all rcalUe
Hint the dcatlfs of our frlond la
tho nipping of myny expectations,
tho freezing, tho chilNug, thu frosting
of many of our hopes. lt is far from
being a south wind. IV- comes out of
tho frigid north, and when thoy go
away from us wo stand bo.iumbcd in
body and benumbed in mind and be
numbed In soul. Wo stand uniting our
dead neighbors, our dead families, and
wo say: "Will wo over get over it?"
Yes, wo will got over it amid tho shout
ings of huavunly reunion, and wo will
look back to all theso distresses of be
reavement only as tho temporary dis
tresses of husking time. "Weeping
may endure for u night, but joy conieth
lu the morning." "Light, and but for
a niomcut," said tho apostle, as ho
clapped his hands, "light, and but for
a moment." Thu chill of the frosts fol
lowed by tho gladness that ooiuuth In
"liko a shock of corn comuth in in his
season."
Of cour.so tho husking tlmo made
rough work with tho ear of coi n. The
husking peg had to be thrust In and tho
hard thumb of tho husltcr hail to como
down on tho bwathlng of tho ear, and
then there was a pull and thero was a
ruthless tearing, nnd a comploto snap
ping off beforo tho corn was free, and
if thu husk could have spoken It would
havcRiild: "Why do you lacorato me
Wh-4 do vou wrouch mo?" Ah I my
friends, that Ih tho way (3 oil has ar
ranged that tho car and husk shall part,
and that Is tho way ho has arranged
that tho body and soul shall bcparatc.
You can afford to have your physical
distresses when you know that thoy ore
only forwarding tho soul's llboratlon.
F.Tery rheumatic pain Is only a plunge
of the husking peg. livery neuralgic
twlng is only a twist by tho busker.
Thero Is gold In you that must como
ont Some way the nhaekle must bo
broken. Some way the ship must be
launched for the heavenly vmnge. You
mint let the Heavenly Husbandman
busk off the moitality from the Immor
tality. There ought to be great con
solation In this for all whohaie chronic
ailments, since the Lord Is gradu
ally and mote mildly taking away
from you that which hinders your
soul's liberation, dollar irrnduullv
for you what for many of us lu robust
health perhaps Ho will do lu one fell
blow at tho last. At the close of every
Illness, at tho close of every parosysiu
you ought to say: "Thank Hod that all
is past now; thank tlo.l that I will
never have to suffer that again; thank
(Jod I am so much nearer the hour of
liberation." You will never suffer the
s.11110 pain twice. You may have a new
pain In an old place, but never the
samo pain twice. The pain docs its
work and then It dies Just so many
plunges of tho crowbar to free the
quarry Htouo for the building, .lust so
many strokes of the chisel to complete
tho statue. Just so many pangs to
separato the soul fiotn the body. You
who have chronic ailments and disor
ders, are only paying in installments
that which soiiio of us will hivo to pay
in one payment when we par tho debt
of nature. Thank (Sod, therefonl. yo
who have chronic disorders that you
havo so much less suffering at the last.
Thank (Sod, that you will have so reach
less to feel In tho way of jviln at tho
hands of tho Heavenly HusUiiidman
when "tho shock of corn comuth lu lu
his season."
remaps this may bo an answer to a
question which I asked ono Sabbath
morning, but did not answer: Why Is
It that so ninny really good people have
so dreadfully to suiter? You often Hud
a good man with enough pains and
aches and distresses, you would think,
to discipline a whole colony, while
you will find a man who Is perfect
ly useless going about with easy di
gestion and stead' nerves and
shining health, and his exit
from tho world is eoinparathely pain
less. How do you explain that? Well.
1 noticed lu tho hushing time that tho
husking peg was thrust Into the corn
and then there must be a stout pull be
fore tho swathing was taken off the
car, ami tho full, round, healthy, lux
uriant corn wns developed; while on
the other hand thero was corn that
hardly seemed worth husking. We
throw that Into a place all by Itself,
and wo called it "nubbins." Sonus of
it was mildewed, and some of it was
lulee-ulbbled, and some of It was great
promise and no fulfillment. All coIm
ami no corn. Nubbins! After the good
corn had been driven up to the barn we
catuo around with the corn basket ami
wo picked up these nubbins. They
wero worth hiving, but no', worth
much. So all around us there aro peo
ple who amount to comparatively noth
ing. Thoy develop Into no kind of
usefulness. They aro nibbled on one
sldo by the world, and nibbled on the
other side by the devil, and mildewed
all over. (Jreat promise and no fulfill
ment. All cobs and no corn. rutilms!
They are worth saving. I suppote
many of thorn will get to Heaven, but
they nre not worthy to be mentloneii in
thu samo day with tliose who went
through great tribulation Into the king
drin of our (bid. Who would not rnthnr
havo tho pains of this life, the misfor
tunes of this life who would not
lather bo torn a v. nded and
lacerated and wrench 1 1 huiked
and at last go in amid thu very
best grain of the granary than tube
pronounced not worth hushing at all?
Nubbins! In oth"r words, I want to
say to you pjoplo who havo distress of
body and distress in business and dis
tress of all sorts, tho Lord has not any
grudge agaln..t you. It Is not deroga
tory, It Is c i.nplltuiMitury. "Whom the
Lord loveth ho ehastenoth," and It Is
proof poiitlvo that there is something
valuable lu you or the Lurd would not
have husked you.
You remember also that In tho time
of husking it was a neighborhood re
union. Hy thu great fireplace lu the
winter, the tin, roaring around tho
glorified bade logs on an old-fashloued
hearth, of which tho modern stovus
and registers aro only the degenerate
dcsciiiidants, tho farmers used to gather
and spend the evening, and thuro would
be much sociality, but it was not any
thing liko the j y of thu huddng time,
for then all the farmers came, ami they
came lu tho very best humor, and they
came from beyond the meadow, and
they came from beyond the brook, and
they catuo from region two and three
miles around. Hood spirits roigned
fiuproiho, and thero were great
handshaking, and thuro was
carnival, and thuro was tho recital of
tho brightest experiences in all their
lives, and thero was a neighborhood re
union tho memory of which makes all
thu norves of my body trcmblo with
emotion. Tho husking tlmo was the
tlmo of neighborhood reunion, and so
Heaven will bo just that. Thuro thoy
como up! Thoy slopt In thu old village
ohurchvard, Tlicru they como upl
They come up from all sides from rot
ter's field and out of tho solid masonry
of Westminster Abbey. They como up!
They como up! All tho hindrances to
their butter nature husked off. All
their spiritual desponduiiclus husked off.
All their hindrances to usefulness
husked off. Tho grain, tho golden
grain, tho (iod-fashloncd grain, vlstblo
and conspicuous. Soino of them on
earth were such disagreeable
Christians you could hardly stand
it In thuir presence. Now in Iloaven
thoy aro ho radiant you nanny itnow
them. Tho fact is, all their Imperfec
tions aavo been husked off. Now, in
Heaven all their offciislvcncss has Iwtn
husked off. l'ach ono is as happy as ho
can be. Kvory ono ho moots in happy
as ho can bis Heaven ono great nulgh
borhood reunion. Stand at tho gate of
tho granary nnd seo tho grain como in;
out of the fronts into tho sunshine, out
of tho darkness Into tho light, out of
tho tearing aud tho ripping and tho
twlstlug and tho wrenching and laccr
atlng'and tho husking timo of earth
PP,
Into tho wldo open door of tho King
granary, "liko as a shock of corn, com
oth In in his Honson."
Yes, Heaven Is a groat woolablo, with
joy like tho joy of tho husking time.
No ono thero feeling so big ho decline
to speak to somo one that is not su
large. Archangel willing to listen to
smallest cherub. No bolting tho door
of casto at ono heaienly mansion to
keep out tho eltlen of a RUiallcr man
sion No clique In ono corner whisper
ing ubout a cllquo lu another corner.
David taking none of tho airs of a
glaut-kltloi'. Joshua making no ono
halt until ho passes, because ho made
tho sun and moon halt. Paul making
no assumption over tho most ordinary
preacher of righteousness. Naamaii,
captain of tho Syrian host, no mora
honored than tho captive inald who told
hlm whom ho could got a good doctor.
0 my soul, what a country! Tho hum
blest man a king. Tho poorest woman
a queen. Thu meanest liou.so a palace.
Tho shortest lifetime eternity. Anil
what Is more strungo about It all Is wo
may all get therci
"Hut," says somo ono, "do yon really
think I would be at homo In that su
pernal society If I should reach It?" t
think you woidd. 1 know you would.
1 remember that In thu husking tlmo
there was gieat equality of feeling
among tho neighbors. There at ono
corn shock a farmer would Im at work
w ho owned UOl) aercH of ground Tho
man whom ho was talking to at tho
next corn shook owned but thirty ueroa
of ground, and perhaps all that covered
by a mortgage. That CTrnlug, at tha
closo of the husking day, one man
drove homo a roan Hpau no
frisky, so full of life, they got
their foot over tho trace. Tho other
man walked home. (Srout dlfforeneo in
education, great difference in wordly
means; but I noticed at the husking
tlmo they all seemed to enjoy each
other's society. They did not ask any
uutn how much property bo owneil or
what his education bad been. They all
seemed to bo happy together in tltoaa
good times. And so it will bo In Heaven.
Our Father will gather His children
nroitml Hlm, and the neighbors will
como lu, and tho past will be rehearsed.
And some ono will toll of victory, am
we will all eelcbrato It. And some on
will tell of great struggle, and wo will
all praise tho grace that fetched hi
out of It. And somu onu will nay
"Here Is my old father that I putK
away with heartbreak; just look atx'
hlm. ho Is as young as any of us!
And somo ono will say: "Hero
Is Is my darling child that I burled in
(Sreenwood, and all tho after years of
my life wero shadowed with desolation
-Just look at her! She ilocson't seem
as If sl.o had been sick a minute"
Oreat sociality. ISrcat neighborhood
kindness. Oo lu aud ill no.
All the shocks of corn coming In lu
their season. O, yos, lu thuir season.
Not onu of you having died too soon, or
having died too late, or having died at
haphazard. Planted at just tho right
time, plowed at just tho right tlmo.
Cut down at just the right tlino.
Husked at Just thu right time. (Jar
uercd at just tho right time. Coming
In lu your soason.
I do not know how you aro consti
tuted, but I am so constituted that
there Is nothing that so awakens roav
inisceuccs lu mo us tho odors of a corn
field when I crosi It at this tlmo of year
after tho corn has been cut and It
stands In shocks. And so I havo
thought It might it bo practically use
ful for us to-day to cross tho cornfield,
and I havo thought purlmpi thoro
might bo somo remlulscuncu rous;d lu
our boul that might bu salutary am
might bo savitig. Tu Sweden a
prima donna, whllu hor houso In tha
city was being repaired, took a
house In thu country for temporary
residence, and sho brought out her
great array of juwols to show a frlond
who wished to seo honi. Ono night,
j f ter displaying those jewels, aud leav
ing thutn on tho table, and all hor
friends had gone, and the servants had
gone one summer night she sat
thinking and looking Into a mirror juet
in front of her chair, whun sho saw in
that mirror tho faco of a robbur look
ing lu at tho window behind her aud
ga.lug at those jewels. Sho was In
great fright, but wat still, ami, hardly
knowing why sho did so, sho began to
slug an old nursery song, bur foars
malting tho pathos of thu song more
telling. Suddenly she noticed, while
looking at thu mirror, that tho robber's
fjcH had gouo from tlio window, and It
did not como back. A few days after
tlio prima donna received a letter from
tho robber, saying: "I heard that tho
jewels wero to bo out that night, nud I
eamo to take them at whatever hazard;
but when I heard you sing that nursery
song with which my mother to often
sang mo to sleep, I could not stand it
ami I Hud, and I havo resolved upon u
now and honest life." O my friends,
thero arojewulaln purll richer than thosu
which lay upon that tablu that night.
Thoy lire tho jo wols of tlio immortal soul.
Would (Jod that somo song rolling up
out of tho deserted nursery of your
childhood, or somo song rolling up out
of thu cornfields, tho song of the busk
ers twenty or forty years ago, might
turn all our feet out of thu paths of slu
Into the paths of righteousness. Would
(Sod that those memories waftod in on
odor or song might start us this
moment with swift feut toward that
blessed place whero so many of our
loved ones have already procuded us,
"as a shock of corn coincth In in
his season."
I, nnl -piHtil.
Mr. Gotham Did your shipbrualc tho
record this trip? "'
Sea Captain No, woinot with, too
many iulorruptlons. H
"Icebergs?" v. .,,
"No, only barks, and schoqnorS1, and
things. Wo lost speed every timo wo
hit one," N. Y. Weekly.
Typographical Note, "I've pot a
'phat' taku this time," said tho com'
posltor, us ho took bin two hundred and
fifty pound girl on his lap, Dcs Moines
Argonaut '
linn , m
Sho "Has Hrown a baby at hla
house?" Ho "I guoss uut' I heard
him praising another man'B baby a
short timo ago." llrooklyn Life.
i
M
m
.VI