The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-11-24

y SN0NNF
act OF kindness upon one in strange place,
and, if he goes out in the darkness, may lose
himself and perish in the cold 2''
The particular form in which this request
was made, and the tone in which il was uttered,
put it out of the farmer 10 say no.
s.Go in there and sit down." he answered,
pointing to the kitchen, sand l will see my
wife and hear what she says"
And Mr.. w. went into the paror where the
supper table stood, covered with snow white
cloth, and displaying his wite'S set of blue sprig
ged china that was only brought out on special
occasions.
The tall mould candies were burning there
on, and on the hearth blazed cheerful fire.
''Hasn't that old fellow gone YETI asked
Mrs. W. She heard his voice as be returned
from the door.
No, and what do you suppose? He wants US
to let him stay all night"
s>Indeed, we'll do no such thing We can't
have the likes of him in the house now. Where
could he slerp!'
'<Not in the best room, even il Mr.. n. should
not come"
'sNo, indeed ~
ssBut, really don't see, Jane, how we can
turn him out of doors. He dosn't look like
WY SAiuttS idii1 dHV S ddi II dto IoiN; 1bu IuiI
three miles to D"
ssIts too much he ought to have gone on
while he had daylight, aud not fingered here, as
/ be did, till it got dark"
"We can't turn him out Of doors, Jane, and
/ its no use to think Of it. He'll have 10 stay,
some how"
'sBut what can we 60 with him %
seHe seems like decent man at least: and
+ I I, L,.l IoJ o.
/ We might make him bed on the floor some
whpre''
81 wish he had been at Gunea before he
came here" said Mrs. W. fretfuly. The dis
appointment, and the conviction that Mr.. n.
would not arrive, occasioned her to feel, aud the
intrusion Of 50 unweioome visiter as theStran-
ger, completely unhinged her.
"Oh, we'll, replied her husband, in a sooth
! ing voice, never mind. We must make the
best oft. Hecame to lis tired and hungry, and
I We warmed and fed him. He now asks shell
| ter for tbe night, and we must not refuse bin,
=, nor graat his request in complaining or reluc
tant spirit. You know what the Bible says
about entertaining angels nnawares.'
"Angeisi Did you ever see an angel look
Ike him %
"Having never seen an angel" said the far
er smiling, Il unable to speak as to their
appearance"
This had the effect 10 call an answering
smile from Mrs " and better feeling at her
heart. 1t was finally agreed between them that
/ the man, as he seemed like decent kind Of
person, should be permitted to occupy the min
ister's room. if that Individual did not arrive,
an event to which they both looked with bnt
little expectancy. If be did come why the
man would have to put up with poor accom-
nodatOnS.
When Mr.. W. returned to the kitchen,
where the stranger had STATED himself before the
FIRE, he informed him that they had decided 10
let him STAY all night. The man expressed in
a few words his grateful sense of their Kindness
and then became silent and thoughtful. Soon
after the farmers wife giving up all hope OF
MIR. Ms arrival had supper taken up, which
consisted Of coffee, warm short cakes and hroil-
ed chickens. After all was on the table, a short
conference was held as TO whether it would do
not to invite the stranger 10 take supper. II
was true they had given him much bread aud
bacon as be could eat, but then, as long as he
was going TO stay all night, IT looked too imhoS-
pitable to sit down 10 the table and not ask him
10 join them. So, making virtue of necessity,
he was kindly asked to come to supPer-an
invitation which he did not decline. Grace
was said over the meal by Mr.. W., and the
coffee poured out, and the bread helped and the
meat carved.
There was fine little boz six wears old al
the table, who had heen Frightened up and dress
ed in his best in order TO grace the minister's re-
cppton. Charles was fall talk, and the pa
rents felt mutual pride in showing him Of.
even before their humble guest, who noticed
him particularly, though he had not much to
say. ''Come, Charley" said Mr.. W., after the
meal was over, and he sat leaning in his chair.
can't you repeat the pretty hymn mamma learn
ed YOU last Sunday -
Charley started off without any further invi- |
tation, and repeated very accurately two or
three verses Of new camp-meeting hymn
that was lust then very popular
Snow let us hear you say the command |
ments, Charley" spoke up the mother, well
pleased at her child's performance.
And Charley repeated them with the aid OF a
little prompting.
''How many commandments are there 2" ask
ed the father.
The child hesitated, and then, looking up at
the stranger, near whom be sat, said Innocent
w
'sHow many are there -
The man thought for some moments, and
said, as if in doubt.
'Eevcn, are there not 2"
''Eeven 2" calculated Mrs. W., in unfeign-
ed surprise.
"Eleven!" said her husband, with more re-
buke than astonishment in his voice. SIS it |
possible, sir, that you do not know how many
commandments there arei How many are
there, Charley Come, tell me-you know,