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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 44, 3 November 1904, Page 23

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What a picture tha t. church spire with jts uplifted crosii> maivCa against the cicy ! ' George Bryson smiled as, 1-eantog forward in hij armchair, he ( looked out upon the scene framed by lllK 1 window, of his little study. It was a typical New England landscape. In the valley lay a neat village, some of whose houses were quaint and old, dating from the Revolution ; others aggressively modern and pretentious. Close beside the river rose an imposing pile of factory buildings— the Bryson Cottion Mills ; Beyond the settlement, the woods and waters ; and the fertile farms stretched away to the purple, mist-veiled hills. The yellow belfry of the Unitarian meeting-house, almost embowered by the trees of the foreground, had been a familiar object to Mr. Bryson all his life. For he was born in the home where he now lived, and so much ha 4 his energy done for the development of his nat/rye township that it was now known by his name. 'ihe lofty tower and grey walls of the church within a Ritomc's throw of the mills were, however, a novel foatiuro of the panorama. ' As I sit here sometimes, when the white windclauds drift pass the cross, it apems floating in the air r, anjd a-gam at a touch of the sAin light it becomes a cross of flame that; sends my memory back to tine legend of Constantino and his sign of triumph ' As: tlie elderly gentleman spoke, pleasantly, yet with the languor of one in ill-health, he turned toward his sister, who, flouiis'hing tihe daintiest of ftfatiher dusters, stood at the reading-table, flecking imaginary dv.st from tnc magazines and newspapers and restoring order out of the chaos in which they were heaped together. Like, her brother, MisS Bryson was no longer young. Against his sixty odd years she could connt at least fifty-five ; but s.he was still m the vigor of perfect health,, and it might be seen at a glance thait his strength was broken. There was a sk iking resemblance between the two long, sallow faces, 'ihe eyes of both were light and keen ; but while those of the man were calm an,d steady, betokening a nature that governed itself and was therefore capable of influencing others, I'he restlessness and lire of tflie woman's indicated an underlain temper as well as an ardent disposition. George Biysion had always bven considered handsome, but Miss Sarah's features were too masculine for beauty, a/id even in her leens she was called plain. Pans gowns, G-amsbprough hats, and a certain sa\oir faire now gave her an air of distinction ; yet she was, despite these accessories, a veritable Puritan spinster, who clvng to her narrowness as tenaciously as if she had never'becn away, from the village, and honestly believed that I>r. Holmes was right when ho described Boston as the ' hub of the universe.' On this morning, therefore, when her brother's gaze strayed again t/o the graceful spire that, like I'he nand of a missionary, held aloft the cross, her patience g,a\e way. 'ihati Komish steople spoils the view holm this side of the house,' she s-aid, sharply. ' How the mill hands built siuch a church I cannot understand. It must have a great debt.' ' F l he debt will bo paid.' ' Well, if your operatives have funds to throw away, I advise you to lower your scale of wages, George.' 1 And have a strike, with the mills idle when we are so rushed with orders that we can scarcely fill them Jail'? ' replied Mr. Bryson, quietly. ' You are an excellent housekeeper, 'Sarah, but I can still manage the mills — with Frank's assistance.' Hi's sigh as he concluded told that he had already been forced to delegate to another the larger share of the work he loved. With, a toss of her head, whicfli presented a bewildering coifTure of curls antt fri/.zes of the fashionable ?\ha<le of ' Titian brown,' Miss Sarah went on with her dusting. ' I liked to go into the churches abroad,' continued her brother, amiably adhering to the topic. ' Iheit atmosphere attracted and impressed me witihl a mysterious peace. Until that illness two years ago which made it necessary for me to taike a vacation, I lived for nothing but business and money-making.' Notwithstanding the annoyance Mhe naturally felt at being told, in etlect, to mind her own affairs, Mi^s Sarah was) not going to be silent and hear a Bryson depreciate himself. ' No one would dare say that of you, George,' she protested, restoring the feathered badge of her sphere

o£ authority to an embroidered case that- hung on vthe wall and facing about, ready tp sowntijhis pxafiteS- oft &w hpusetops if need be. •No masn in tho towrislhipMs^«& ; public-spirited as you are. Not only our local under* taJcangs but almost every philanthropic organisation in Boston counts you among its benefactors. Why, I really believe you have given even to the Romish charities. There are the model houses, too, amd the library you ha\e built for tilie mill hands. Why, the mills aro famous for never having had a strike but once. Then 1 must say, though, you surprised me ; for you were as unyielding as adamant.' \c.>, some new operatives held s|»cf\vlist mee'tilngjs and tried to make trouble ; but when they were- discharged the mat tar was soon adjusted,' replied -the millowner. ' But, my dear sister, all these enterprises 'of nu'ne are but a proof to the world ot my businesp' and financial success. To be sure, 1 have tried to- do s^me good to others ; but I have beon thiriking lately- ;fchdt if we »iad learned a little mare religion with our-phil-anthropy in the yellow meet/ing-house yonder we should be the better for it.' i 1 Oh, the art and architecture of the Eurbpeafc churches are, of course, magnificent,' conceded Miss £>arah, grudgingly. ' But how the beggars swarm i n and' out ot them, and lounge on the benches of tlhe porticos t Their presence is very obnoxious to sights-seers. •,: I wonder the authorities ao not drive them awatt' r' 'Whom' The sight-seers? 1 laughed Mr. Bryson. ' Oddly enough, it was this very presence of tjhe beggars that touched me. A Catholic cathedral seemed to mo what it claims to be— the house of God to rich and poor alike. The rich come, look, sometimes pray; and then go ;i but the poor almost live in those churches ; and occasionally an unwashed but beautyf-ljoving vagrant of the streets may be found who knows I?he loveliness ot an altarjiieee of ttuido or Sassaferaito better fcnan tho travelled connoisseur. The charitable institutions of the Continent were, moreover, a revelation to me. My own schemes of benevolence seemed petty enough when I saw men and women who hatt given up Osrery natural tie and joy of life to devote themselves to the sen ice of the unfortunate. 'We have indeed such heroes an.-} heroines in this country also, only I never realised it beioie. Surely their religion must be something more than the broat'h of incense, tihe tranquility of Gothic aisles, or the majesty of Roman basilicas'.' ■ Well, no one ever hoard of a Bryson bieing anything but a Unitarian, and I hope no one ever will,' declared Miss Sarah, emphatically, if with apparent irrelevance. ' No, Sa-fah ; if you should happen to a Theos'ophist or a Mormon even, wo will keep it a dead secret,' replied hor brother, wilih dry hMmor. 'By the way, X almost! forgot to tell you Father Glenn is coming to dinner on '1 hursday ' Miss Sarah raided her hands and eyes toward the 'ceiling. 1 A Catholic priest coming to dine at the table of a Bryson ! ' she exclaimed, in horror. ' I shall not stay to see it ; I shall go to Boston for a week's visit.' 'As you please, my dear,' ' rejoined Mr. Bryson. ' i he gentleman, besides toeing a hard wotfker amohg his people, is, I am Hold, an enthusiast upon the stobyeet of art and ceramics. 1 thought his conversation might entertain you as well as myself.' Miss Sarah stared. A priest who was interested in rare old chhva, her particular fad ! She wondered if he could decipher the mark on that piece slie bought in Florence. ' Oh, well, Ge,org|p, of course I will fiot desert you,' s,'ho smd,, changing hor tactics, and adding to herself : ' 1 will remain "to protect my brother frdm this wolf in sheep's clothing, but it is very probable that I khall faint) under the ordeal.'