Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-02-13

price, but had said that she should wait till
it was sixpence. I, was sixpence pot now
and therefore Dickey felt himself justified in
expecting customer in Brick Court to-day !;
and as we have seen, his expectation was on
the point Of being realized. As he could
not conscientiously give away sixpence from
his sick grandmother, he was the more anx-
ious TO give Mary and her mother the treat
OF looking al the flowers in his basket-for,
TO them, he knew that il would be treat
So the boy determined to carry his heavy
load up TO the attic. AT last he resched the
top, and saw Mrs. Brown standing at the
open door Of her room. STE wondered why
the boy was SO long in coming up; and was
surprised to tie load he carried. He
set it down on the landing place, and paused
TO take breath, while his intelligent face,
flushed and moist with pcrspiralion, look ed
at her, smilingIy.
'Why did you bring that up, my dear
boy! It's too much for YOU 10 carry said
gentle Mrs. Brown.
Not bit of t" said Dick, wiping his hot
face. 1t does me good. rm strong enough
in the arms, you know, if I'm weak in the
legs. | brought il up because thought you
and Mary would like 10 see those beautiful
blossoms; and l knew you couldn't come
down to see them. If fyou'll give me a drink
of water, shall be all right. How's Mary,
this morning?-Tve got bit of groundsel
for the bird
Is that Dicky Wood mother: 2 cried the
little girl, in feeble voice. Bring him in.'
Yes, my darling, we nre coming !; said
the mother and she whispered TO Dicky.-
She is much weaker than when you saw
her, but don't seem to notice that, my dear.
She has been longing for this pot Of mign-
onette and I'm sure she'll be much obliged
you for bringing these beautiful flowers
for her TO look al. Poor darling, she is so
fond of flowers Come in, and | will give
you some water to drink, and some 10 wash
your face with. Here, let me help You with
the basket, now And they entered the
room together. The door was left open be-
cause the weather was very warm, and the
doctor had ordered that the child be kept as
cool as possible.
When they had disappeared within the room,
somebody else appeared on the landing g-place,
at the top of the stairs. it was little old man
with gray hair, who was very shabbily dressed, (,
but who nevertheless did not look as if he was
poor. The shabbiness of his coat was fancy
of the wearer, not a necessity, because on his
little finger he wore ring with great dia-
mond, and his shirt front was of very fine cam
brio, and beautifully white. He was an eccen-
trio old man, and passed many hours every day
in wandering about London in search Of ad-
ventures. He had seen Dicky Wood turn into
Brick Court with his heavy basket. The pale
intelligent face of the boy, which he had often
seen before, had taken his fancy, and he follow
ed him unperceived. When he saw Mrs. Brown
give the signal from her window, the little old
man felt double desire TO follow the boy. He
watched him during the short debate with HIM
self as TO whether he should or should not car
ry his load TO the attic; and when he saw him,
lame as he was, begu to ascend the staircase
with it, the strange old gentleman was deter
mined TO ascertain what the motive for such a
labor could be. Surely he said within him
self, it's not the mere hope of selling another
pot of flowers that has lighted up the child S
face with such beautiful expression He step
ped softly up the dark stairs behind the child,
and overheard distinctly the few words that
passed between him and Mrs. Brown and
when they had gone into the room, and the door
was partially closed, so that he could stand
near it unperceived, he did SO. | have nothing
to say in favor of listening at doors and yet
cannot find it in my heart to say anything
against old Mr.. Metcalfe's listening on the pres
ent occasion. Heexpected to hear neither good
nor i'll of himself, for he knew that the speakers
were unaware of his very existence what he
expected TO hear was something from which
he could learn how he could best assist those
who seemed to him to be oppressed by the
double affiiction of poverty and sickness.
I
Mr.. Metcalfe was not silly enough to fancy
that poverty is always an afliction he knew
that healthy, active poverty is often to be de-
sired rather than wealth, with its heavy draw
backs and responsibilities. He was wise man,
and knew that in civilized country there must
always be poor as well as rich and that, if the
poor are contented and industrious, they have
far more happiness than mere wealth can give
them. They have the dignity of labor, and the
enjoyment of repose after it; and they have no
time to spend in frivolous searches after finn
sy happiness, which is not worth seeking. Mr..
Metcalfe had been poor man himself, and he
knew wherein consisted the real trials of pow
erty He knew that when poor people had
health and strength, plenty of employment, and
enough 10 bring up their children respectfully
in the state of life unto which it had pleased
God to call them, they were far indeed from
being proper objects Of pity; he was quite GER
tam that few classes of people enjoy life more.
But when the poor have not physical strength; !;
when sickness lays its hand on them, when
they have not enough to educate their children
then he knew that poverty was an evil, and
then he knew, also, that it was his duty, as
rich man, with no near relative dependent on
him, to try if he could do anything towards al
levating the evil. Mr.. Metcalfe was man who
had striven hard all his life to do his duty, now
that he, was old had acanired = nropertv of