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nd see my wife。 Sheare you married?〃 〃I am not so fortunate。〃 〃A good wife cometh from the Lord; sir; SURE! I thought I appreciated mine; but I guess I didn't。 She had two things she wanted; and one I did want myself; but the otherI couldn't seem to bring my mind to it; noanyhow! We hadn't any children but one that died four years ago; a little baby。 Ever since she died my wife has had a longing to have a stained…glass window; with the picture; you know; of Christ blessing little children; put into our little church。 In Memoriam; you know。 Seems as if; now we've lost the baby; we think all the more of the church。 Maybe she was a sort of idol to us。 Yes; sir; that's one thing my wife fairly longed for。 We've saved our money; what we COULD save; there are so many calls; during the sickness; last winter; the sick needed so many things; and it didn't seem right for us to neglect them just for our baby's window; andthe money went。 The other thing was different。 My wife has got it into her head I have a fine voice。 And she's higher church than I am; so she has always wanted me to INTONE。 I told her I'd look like a fool intoning; and there's no mistake about it; I DO! But she couldn't see it that way。 It was 'most the only point wherein we differed; and last spring; when she was so sick; and I didn't know but I'd lose her; it was dreadful to me to think how I'd crossed her。 So; Mr。 Lossing; when she got well I promised her; for a thank…offering; I'd intone。 And I have ever since。 My people know me so well; and we've been through so much together; that they didn't make any fuss though they are not highfact is; I'm not high myself。 But they were kind and considerate; and I got on pretty well at home; but when I came to rise up in that great edifice; before that cultured and intellectual audience; so finely dressed; it did seem to me I could NOT do it! I was sorely tempted to break my promise。 I was; for a fact。〃 He drew a long breath。 〃I just had to pray for grace; or I never would have pulled through。 I had the sermon my wife likes best with me; but I know it lacks it lacksit isn't what you need! I was dreadfully scared and I felt miserable when I got up to preach itand then to think that you werebut it is the Lord's doing and marvellous in our eyes! I don't know what Maggie will say when I tell her we can get the window。 The best she hoped was I'd bring back enough so the church could pay me eighteen dollars they owe on my salary。 And now it's wonderful! Why; Mr。 Lossing; I've been thinking so much and wanting so to get that window for her; that; hearing the dean wanted some car…pentering done; I thought maybe; as I'm a fair carpenter that was my trade once; sirI'd ask him to let ME do the job。 I was aware there is nothing in our rulesI mean our canons to prevent me; and nobody need know I was the rector of Matin's Junction; because I would come just in my overalls。 There is a cheap place where I could lodge; and I could feed myself for almost nothing; living is so cheap。 I was praying about that; too。 Now; your noble generosity will enable me to donate what they owe on my salary; and get the window too!〃 〃Take my advice;〃 said Harry; 〃donate nothing。 Say nothing about this gift; I will take care of the warden; and I can answer for the dean。〃 〃Yes;〃 said the dean; 〃on the whole; Gilling; you would better say nothing; I think; Mr。 Lossing is more afraid of a reputation for generosity than of the small…pox。〃 The older man looked at Harry with glistening eyes of admiration; with what Christian virtues of humility he was endowing that embarrassed young man; it is painful to imagine。 The dean's eyes twinkled above his handkerchief; which hid his mouth; as he rose to make his farewells。 He shook hands; warmly。 〃God bless you; Harry;〃 said he。 Gilling; too; wrung Harry's hands; he was seeking some parting word of gratitude; but he could only choke out; 〃I hope you will get MARRIED some time; Mr。 Lossing; then you'll understand。〃 〃Well;〃 said Harry; as the door closed; and he flung out his arms and his chest in a huge sigh; 〃I do believe it was better than the puppies!〃
HARRY LOSSING THE note…book of Mr。 Horatio Armorer; president of our street railways; contained a page of interest to some people in our town; on the occasion of his last visit。 He wrote it while the train creaked over the river; and the porter of his Pullman car was brushing all the dust that had been distributed on the passengers' clothing; into the main aisle。 If you had seen him writing it (with a stubby little pencil that he occasionally brightened with the tip of his tongue); you would not have dreamed him to be more profoundly disturbed than he had been in years。 Nor would the page itself have much enlightened you。 〃_See abt road M D See L See E & M tea…set See abt L_。〃
Translated into long…hand; this reads: 〃See about the street…car road; Marston (the superintendent) and Dane (the lawyer)。 See Lossing; see Esther and Maggie; and remember about tea…set。 See about Lossing。〃 His memoranda written; he slipped the book in his pocket; reflecting cynically; 〃There's habit! I've no need of writing that。 It's not pleasant enough to forget!〃 Thirty odd years ago; Horatio Armorerthey called him 'Raish; then had left the town to seek his fortune in Chicago。 It was his daydream to wrestle a hundred thousand dollars out of the world's tight fists; and return to live in pomp on Brady Street hill! He should drive a buggy with two horses; and his wife should keep two girls。 Long ago; the hundred thousand limit had been reached and passed; next the million; and still he did not return。 His father; the Presbyterian minister; left his parish; or; to be exact; was gently propelled out of his parish by the disaffected; the family had a new home; and the son; struggling to help them out of his scanty resources; went to the new parish and not to the old。 He grew rich; he established his brothers and sisters in prosperity; he erected costly monuments and a memorial church to his parents (they were beyond any other gifts from him); he married; and lavished his money on three daughters; but the home of his youth neither saw him nor his money until Margaret Ellis bought a house on Brady Street; far up town; where she could have all the grass that she wanted。 Mrs。 Ellis was a widow and rich。 Not a millionaire like her brother; but the possessor of a handsome property。 She was the best…natured woman in the world; and never guessed how hard her neighbors found it to forgive her for always calling their town of thirty thousand souls; 〃the country。〃 She said that she had pined for years to live in the country; and have horses; and a Jersey cow and chickens; and 〃a neat pig。〃 All of which modest cravings she gratified on her little estate; and the gardener was often seen with a scowl and the garden hose; keeping the pig neat。 It was later that Mr。 Armorer had bought the street railways; they having had a troublous history and being for sale cheap。 Nobody that knows Armorer as a business man would back his sentiment by so much as an old shoe; yet it was sentiment; and not a good bargain; that had enticed the financi