Dominie Schaff's Three Boys.
THEY were called the Dominie's boys because he took such a generous interest in them. In the providence of God it came to pass that the health of Dominie Schaff failed. The doctors said that he must go to the mountains. Perhaps the change and the rest would serve him so profitably that he would regain his strength in the course of a few months. Therefore the Dominie resigned his pastorate and sought the curative forces of the mountains. It was July when he came to the farm-house that offered him a home. The Dominie brought his books and his clothes with him. These were the sum of his substantial possessions. The prospect was unpromising for the poor man, for he had no wife, mother, nor friend to nurse him, and the folks at the farm-house were to him entire strangers. But the Dominie's heart grew light when he learned that there were three boys in the family. He loved children and youth. Their wise and loving companionship had given him many hours that were memorable. So the mere fact that there were boys on the premises did him good like a medicine, and he made haste to greet them in his happy, winsome way. Hester Ripley was not a widow. She might better have been one, her neighbors said. It was going on three years since her husband, on coming home one night in an intoxicated condition, fell by the road-side and all but froze to death. He had been a terrible sufferer ever since the fatal hour. Rheumatism tortured him day and night. He was helplessly crippled and hopelessly afflicted. And hard cider did the mischief. But Hester Ripley had three boys, and she depended upon them. On some accounts it was not so harsh a stroke—this having a bedridden husband—as at first appeared. The man was out of harm's way, subject to the tender care and kind control of his wife. It was not many months after the event ere the family had quietly submitted, and life moved along in the even tenor of its way. When Dominie Schaff came to the farm-house, he found a pleasant, harmonious family that did brave, faithful, daily work for the necessities of life. A farm high on the mountains was not a piece of property that many folks would care to own and cultivate. The rugged bit of earth yielded its crops grudgingly. But the land was cheap, and Hester Ripley gladly bought it. The three boys were respectively eleven, thirteen, and fifteen years of age. They had taken sole charge of the farm during their father's illness. It was evident to the most superficial observer that they were made of good material. Dominie Schaff was cheerful when he thought upon the possibilities touching these fresh, strong, youthful hearts. Scarcely was the Dominie settled in his rooms before the boys surrendered to him and gave him their confidence. Now, said the Dominie to himself, I will teach them to love books. So, adapting himself to the boys as wise men will, he centered their thought in some of the great authors of the ages. In simple, vigorous language he told the story of Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Milton, Bunyan. He interested them in the pivotal events of history. They became familiar with the names of Cæsar, Socrates, Charlemagne, Napoleon, Cromwell, Mohammed. It was not many weeks before these boys lived in a new world. Their ideas, longings, purposes, were revolutionized. When the autumn work was well advanced, the Dominie, whose health began to mend, gave them regular instruction. The atmosphere of the farm-house became academic. Work was not shirked; no duty went unheeded; but the press of time was keenly felt, and study was sometimes continued far into the night. When winter came, the isolation of the family was perfect. For weeks at a time all communication with the outside world was next to impossible. The routine work of each day was speedily done, when these three boys seized their books and laboriously mastered their contents. And what delightful evenings they spent with the Dominie! The storm hovered above the farm-house, the rude blasts threatened to overwhelm them, but they remained brave, studious, happy. It mattered little to them how deep was the snow or how boisterous were the winds. They were living with the great spirits of all time. The thoughts of wise men, the deeds of mighty leaders, fired their souls, and introduced them into the higher realms of human existence. Meanwhile the Dominie continued to improve in health. When the summer dawned he sought the fields with the boys. He plowed and sowed and cultivated. The birds brought a message to him. The whispering leaves, the chattering chipmunks, the murmuring streams, all nature held sweet and helpful communion with him. The world became another world, and he became its interpreter to the boys. The intellectual growth of the Dominie's pupils was phenomenal, but it scarcely kept pace with the spiritual development. How gently the good man led them into the ways of faith! His own religious life was of that sweet, cheerful, pervasive character that renders a man irresistible. He was one of those men whose influences quicken the best part of human nature. You could not stand in his presence without gaining somewhat of inspiration from him. In his frequent talks with the boys he was so honest, manly, natural, direct, that they listened to him with tender sympathy even when his theme was personal religion. Great changes were wrought in the household. The father sought the truth diligently in the many books that Dominie Schaff recommended to him. The mother became trustful, pious, serene. The boys learned that the great joys of life are the outcome of a deep religious experience. In this happy relation, Dominie Schaff lived more than two years with the family of the mountain farm. So far as the boys were concerned it seemed a fruitful sojourn; but no one can know the grief and disappointment that lived in the young minister's heart. He was in a sphere of great usefulness when disease touched his frail body. His work had prospered beyond hope. You could not find another man in all his country whose life was more thoroughly consecrated to the work. And yet he was exiled to the mountains, and his days promised little spiritual harvest. The burden that weighed most heavily was the thought that life was so barren. He could not touch men. They were all beyond his reach, except these three youths. If only God had led him in some other path, so that he might have had some personal contact with the world! But the Master had counseled a different course, and the great-hearted invalid had found his material narrowed down to three bright lads. The third September witnessed great changes at the farm. Dominie Schaff was going South to live. He was called to a field that gave rare opportunity for the exercise of his gifts. His face beamed with a glad light as he bade them all good-by, for the pain of separation was lost in the sweet anticipation of great usefulness and activity. But the Dominie had kindly arranged for the boys before he journeyed to his far-away home. The eldest, who had so rapidly progressed under the Dominie's instruction that he was prepared for the sophomore class of a New Hampshire college, was already enrolled in that institution and one year's expenses arranged. The second boy, who was prepared to enter college as a freshman, was placed in a professor's family in one of our Massachusetts colleges, so that one year's happy work was insured for him. The youngest boy remained at home, caring for the farm and pursuing his studies as best he could under the circumstances, hoping when another year rolled around that he, too, should begin life in the great college world. The boys all carried with them a mighty inspiration, the blessed gift of God, imparted through the memorable ministrations of Dominie Schaff.749 The history of thirty years has been made. Dominie Schaff has finished his task. To-day they commit his body to the earth. In a grove of live-oaks, whose drapery of gray moss gives strange and solemn expression to the scene, the people gather to do honor to this good man. A great multitude mourn his departure. Reverently they look upon his face for the last time, and bow their heads in sorrow. Close beside the casket, at the left hand of the venerable minister whose sad duty it is to say, "Earth to earth," sit three brothers. They were summoned from distant parts of our great land. They came to do honor to the man who sleeps the death-sleep. The eldest of the three, the noble governor of a great commonwealth, is the first to testify. There was a hush when he arose to address the people. "Friends," said he, "I loved this holy man. Many years ago he found me imprisoned in the mountains. His heart touched my heart and gave it somewhat of divine impulse. His life touched my life and I became free. The more than thirty years that have passed bear witness to my honorable career. But think not that I speak in vain-glorious spirit. It is his work. Through all the devious ways of life the counsels of this good man have availed with me. Next to the blessing of Heaven is the blessing incarnate of such a wise, devout, affectionate friend." Then the bishop arose. This was the brother whose piety and wisdom had placed him in the episcopate. His good works were manifold; his life a beautiful epistle, "known and read of all men." "He was my spiritual father," the bishop said. "I have tried to weave many of his precepts into the fabric of my life. As a mother cherishes her infant, so did this man cherish me. For more than two years we lived, isolated and happy, in daily fellowship with this saintly spirit. God was infinitely kind to us, for he sent us Dominie Schaff. It was this man who flooded our hearts with light, and led us into the ways of culture, faith, and labor." The youngest brother was a famous naturalist. His name was known in the uttermost parts of the earth. As he gave his testimony, tears filled his eyes, and his voice became tremulous with emotion. "The birds bring me messages of love" (these were his words), "but it was Dominie Schaff who said to me 'Listen.' He taught me how to read the unwritten word, and brought me face to face with the Creator. The trackless wilderness was not more wild than my heart. He discovered its possibilities. It is he who has gained the victory. He loved the tiniest flower. Never a bird's note fell unheeded upon his sensitive ear. God spoke to him in whispering trees and laughing waters, in quickening sunshine and hovering storm. I give thanks to God, our Father, that it has been my privilege to live and labor in the light of this man's life." Then the three brothers were silent. The venerable minister who for thirty years had labored side by side with Dominie Schaff spoke the last words. "Friends, my brother often grieved that two years of his working period were passed in fruitless quiet among the mountains of the North. He always grieved because his task seemed to him so poorly done. But the wise God is the true judge. The words of these three noble men are full of grand significance. They teach us that our quiet years and humble labors are sometimes richer in their fruitage than all the other years and labors of long life."—Frank S. Child, in Christian Union.