Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-08-05
sWhat would you say?" she replied in a

and you have been growing thin for the last
six weeks, so that one would hardly know
you," answered the mend:eant, while his
face was lighted up with sympathy. ~
"What would it matter that I should tell
you;" replied May Forrest. You cannot
help me, and it would only aff1ict your hon.
est heart" '7 -+~ 7
sStill should like to know the secret of
your Distress" added the old man musing-
ly. sWho knows-perhaps it may be in
my power to assist you." --.9.. ....
sKind old mani" exclaimed May. Il
would that it were, but it is not; yet you
shall hear.' 9 @.7
Here May went into detailed account
of her perplexities, while the scissor grinder
listened with deep attention. ...- &
@Then the landlord says he shall turn
you into the street to-day?'
@This very day, and mother is sick too, "
sobbed our heroine. =s.
@But he shan't turn you into the street."
said the mendicant quie tly. Nobody shall
ever turn you into the street.
Il must be going" sighed May. ...
aNot yet" answered the old man. 'How
much do you owes? ..... .s...
May told him. ..-..... ,.......
The old man put his hand beneath his
ragged vestments, and drew out a greasy
wallet, and put it into Mays hand. - -.
sYou will find the amount in there" he
said. ..e .-.-,.-. ..... .-'.s -.
May started back in surprise.
| "What! you-you-" ...
eyes, it's me, the old scissor grinder ,and
beggar man that speaks. Men are not al
ways as poor as they seem-nor what they
seem. You have been kind to me. You
have not been ashamed 10 stop as you pass
ed, and turn your pretty smiling face to-
wards me, and even to give me pennies from
the scant pittance earned by your needle.
Take the money-don't be afraid of tits
not like Brownies money-it's not tho
price Of virtue. Hasten away to relieve
your mother"
@Heaven bless you, old man! but how
shall repay you?"
Il want no pay; ara already paid
You shall let me come to your house and
rest me once in a while, and see how YOU
get on-that's all.'
With an overfiowing heart, May turned
towards home. Sincere was the prayer of
thanksgiving that went up from her bosom.
She flew towards her mother with feet that
scarcely touched the pavement. She relat-
ed to her all that had happened, and open
ed the greasy wallet. 1t contained not on
ly the amount due for rent, but thrice that
sum. -.-.
"Here is some mistake" said May. sHe
has erred in counting and she ran back to
the old man. But he persisted that it was
all right, and that he would on no account
take cent back. He even feigned to get
into violent passion about it, and said
@she talked just as though man of his
age could not see to count his money. But
he would just let her know that his eyesight
was as good eyesight as some other peo-
ple's who were younger"
May was forced to yield, and keep the
money. She paid off the landlord, much
to his astonishment, who said he had not
the remotest idea of putting his threat into
execution, but only meant it as an excellent
joke.
l A few days after this, the old man came
in with his wheel upon MS back, which he
deposited carefully by his side. Has well
come was warm one, and he seemed hap
py in witnessing the happiness he had con-
ferred.
He had net been long seated before
Browne entered. He paid no attention to
the sragged old fellow" as he called him,
who sat so unobtrusiyely in corner, but
commenced his wooing exactly where he
had left off. Growing bolder, he threw his
arm ~abouther neck, and attempted to press
kiss upon her lips. s 81,
May cried out in an offended tone, and
pushed him from her. At that moment the
ragged old fellow" shook off his apathy,
and hurled his wheel at the offender with
such good aim that he laid him PROSTATE
upon the floor, and nearly demolished him {.
Winthrop Browne, Esq, gathered up the
remnants of his former self, and left for
parts unknown, ys-r
The old mans wheel was terriblysshat-
. tered by the conclusion, but he didn't seem
to care straw about it, and went to work
to repair it without single murmur.
Bad luck, they say, never comes single,
neither does good luck.
Mrs. Forest began to recover from that
very day. She was soon able to assist in
the few simple preparations May began to
make for her approaching marriage with
Austin Ware, who had contrived to raise
enough of the needful for that interesting
event.
May insisted that Bennie should be pres.
ent at the wedding; and present he was
and happy apparently as the happiest, only
in his own way, as he was original in eve
: rything.
!, As soon as the knot was tied, he placed
e a package in the hands Of the bride, telling
: her it was wedding gift. She opened it
It contained notes to the amount Of ten thou
o sand pounds on the Bank Of England. Ths
d shock was too great for May, and sht
= tainted. =
e sWby should take this?" she asked
: when she had recovered. what right hav,
: ] to receive SO much money from one com
d paratively stranger? ~
:. @You are no doubt astonished," replied
e the scissor grinder, to see me in the posses