Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-06-08

The mlser started.
How can you say here? Here's
only one room. and this occupy.
Let me lie down on the floor any
where. II will be better than 10 go
out in the cold streets.
The miser paused. Even he, cal
lous rs his hear had become, would
not willingly thrust out a young girl in
to the street, where in all probability
unless succor came, she would perish
from the severity Of the weather.
After little consideration, hel took
the fragmer, of n candle which was
burning on the table. and bidding
Floy follow him, led the way into
room near by, which was quite desti-
tutc of furniture. save n small cot bed
in the corner. 1t had been left there
when Martin Kendrick first took pos
session Of the house, and had remain
ed undisturbed ever since. A quilt
which. though il was tattered, was
still thick and warm, was spread over
il.
There. said Martin, pointing il out
to Floy, who followed him closely,
'there Is bed. II hasn't been slept
in for great many years. but sup
pose II will do as well us any other
Yoi can sleep there IL you want to-
Thea shall have bed to sleep in,
said Ploy, joyfully. It is some time
since / ha, slept on anything softer
than board or perhaps a rug.
Martin was about TO leave her alone
when he Glanced TO think that the
room would be dark.
You can uAdrcss IN the dark, can't
you? he inquired. | haven't got but
one light. can't afford to keep any
more.
Oh, / sha'nt take my clothes off at
all, said the young girl. | never do.
She got into bed, spread the quilt
over her. and was asleep in five min
utes.
Martin went back to his room. lie
did not Immediately retire to bed, but
.at for few minutes pondering on
the extraordinary chance, for in his
case il was certainly extraordinary,
which had thrown young girl as IL
were under his protection. though but
for u limited time. He was some
what bewildered, 80 Unexpectedly
had the event happened. and could
scarcely even now realize that IL was
so.
But the warning sound Of "a neigh
boring church clock, rs il proclaimed
midnight. interrupted the train Of his
reflections, and he prepared for bed,
not neglecting.-so strongly was the
feeling Of suspicion implanted in his
mind-to secure tho door by means Of
n bolt. When he awoSe, the sun was
shining through the window Of his
room. He had hardly dressed himself
when faint knock was heard at the
door Of his room. Opening II little
why's, he saw Floy standing before
him.
What, you here now? inquired he.
Yes. Where should 90? Be-
sides, / did not want 10 unlock the
front door without your permission
That is quite right, said Martin
Some one who was ill.disposed might
have entered and stolen, that is. il
he could have found anything worth
taking.
And now, sir, il you please, I'll
make your bed, said the child, enter.
ing the room. I've made the one l
slept in.
Martin looked on without word,
while Floy taking his silence for assent,
proceeded to roll back the clothes,
shake the bed vigorously, and then
spread them over again. Espying a
broom at the corner Of the room. she
took it and swept up the hearth neatly.
She then glanced towards the miser
who had been watching her motions,
as if to ascertain whether they met his
approval. -.
So you can work, said he, after n
pause.
o, yes, mother used to teach me! /
wish, said she, after while, brighten
ing up as struck with new idea, you
would let me stay here, would make
your bed, take care Of your room, and
keep everything nice Besides cod
get your dinners.
Stay with me! Impossible. / don't
have much to do, besides / could mt af-
ford it.
l won't cost you anything. said
Floy, earnestly. know how to sew
and when am not doing something
for you. l can sew for money. and give
it to you.
This idea seemed to produce some
impression upon the miser's mind
But how do know, said he, a por-
ton Of his old suspicious returning,
how do l know but you will steal off
some day, and carry something with
you?
l never steal. said Floy. half indig-
nantly, "besidesI have no place to 90,
if shonld leave here.
This was true, and Martin, consid-
ering that il would be against her in
terest to conjure him in any such way,
an argument which weighed more
heavily than any protestations on
her part would have done. at length
said:
Well, you may stay at least awhile.
suppose you are hungry. There's a
loaf OF bread in the closet. You may eat
some of it, but don't eat too much. It's
its hurtful to the health to eat too
much.
When will you be home to get some
dinner? asked the child.
About noon. Perhaps / will bring
you some sewing.
o, hope you will 1t will seem
so nice. not to be obliged to be walk
ing about the streets, but to be seated
in pleasant room, sewing.
When Martin came home at noon,
instead of finding the room cheerless
and cold as had been wont. the fire
was burning brightly, diffusing a plea
SAINT warmth about the apartment
Floy had set the table in the centre oi