The Pastors Son | Page 2

ability, his congregation large, and his salary ample under ordinary
circumstances, but the constant drain of physicians' bills, and the great
expense of sending mother and son to a warm climate each fall, as the
rigors of the northern winters were considered too hard for the two
invalids to bear, had reduced them almost to poverty; consequently the
expense of a maidservant had long since been dispensed with.
Rev. Williams now turned to go to his study, and as he was turning,
said, "I know that I will do justice to that turkey, after delivering my
long sermon, and I am very thankful to Deacon Phillips, and to God,
for having given it to us."
There was silence for a few moments after the father left the room; then
Mrs. Williams said: "Walter, dear, you had better get ready for church;
I will soon have this turkey so I can leave it, then I will get ready and
we will both go to church, there to give thanks to God."
Walter turned to his mother saying, "What have we to be thankful for,
mother?"
His mother looked up, somewhat startled, and answered, "Why for
everything that God gave us." "Everything, mother?" asked Walter.
"Yes dear, everything."
"Oh, mother, I don't see how I am going to do that, father told me that
God gave me this sickness, and I don't see how I can feel thankful to
Him for making me suffer."
The mother anxiously looked at her son, then said, "Remember Walter,

Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, also suffered."
"Yes, I know, but it was not God that made Him suffer, it was the
Pharisees; but father said it was God gave me this sickness and that I
must bear it with love and patience, which I have tried to do, but I have
never been able to understand why a good and loving God should care
to see me suffer."
"I am sure I cannot tell," said his mother, "but it must be for some good
purpose; we will ask your father to explain some time. Now hurry and
get ready."
A few minutes later they both walked to the church, which was only a
short distance away, and entered its wide-open doors.
CHAPTER II
THE TURKEY DINNER

"Well wife, what did you think of my sermon?" asked the pastor as he
sat down to enjoy the turkey dinner.
"I think it was the best sermon you ever delivered, James," answered
his wife, quietly.
"I think so, too," said James, "and what's more, it ought to make every
person that heard it feel very thankful to God, for all He has given
them," then looking around the room he asked, "Where is Walter?"
"I don't know," said his wife, "he became so nervous and tired, that he
left just before the last hymn was sung. I suppose he went up to his
room, you had better call him to dinner."
"I will," answered the pastor, and going to the hall door, he called aloud,
"Walter, dinner is ready."
"All right father, I will be down in a minute," came back the answer in

a rather faint voice. The pastor turned to his wife and asked, "Do you
think that last medicine is doing him any more good than the others we
have tried?"
His wife raised her sad face to his, and replied, "No, James, I don't
think it is helping him, for he seems to get weaker and more nervous all
the time. I feel that he is losing ground even more rapidly than I am."
Here Walter entered the room, his face more flushed than usual, and his
father's watchful eye took note of it, but he spoke up cheerfully, "Just
look at that turkey, Walter, isn't it a fine one? See how nice and evenly
it is browned, and the oyster dressing, I'll bet it's fit for a king."
Walter merely glanced at the turkey, then seated himself beside his
mother.
After the pastor had said grace, he picked up the carving knife and said,
"Now, son, just tell me what piece you like best and I will have it
carved out for you before you can say, Jack Robinson."
"You are very kind, father, but I don't believe I care for any turkey, I
am not feeling very well," answered Walter.
"Just try a little, Walter," said the mother coaxingly, "I know it must be
very tender and nice, for Deacon Phillips said it was a young turkey."
"Yes, Walter," said his father, "hand me your plate, and I will give you
a little of the dark and a little of the light meat, with some of this
delicious dressing."
The boy listlessly handed over his plate without any more ado, his
father