Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-12-02
The BeRefactor /:
Or, il Is Better 20 Give than to Resolve.

VT, ~ Is kefier TO Give than 10 Resolve.
And So you strip yourself of comfort, for the cake
OF adding to this rish merchants gains If you was
man and my brother, should cay you w,s fool.
The widow rcplisl with a flushed cheek :--"It may
seems light thing TO you, but the thought that am
slowly and surely vping every strin froa my bus.
bands honor, is my greatcst earthly eomfo,t. Nj.
Miner is bis last creditor, ard G. d wiling, every r
thing shall be paid"
Her cosrscr relative replied with an emphats If J.
desick J" anl humping the ror with his cane, an
gri'y left her presence.
"At last havs ltD' said a silvery voice. and a
sweet f.cs, glad and brilliant, b,ishtensd up the
gloom.
''oAiy see, mother, ten dlars-aN my own zen
tAors make twenty wo shall have nice little sum
for Mr.. Miner
Y srs trembled oa The widows asbes and otterss
on he pale check as it to b. the price Of tby life
p7ociouS one she thought "Is the eanksr-worm at
'ae nsArt OF my beautiful flower? Mast give thee
up 70 weary, wearing toi-a sacrif,e upon the altar
OF duty9 Can it be that Cd requires it?''
Eva kneis at her mothers feet, where she had fp,
len with all tho abandon Of child her glaace fsstpsd
TO The shining gold. Already the mockinp cri,.,o,
OF c1eek bad paed TO a shade Of sickly whita and
the large dropping eyes looked only deep aud dark
the hope-lighted fire had gone out.
Lifting her glance she met tha. of her mother. f,,,
OF az xiaty touched with sorrow. sudden smI. !.
broke over her delicate features.
Il was only thinking of the cne,ess things This
money woud buy,-iou't look SO grave. MANN,
such beauty of warm shawl for you and p..,
crimson cover for that uatdy old armchair. b;t
e''r 50 Mite ot carpet to put down by the bed thai
your fest need MT feel this cold IL or AID prot,v
SaP' oesas cJa' and tea, and sugar, aud such nice
ooiafprtabi' things. Il Il never .;ind. ,, aud ss
spra'g TO her fee, brushed back hsr brown curls
arew On her little b.nnet ts'never mind IN msv n
"fi'e book one Of these days, that II make YOU ana
f'ea. And, dear mother you shall ride Ia ysur own
carriage and maybe these who .corn US now. only he
cause we are poor, may be thankful for our motto,
uOc' 70 f'man'e,' she grsvely continued, s.stern
| lsAiy esis he to go directly up to Madison street
""' Hif' MINER, give this twenty dollars, take a
'o'sip ana then come home and read and ,iag t. NJ
ui'tAer. How beautiful it is, that my poor pen viii
eaaee me to Pay of all my fathers hts Gooi-bye.
mamma, till wo moot again.
Harriedly Eva passed from her house along the mar
row streets. Slusd children fastened their hungry
eyes on her plying face. wretched w.mau. with
saoes whose little faces seemed like those IF wi,barsd
OLD men, leaned against h. gloomy walls No blade
Oh grass grew there. Smoke and sunshine mip,ls5
e'' Use nse atmosphere, with its reskinp yapors.
iickiy grsy, through al The same hours
siN' gave. adness, and beauty, and health b tn.
"ias free moors anl quiet green flds If GJd's bIes
sel untry
III, as sao went Yard strest after street dyerp
Cd into pleasant width and palac, lined splepdor
tae houses Of greatness and wealth glitterd in their
mar5ia bauy under tie z Id sunlight. Un tho broad
ps, thfeaah fostas casTd and shining, passed the
tinid steIso Ey. s.1rpo.
Al IRA she 'foIpu1us servant smiled a Q ntcmp.u-
Gus aSi' out after momsnt, sofe.usd perhaps b.,
he' ehtaish Simplicity, bps eyes, he deem d it res
no 70 dsny hst uonc., AID she entered this palac,
@f a reh mans lome.
~ Der f-et suak IN tho luxur;cus hAil-,arpe,.
ss taly a 5roLz a.G ma,b.s lined all the wav to the
s'Gs.sAaa. Iae poaior Of the room into which she
was asaeT sesasd 70 her inexperienced sight tao
beatfGl for actual use, ani ha wal came in with h;
kin iy glance AID band.oms fsee, the uobcst ne,f a
tion of manhood sho bad ,ver seen.
""el', youzS LAZY . he said. blandly smiling, "to
what anil indebted :og thi4 pleasure?"
"Aiy father, sir, died ia yogg debt" said Eva.
olashing'y, s9'akias very low aai softly. "By
the strictest economy aaI very hard work. we. INV
mother and |, hao bssn able to pay all his creditors
but yourself isyoa win be kind enough to receive
the baianse of your accounts in small sums, u am
sorry they muat be small sir We can ia the coarss
of very few years fully Equiiate the debt and
then" shade of sweet expression lighting up her
blue eyes shall have fulfilled my fathers diving
wish that every stain might be wiped from his honor
She paused moment and said again, falteripe >,
My father was yeIy unfortunate, sir and broken in
health for many years but, 0, sir he was honora
be he would have paid the last cent, if it hal left
MIN beggar.'
Very thoughtful sat Mr. Miner, his dark eye fast
ened upon the gentle face before him. After mo-
ment OF silence he raised his head, threw back the
mass OF curling hair that shaded his handsome brow
and said:
II remember your father we'll. 1 regretted his
d.ath He was a fine fellow, ane fellow he ad-
ded musingly; "but my dear young lady, have YOU
the means-do you not embarrass yourself by makip
these paypents?"
Eva blushed again, and looking up, ingsniousy
replied ;"I am obliged to work, sir, but no labor
woud be toe arduous that might save the memsry Of
such father from disgrace"
This she spoke with deep emotion. The rich man
turned with choking In his throat and tear glitter
ing on his lashss. Eva timidly held out two geld
pieces. He took them, and bidding her stay mo.
ment, hastily left the room.
Almost instantly returning, be handed her sealed
note, saying "taere is the recsipt young lady and
allow mo to add, that the mother of such child mus
be happy womas. The entire debt, find, is nine
hundred and seventy five dollars. You will see by
any note what arrangements have made, and hope
they win be satisfactory"
Eva left him with lighter heart, and burning
cheek at his praise. His manner was so gentle, so
fata rY, that shs felt he would not impose hard cor
ditcna. and it would be pleasure to pay one so kind
ami frbearng.
Atla't she was at home; and breathlSssly sitting
at acv mcther's feet she opened the letter. Wond
Of W nlers-a bank note enclosed She held it will.
out Speaking or locking at its value. "Read it 70 she
exclaimed, after moments bewilderment, placing
the letter in her mothers hand. "Here are fifty dol
lars what can it mean?
''This," said the sick woman, bursting into tears
sis recipt in full, releasing you from the payment
Of your fathers debt. Kind, generous man! Heav
en- win bless himGod will shower blessing upon him.
From grateful heart call upon thee, Father, 10
reward him for this act of kindness. ., what shall
we say, what shall we DO, to thank him?"