Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-01-26
THE TWO HALFl-E AGLEs



aids first five dollars worth of fruit on her stand,
she had, she said, q constant run of good luck
The fruit always turned out to he sound and of
fine flavor. and she really believed that if she cod
have found room for a cartful, she could every,
day she lived have sold it long before night. The
two half-eagles were in less than two weeks not
onoDy doubled, but trebled, and there was nearly
enough beside to replace the money she had insis-
ted on lending him to purchase suit of clothes.
Everything looked cheerful at home.
Before Ronald came there was no one TO kindle
n fire for her, let the weather be ever so damp and
chilly, when she went home at night. Now, in
stead Of the lonely room, gloomy with the gather
ing shadows of approaching night, bright fire,
and still brighter face, and the music of pleas
ant voice, were there to greet her. His spare
hours were spent in study, especially in acquiring
Il knowledge OF arithmetic ana bookkeeping, IN
which, while his mother lived, he had made such
progress, that he was now able to proceed without
n teacher.
Two years had passed away, and Mrs Williams
no longer sold fruit at stand in the open air
A small dry goods store had been opened, and on
the days when the weather. was pleasant, she and
Ronald had full employment in waiting on Gus
toners. Children were sent by their parents to
buy such articles as were needed, being sure that
no advantage would be taken of their inexperi-
ence or ignorance of prices. The sun of prosper
ity continued to shine brighter and brighter, and
it was not many years before they were able TO
remove to a large and commodous building in a
more central part Of the city.
A cold northwest wind had been blowing all
day, and as night approached, rain intermingled
with seet, commenced falling. 1t froze as soon
it struck the pavement, so that it was soon COW
cred with glaring ice The attention Of Ronald,
who had stepped TO the store door for something,
1 1. :. Il. al a., ~
walk. Though decenty clad, he had on no out
side garment, and by the slow uneven manner in
which he proceeded, Notwithstanding the inclem-
ency of the weather, it appeared as if he knew not
where TO 30. Had there been sufficient light,
Ronald might have seen that his countenance was
pale. hagoard, and care-worn. He had arrived
nearly opposite the door, where the young man
stood, when he slipped and fell heavily upon the
pavement. In moment. Ronald was by his side
and with no little difficulty, aided by Mrs Will
liams, who had now come out, assisted him to rise
He was good deal injured by mis- fall, and it re-
uured the united help of Ronald and Mrs. Will
liams 10 enable him 10 ascend the door-steps-
They then assisted him to paror back of the
store, and placed him on a soia which was drawn
up in comfortable contguity TO an open CRATE,
where bright coal fire diffused GENIAL warmth
throughout the room.
81 will run for physician" said Ronald
"No, no." said the old gentlemen, eagerly, and
fixing his keen hawk-like eyes upon Ronald II
am beggar and can pay doctors bills"
Ronald, without needing the prohibition, left
the room for the purpose named.
Sand you will never get a cent for taking me
in," said he, addressing Mrs Williams. ''You had
better have let me remain in the street. where
hunger and cold would have soon finished me-"
"Hunger did you say?" inquired Mrs Williams.
"Yes, | have not tasted food to-day, and but
very little for several days. 1t was the weakness
caused by inanition, as much as the icy pavement
which caused my fall"
.Weil, 1t does seem strange me that a human
being should come TO such straits as TO suffer for
food in this land of liberty and plenty" said she,
at the same time going to a cupboard and dipping
several ladies full of soup from a tureen into
stew-pan, which was the next moment simmering
on the Goals.
of / cannot pay doctors bill, of course can
not pay you," said he; $50 you had better not
trouble yourself"
81 hope you don't think we are heathens, sir"
said she somewhat Indignantly. 81 have seen the
day when | was poor, though am prosperous
now, but in my worst days never turned deaf
ear to the needy, when they asked me for bread.
Here, sir, is some soup which can recommend,
for l favored it myself. Ronald always praises
my soup. While you are eating it, will set Sal
ly to work to prepare something more. Allow
me, sir" and she so adjusted the sofa pillows as to
support him in half reclining position.
as the young man saw here your son?' he
inquired
30, no, indeed, sir, he is no relation to me.
wish he was for | should consider it an honor to
be related to him. He has a noble heart, sir, and
it is in the right place. He was poor friendess
boy when | took him home, without relation in
the world except a rich, hard hearted uncle, who
turned him from his door, with as little ceremony
as he would dog. Some people wondered at
my taking him, seeing that | was poor widow
and barely able to support myself; but didn't
mind them, and he brought blessing with him, |
sir. / kept prospecting more and more, from the |
first day he entered my door, up to the present
time"
Ronald now re-entered the room accompanied |
by a physician, who, after examining the patient,
to Mrs. Williams, at the same time
gancing at the bowl which contained the SOUP
that she had been administering the best possible
remedy, for though his fall had given his system
a disagreeable and rather severe shock, his most
serious difficulty was debility, brought on by ia
tgue, abstinence and exposure.
"They should, as l have told them," said the
gentleman, shave left me where fell. One night
n the open air, or in the watchhouse, would have