Page 32 - Publishing Inspiration Christmas Card 2020

had train service and didn't have the added

transportation costs.
Earl and his family had endured the anger
and name-calling for some time when the flu
epidemic hit. Of all the families in the town, his

family was hit the hardest. Many people came in
and out of this store, and many carried the flu.
Soon, Earl's whole family was sick.
Though Earl worked from morning until

night taking care of his family, he tried to keep his
store open as much as possible. He knew the
people of the town depended on it. But Earl lost

four of his six children, and his wife was
bedridden. There were days he had to shut the
store to bury his children or just take care of his
family. This added more to the anger he received

from those who came to town only to find the
store closed.
One day, when Earl was driving to the

cemetery with the body of his two-year-old
daughter in a small pine box, a crowd surrounded
his wagon. They started yelling things at him
about being rich while others struggled, and him

not caring about anyone else. Suddenly, the
crowd went crazy. Someone pulled Earl from the
wagon, and men began beating him.

Almost instantly, the railroad foreman was
there. He knew of the losses Earl had in his
family and had even helped Earl bury some of his

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