The
Prodigal
Village
By Irving Bacheller
Copyright, ISM, lmni B*cbo:.?r
CHAPTER THREE
Whlrh TmI1? tho ConiplainlnQ jColn_
and th? Man Who Lost His S?lf.
There was a certain gold coin in a
little bureau drawer In Bfoj?viUe which
hpgan to form a habit of complaining
to Its master.
"How cold T a tp !ft It ceomed to say
to the boxrrt^Xr^ns^otd when, you pat
me In here and I have been cold ever
since. Br-r-rl Tm freezing."
Rnh Mnnin out the little draw
er and gflve il_a_shaklng as he iook?3~
down at the goia piece. ?
"Don't get rattled," said the re
doubtable Mr. Blogg*. wtiu had a1 ETV1T
contempt for cowkrds.
It was Just after the SJiepherd of
the Birds had heard of a poor widow
who was -the mother of two__small J
- *1 Am C?cld, Too," Said the Shpphrrd.
children and who had fallen sick of
the influenza with no fuel in her
house. =
"I am cold, tool" said the Shepherd.
."Why. of course, you are," the coin
answered. "That's the reason Trn
cold. A coin is never any warmer
than the heart of its owner. Why
don't you take ine out of here and
give me a chance to move around?"
Thine* that would not say a word
to other boys often spoke to the Shep
herd.
"Let him fro," said Mr. Bloegs.
Indeed it was the tin soldier, who
stood on his little shelf looking out
of the window, who first reminded
Bob of the loneliness and discomfort
of the coin. As a rule whenever the
conscience of the boy was touched
Mr. Bloggs had something *o say.
It was late Jn Kebruary^and every
one was complaining Of the cold. Even
the oldest inhabitants of Bingville
could not recall sfr severe a winter.
Many families were short of fuel. The
homes of the working folk were In
sufficiently heated. Money In the bank
had given them a sense of security.
They could not believe that Its magic
power would f n 11 to bring them what
they needed. So they had been cs re
leas of their allowance of wood and
coal. There were days when they
had none and could get none at the
yard. Some men with hundreds of
dollars In the bank went out Into the
country at night and stole rails off
the farmers' fences. The homes of
these unfortunate people were rav
aged by Influenza and many died.
Prices at the stores mounted higher.
Most of the gardens had been lying
Idle. The farmers had found It hard
to get help. Some of the latter, In
deed, had decided that they could
make more by beaming at Mlllerton
than by tolling In the fields, and with
less effort. They left the boys and
the women to do what they could with
the crops. Naturally the latter were
small. So the local sources of supply
had little tf offer and the demand up
on the stores steadily Increased. Cer- |
tain of the merchants had been. In a
way, spoiled by prosperity. They were
rather Indifferent to complaints and
demands. Many of the storekeepers,
Irritated, doubtless, by overwork, had
lost their former politeness. There
wer? days when supplies failed to ar
rlTS. Hie railroad service had been
had enough In times of peace. Now,'
It was worse than ever.
Tho?e who hao plenty of money
found It difficult to get a sufficient
quantity Of good food, Bingville be
ing rather rut off from Other centers
Of life by distance and a poor railroad.
Pome drove sixty miles ??o-flazeTtnend
to do marketing for themselves and
their neighbors.
M, and Mrs. J. Pattersoo Ring.
J^owever, In their luxurious apartment
at t^e Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New
York, knew little of these cotidlUot?
until Mr. Blng came up late In March
for a talk with the mill superintend
ent. Many of the sick and poor suf
fered extreme privation. Father O'Nell
and the Reverend Otis Singleton of
the Congregational church went
among the people, ministering to the
' sick, of whom there were many, and
giving counsel to men and women
I who were unaccustomed to prosperity
? ?nr1 uls.'ly to ptfTov it.
One day. "Father O'Nell saw the Wid
ow Moran coming into town with a
~grror bundle ^ fagora on hur tim'k. _
? "TUIit-lnnln n little 11kg tho old oonn
try." he remarked.
She stopped and swung her fagots
to the ground and announced : "It do
that an* may God help us! It's hard
time?;. Father. In spite o' all the mea
ty, lt'l hard times. It looks like ther?
?skasuIL pnnngh to go 'round ? the ships
be takln' so many things 10 llie old
country."
"How Is my beloved Shepherd?" the
food Father asked.
"Uolhtr 6' (JOd 1 ? Til* liuusg Is thai
cold, he's been lay in' abed for a week
i in' -Judge Crooker has been, away on
the circuit." 'm
"Too bad!** said the priest, Tve
been so busy with the sick and th?
?Hovd Is My Dear Boy?" the Good
Father Asked.
dving and the dead I have hardly had
-time _to .think oL you," "
Against her- protest he picked up
the fago:* and carried them on his
own baol: ro her Kircnen. ?
He foui.i the Shepherd In a sweater
sitting in Ded and Knitting
"How is my dear boy?" the good Fa
ther ' askc-!.
"Very sad,** said the Shepherd. "I
want to do something to help and my
legs are useless."*
??Courage!" Mr. Bloggs seemed to
shout from his shelf at the window
side and just then he assumed a most
valiant and determTned look as he
added: "Forward! march!"
Father O'Neil did what he could to
help in that moment of peril by say
ing:
"Cheer up, boy. Tm going out to
Dan Mullln's this afternoon and I'll
make him bring you a big load of
wood, m have you at your work to
morrow. The spring will be coming
soon and your flock will be back In
the garden."
It was not easy to bring a smile to
the face of the little Shepherd those
days. A number of his friends had
died and others were sick and he was
helpless. Moreover, his mother had
told him of the disappearance of Pau
line ^nd that her parents feared she
whs In great trouble. This had wor
ried him, ^nd th% more because his
mother had declared that the girl was
probably worse than dead. He could
not quite understand It and his happy
spirit was clouded. The good Father
cheered him with merry Jests. Near
the end of 4helr talk the ty>y Raid :
"There's one thing In this room that
-makes me unhappy. It's that gold
piece In the drawer. It does nothing
Tnit lie tTvere and shiver and talk to
me. Seems as If It complained of the
cold. It says that It wants to move
around and get warm. Every time
I hear of some poor person that needs
food or fuel, It calls out to me there
In the little drawer and says, 'How
cold I am I How cold I am !' My moth
er wishes me to keep It for some time
of trouble that may come to us, but
I can't. It makes me unhappy. Please
take It away and let It do what It can
to keep the poor people warm."
"Well done, boys I" Mr. Bloggs
seemed to say with a look of Joy as If
he now perceived that the enemy was
In full retrent.
"There's no worse company, these
days, than a fioarded roln," said the
priest. "I won't let It plague you any
more."
Father O'Neil took the coin from
the drawer. It fell from his fingers
with a merry laugh as It bonnde*! on
the floor and whirled toward the door
way like one overjoyed and eager to
be off.
"God bless you, my boy ! May It
buy for you tlie dearest wish Of your
heart.**
"Hal ha !** laughed the little tin
soldier, for he knew the dearest wish
of the boy far better than the priest
knew !t
Mr. Singleton called soon after Fa
ther O'Neil had cone away
"T! C ,f,n of " fn rmi
he shouted. as he on iue Into Bob's
.?ruom.
"It's all rlnht top and bottom," Boh
answered cheerfully.
"Is there anything- 1 can do fpr you?"
the minister went on. Tm a rvgular
Santa Claus this morn Inc. I've got a
thousand dollars that Mr. Ring sent
me. It's for any one that needs help."
"We'll be all right as soon as oik
load of vyood comes. It will he here
tomorrow morning." said the Shep
h*ri\.
"I'll ctKne and cat ana split u wit:
you," the minister proposed. -"The
ptiiijupucf ? of the ax is hellcr_tl^iL
? .,f thm ronpia these davs. Mean
while I'm going to bring you a little
Jag in my wheelbarrow. How about
beefsteak aud bacon and eggs and
all that?" *
*1 gue*s we've enough to eat.
thank you." This was not) quite- true,
-fnr Hill' think1"? the sick. whos?
people could m>: go to market, was
Inclined to hide Ills own hunger.
"Ho, ho!" exclaimed Mr. Bloggs, for
he knew very well that the boy was
hiding nis nurig^r.
JUU mil that ? lip?" the Rhgp.
hertl asked as soon as the minister
ha^g??er
"A little one ! But In my opinion It
don't count," said Mr. Bloggs. "You
were thinking or tnose wha b?M l<Wd
Jliore tliiiu >ou aud iliat turns It square
"afoffmJ. 1 frnl.lpn He 1 do."
" The minister hiiil suuCuTj CuiTwa
the corner of the street, when he met
Hiram Blenkiwop, who was shivering
along*, without an overcoat, the dog
Christmas at Ills heel?.
Mr. Singleton stopped him.
"Why, man ! Haven't you an over
coat?" he asked.
"No, slrl It's hangln' on a peg In a
pawnshop over In Hazelmead. It ain't
doin' the peg any good nor me
ueither I"
"Well, sir, you come with me," said
the minister. "It's about dinner time,
anyway, and I guess von nwH lining,
as well covering."" ^
The drantard looked into the face
of the minister.
"Say It ag'in," he muttered. ~~
"I wouldn't wonder If a little food
would make you feel better," Mr. Sin
gleton added.
"A little, did you say 7" Blenklnsop
asked. . ' '
"Make It a lot ? as much as you
can accommodate.**
"And do you mean that ye want me
to ?0 an' eat in yer house?"
"Yes, at my table ? why not?"
"It wouldn't be respectable. I don't
want to be t?o particular, but n tramp
must draw the line somewhere."
"I'll be on tuy beat behavior. Come
-on.'- cii.i in.. niinisrer
The two men hastened up the street
followed by the dejected little yellow
dog, Christmas.
Mrs, Singleton and her daughter
were out with a committee of lire
children's helpers and the minister
was dining alone that day a as
usual, at one o'clock, that being the
-hem- for dinner In the vllhi^.. ,.t Binr.
vllle.
"Tell me about yourself," said the
minister as they sat down at the ta
ble.
"Myself ? (lid yon say*' Hiram Blen
klnsop asked as one of his feet crept.,
under his chair to conceal Its disrepu
table appearance, while his Ting had
partly hidden himself under a serving
table where he seemed to bo shivering
with apprehension as he pesrefl? outr
wlth raised hackles, at the stag's head
over the mantel.
"Yes."
"I ain't got any Self, sir; It's all
gone," said Blenklnsop, as he took a
swallow of water.
"A man without any Self Is a curi
ous creature," the minister remarked.
'Tm as empty as a woodpecker's
hole In the winter time. The bird has
flown. I belong to this 'ere dog. He's
a poor dog. I'm all he's got. If he
had to pay a license on me I'd have
to be killed. He's kind to me. He's
the only friend I've got."
Hiram Blenklnsop riveted his atten
tion upon an old warming-pan that
hung by the fireplace. He hardly looked
at the face of the minister. *
"How did you come to lose your
Self?" the latter asked.
"Married a bad woman and took to
drink. A man's Self can stand cold
an' hunger an' shipwreck an' loss o'
friends an' money an' any qnantlty
o' had luck, take It as It comes, but a
bad woman breaks the works in him
an' stops his clock dead. Leastways.
It done that to me!"
"She Is like an arrow In his liver,"
the minister quoted. "Mr. Blenklnsop,
where do you stay nights."
"Tve a shake-down In the little loft
over the ol' blacksmith shop on Water
street. There are cracks In the ga
ble, an' the snow- an' the wind blows
In, an' the place Is dark an' smells
o' coal gas an' horses' feet, but Christ
mas an' I snug up together an' manage
to live through the winter. in hot
weather we sleep under a tree |n the
ol' graveyard an' study astronomy
Sometimes I wish I whs there for
good."
"Wouldn't you like a berl In n com
fortable house?"
"No. I couldn't take the dog there
an' I'd have to git up like other f?ika."
"Would you think that a hitnlshlp?"
"Well, ye see, sir. If yer,. |*yin"
down ye ain't hungry. Th<n, too, I
likes to dilly dally In bed."
"What may that mean?" the min
ister asked.
"I likes to lay an' think an' build
air castles."
"What kind of castlea?"
"Well, sir. I'm thlnkin' oft< n o* ?
time when I'll have a j&and salt o'
Clothes, and a shiny sllfc tile on my
head, an' a roll o' bills In my pocket,
big enough to choke a dog. nn' 111 be
goln' hack to the town where I was
Urought up an' 111 hire a team an'
? you or you wouldn't Ik* having a drrttHi
I like Hiat."
"Nobody ha a ever tailed to me thta
i way," jHxjr Bleuktusop sobbetL "No
| tH?ly but you ^as ever treated me aa
J If 1 was human."
"I know ? I know. lis a hard old
j world, but at last you've found a n><* n
I whb Is willing to be a brother to you
[ if you really want one."
The poor man rose frocn the table and
went to the minister's side and held
I out his hand ?
j "I do want a brother, sir. an' Til do
? anything at all," he said in a broken
| voice.
^ u*ften come wtth my.'4 the ml ills try1
commanded. "First, I'm going to Im
prove the outside of you."
When they were ready to leave the
house, Blehklusop and his dog had a
bath and the former vnu? btiwwl and.
In clean and respectable garments
from top to toe.
| "iou luuk like a uvvr liid,**
Mr. Singleton.
I "Seems like, I felt more like a
proper human beln'," Blenklnsop an
b m ei ed. '
- OhrfsfniHR \r?q tnumjwHn^ up and
down the hall as tf he Yelt Uke a new
dog. Suddenly tro discovered the
stag's head again and slunk Into a
dark corner growling.
MA bath Is a good sort of baptism;** "
Oie minister rvm&rted. ? "Here's an
overcoat that I haven't worn for a
'IL'ai. li r ymrlv warrr^ fp<x. Now If
your 01<J~SeTf~ should happen To toto^
in sight of you, maybe he'd move back
-Into his home. I remember once that
we had a canary bird that got away.
We hung his cage in one of the trees
out In the yard with some food In it.
By and by, we. found him singing on
the perch la his little home. Now. If
we put some good food In the cage,
tuuybe your bird will come back. Our
work has only Just begun."
They went out of the door and
crossed the street and entered the big
stohe Congregational church and sat
^owq together in a pew. A soft light
came through the great jeweled win
dows above the altar, and in the clear
story, and over The organ loft. They
were the gift of Mr. Bing. It was a
quiet, restful, beautiful place.
"I used to stand in the pulpit there
and look down upon a crowd of h?6d^
somely dressed people,** said Mr.
Singleton in a low - voices- " There is
something wrong about this,' I thought.
'.There's too much respectability here.
There are no flannel shirt* and wne
huni dresses in thtT place. I can not
see half a dozen poor |?eople. I wish
there was some ragged clothing down
there In the pews. There isn't an out
aiidHiut miuut lu 'the mmu.
set up a little private god of our own
that cares only for the rich and re
spectable? I asked myself. This is the
| place for Hiram Blenkinsop and old
I Bill Lange au*l jn>or Lizzie Quersnelie.
if they only knew it. Those are the
kind <?f people that Jesus cured most
about.' They're beginning to come to
IN nn\v nnd we are t;lad of it. I want
to see here every Sunday after
this. I want you to think of this place
as your home. If you really wish to
be my brother, come with me."
Blenklnsop trembled with Strang?
excitement as he went with Mr. Single
ton down the broad aisle, the doe
Christmas following meekly. Man and
minister knelt before the altar. Christ
mas sat down by his master's side, in
a f?fayeiful attitude, as if he. too, were
seeking help and forgiveness.
"I feel better Inside and outside,**
said Blenklnsop as they were leaving
the church.
take my "ol' mother out for a ride.
An* when we pass by, people will be
sayln* : *That's Hiram Blenkinsop!
Don't you remember him? Born on
the top floor o* the oP sash mill oa
the island. He's a multi-millionaire
an' a great man. He gives a thousand
to the poor every day. Sure, he
does !' **
"Blenkinsop. I'd like to help yoa
to recover your lost Self and be a use
ful, respected citizen of this town."
said Mr. Singleton. "You can do it tf
you will and I can tell you how.
Tears began to stream down the
cheeks of the unfortunate man, who
now covered his eyes with a big. rough
hand.
"If you will make an honest effort.
HI BtJtnd by you. Til be your friend
through thick and thin.** the minister
added. "There's something good la
(TO BE CONTINUED)
No Worms in a Healthy
All chiMrra tmbM with
heaKhy color, which indkatr*
role, thero is
GROVE'S
for two or thrr* wwki ? i'l
prtr?? the diiMiba. apd act n a
win| Tonic to the WWp i)r*rni
throw off w dispel the worm*, tad
to perfect health t'lftwnt to uJtr.
SALE OF LAND
Under and by virtue ?>f the author
ity contained In that Deed of Treat
executed by Alfred Telfair and wife
to Ben T. If olden. T raster, whirh la
duly recorded in Hook 23* pace 44&.
I will sell at public auction to the
highest bidder for cash at the Coart
House Door In Franklin bounty, oa
MONDAY, the 18th day of APRTL.
1921. at 12 o'clock M . Two lota or
parcels of land situate In Praakltw
ton Township. Franklin County. Nor
th Carolina, about one mile East of
the Town of Franklinton. adjoining
the lands of Kdmund Johnson. Hen
ry Person and others and being lota
numbers two and three la Block B
described in survey made by Frances
Deaton. C. E. as appears oa re
corded In Hook of Maps 1 pare XZ la
office of the Register of Deeds ofj
Franklin Conntj.
This 17th day of March. l?f. I
3-18-Bt BEN T HOLDKN. Treats
ACCESSIBLE
to the Last Degree
"X> L ALLEY LIGHT is without a doubt the most ac
c*?sible plant at its kind crude.
eum* ptiM. iJaiale sonie niufoi adjustment.
In facVTf >t should ever become necessary, the entire plant
CU he fiVrn down and re- assembled in a very short time
? and the only tools \x? will need are a wrench and a
?crew driver.
Siiibi mbtliewblft bet k is true. .
The features which make the Lalley so simple and access
ible are practically exclusive with this plant ? They are
monw fiTinn frjnin-i- ? Tber are time-saving features.?
They are labor-saving features. ? ~ ? - ? -
And features such as these hare wop for the LALLEY
LIGHT world-wide recognition, as the most dependable
giant; the most efficient plant; a most powerful plant,
and the most satisfactory plant from every standpoint, in
supplying bnght cheerful lights to even- part of the farm
and home ? in furnishing power in plenty to operate every
electrically driven device.
But we prefer to tali about the LALLEY LIGHT, rather
than wnte about it- Come in and let us talk it over. Get
the LALLEY Book and check upon every point of interest.
Be Sure ? See tl?e LALLEY First.
R. I. X ITCH ELL,
Loral Utalrr
> nri li Carolina
XOT1CE/ 1
HavinsL qualified is Adrnim^r-%rri-*- '
of the es|ate of
deceased, late of
persons holding e
estate are hereby ratified to j^sent ;
the same ta the uirfdersifrrse^/on or 1
before the day of Match. ISii. j
or this notic4 ?H1 fco ply^d ia bar of j
their recovery AM jp^rsons iadebt- 1
ed to said eslftte 0??11 please come
forward and mA^ef immediate settle- |
ment . .
Admr'i.
To the pare
less adulterated.
XOTi<*E or SALE OF AUTOMOBILE ?
/INDER MECHANICS LlEX.
^ By rinue of the lien Riven by- Sec
tion ?017 of the He visa 1 of 1905. of
North Ga2>olina. to mechanics and ar
tisans for repair# to personal proper
ly. the undAj-si?*ed will, on Monday,
April 11th. ^*21, in front of Pernell's
Garage. R. =K*fcouisburg. X. C. offer
for sale at pubffcc auction to the high
est bidder for 4af>h. in order to pro
vide funds to sjJfsfy a lien thereon
for repairs Made\a December 7th,
4?ard automobile,
model 1917. the profcrty" CT^ted PoKft, ?
*tbo had said repairta made. Sale
about noon. This March 23rd. 1921.
PERXECL/9 GARAGE,
5-2^-Jt A. A. Pemell, Prop'r..
Before the modern girl kisses to
make up. she makes up to kiss. ? Nor
folk Virginian-Pilot.
THE SEASON IS NOW
HERE
I
to give prompt attention to your Gar
den, yoor Poultry and your Stock.
I am prepared to help you get good
results with my Choice Garden Seed,
Poultry Supplies and the Famous Dr.
Hess Stock and Poultry Tonics.
You will find me next to 0. Y. Yar
boro's office.
Please Call Ho. 42.
I ? P. HICKS
Corner Main <* Nash Stx. : LouisbufR, N. C.