Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-04-28

nearted DfOtner IL was hardly weakness,
for he was all that God had left her of the
household over whom the spring daises had
long spread their golden covering and for a
moment she had looked with the worlds eyes
upon his betrothal to the sister of mendicant
But her brothers words had silenced the pride
whispers in her heart, for Hattie Marshall had
learned Of Him who was meek and lowly in
spirit. -,
will do as you ask, Weldon Forgive
me IT have done wrong" she whispered,
drawing up closer to her brother, and laying
her head in its old resting place against his
heart for very tenderly the brothes and sister
loved each other
Weldon Marshall drew his arm around his
sisters waist, and then when the rain moaned
and the wind muttered around the windows,
and the anthracite fire mingled its ruddy glow
with the silver astral light and filled the par
sonage slttlng-room with dreamy crimson
light, he told a story of the past and his eyes
grew darker, his low, earnest tones full of pa
thetic eloquence as he told it -
" 1t is eight years next month, Hattie, and
[ was in New York, engaged in my collegiate
studies. You see it was three years after our
mothers death, and you were at that time with
uncle Hayard attending school
1t was cold, wild, disagreeable night :;
and remember standing at the window ofmy
snug sanctum, and looking out ruefully into the
darkness, for had made an engagement to
meet several of my fellow students that even
ing in distant portion of the city.
Dear me, how the wind blows !" solilo-
| quized, with very feminine shrug Of the shoul-
ders, as [ drew the curtains closer I've half
a mind to throw myself on the lounge, which
| looks SO provokingly comfortable and cosy
this evening, and not attempt an encounter
with the elements. It's absurd to think they'll
| expect me such night as tins In short, 1
won't tempt an influenza by showing my face
outside the door," was the conclusion of my
monOlogue.
q remember that I wheeled up the sofa in
comfortable proximity with the fire, located the
| lamp SO that the rays fell softly upon the vol,
ume intended to commune with, and [ had
settled myself for a long, quiet winters evening.
But it would not do. My eyes wandered
liStlessly along the pages they could not en-
gage my attention a strange, unaccountablc
feeling of reStlcsSncss and anxiety seemed to
| possess me. At last | resoutely closed the
book, and few minutes later was in Broad
way, mentally censuriug my folly in yielding to
feeling | could not resist.
All, me looking back through the eight
years that lie between that dreary night and
the present. how clearly can | see the great
| Fathers love in it all
| "What is it you want here little boy ~ |
see him now just as though had seen him this
morning, and the light from the tall window is
falling on him just as it fell then, revealing his
ragged dress and pale pinched features and
the cold rain is dripping off his thick, brown
curls, just US it did then. 1t is strange,
mourntul plcture-the dark night in the back
ground, and the little ragged boy, and the
brilliant lights and the great store with all
sorts of rare confections, in front. No wonder
it touched my heart The boy started as /
laid my hand gently on his shoulder and looked
up with his wild, eager, bright eyes into my
| face
ooh, sir !" he said, after moments earnest
| perusal of my features, L was thinking if |
| only coutd carry one of those cakes home to Ell
len she is very sick, and-and (the little fel-
| lows lips quiVered) we haven't had anything
to eat for two days"
Il did not speak another word but caught
hold of the child and pulled him after me into
the store"
Hand me down a plate of those cakes" /
cried to the astonished clerk, who turned with
more than ordinary alacrity to fulfil my request.
| drew the boy into small sitting-room at
one end of the establishment "Now eat these
as fast as you can, and then tell me who Ellen
is"
His hungry look, the strange avidity with
which he grasped the food, almost wrung tears
from my eyes.
Ellen is my sister-my only sister since the
baby died. We are alone now. Last month,
Just after they buried mother, she grew sick.
| s'pose it was because she cried so much and
she's been growing worse all the time"
And there is nobody to take care of her
now but you, my little fellow"
Nobody but me-the money mother left is
all gone you see, sir, and though | sometimes
earn sixpence by selling papers or cleaning
sidewalks, | couldn't leave Nelly for the last
week, she grew so much worse 0, sir, how
good these taste can't thank you, but l
want to-"
"WcI you needn't, my boy. / want no
other thanks than your enjoyment of them"
But mayn't take the rest home to Nelly?
She'll be frightened I'm gone so long. o, sir,
if you'd only go with me !"
"I'll come and see you and Nelly tomorrow"
said, /" if you'll tell me where you live, aud
now while you are eating the remainder of your
cakes, I'll get something that Nelly will like
better"
Il procured basket which / saw well
stocked with variety of fruits and confections
most likely to tempt the appetite Of an invalid
and adding to these all the money had with
me, returned to the child.
"Go home to Nelly with these as fast as You
can," | said, "and tell her that will come TO
see her tomorrow morning. Now be a man,
my little boy, and take good care of sister Ell
len, till then"
"And are all these for her z" said the child
as bis large wondering bright eyes roamed over
the basket "And she has been moaning in
her sleep after an orange for whole week