The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-02-19
True BenevoIence; or, IL is better so give than
to receive

And you strip yourself of comfort for the sake Of
adding to this rich merchants g~ains?' -
The widow replied with q flushed cheek: eft may
seem a light thing to you, but the thought that l am
slowly and surely wiping every stain from my hus-
bands honor is my greatest earthly comfort. Mr..
Morse is his last creditor, and, God willing, every
cent shall be paid
Her coarser relative responded with an emphatic
fddle-stick,' - and angrily left her presence.
cat last l have it, said a silver voice, and .
sweet face, clad and brilliant, Frightened up the
Q Only see mother ten dollars all my own ten
more make twenty so we shall have q nice little sum
for Mr.. Morse
Tears trembled on her mothers lashes and gIittered
on her pale cheek. cit is to be the price of thy life,
nay precious one 10 she thought. sis the canker-
worm at the heart Of my beautiful flower Must l
give thee up to weary toll, q sacrifice upon the altar
Of duty? Can it be that God requires 1t
Eva knelt at her mothers feet, where she had fall
en- with all the abandon of a child, her glance tlsten-
ed to the shining gold.
Lifting her glance, she met that Of her mother, full
Of anxiety, touched with sorrow. \ sudden smile
broke over her delicate features.
81 was only thinking of the endless things this
money would buy-don't look so grave, mamma I;
such u beauty of u warm shawl for you, and a neat
crimson cover for that untidy old armchair a bit,
ever so little, of carpet, to put down by the bed, that
your feet need not feel this cold floor and q pretty
cap, besides coal, and tea, and sugar, and such nice
comfortable things. But never mind'-and she
sprang to her feet, brushed back her brown curls,
and drew on her neat little bonnet-'n never mind,
I'll may be write 4 book one of these days thatI
make you and | rich. And, dear mother, you shall
ride in your own carriage, and may be those that
scorn us now, only because we are poor, may be
thankful for our notice. A truce to romance, she
grayely continued Fstern reality tells me to go
directly up to Madison Street, find Mr.. Morse, give
him this twenty dollars, take a receipt, and then come
home and read and sing to my MOTHER
Hurriedly Eva passed from her house along the
narrow streets. As she went onward, street after
street diyerged into pleasant width and palace-lined
SDlpQUOr. The houses of greatness and wealth Gilt
tered in their marble beauty under the golden sun
light. Up broad steps, through portals carved and
shining, passed the timid steps of Eva Sterne.
At first the pOmpouS servant smiled u ~cOntemptu-
Gus denial but after a moment, perhaps softened by
her childish simplicity and winning blue eyes, he
deemed it best not to deny her urgency and she
entered this palace of q rich mans home.
Softly her feet sank in the luxurious hall-carpet.
Statuary in bronze and marble lined the way to the
staircase. The splendor of the room into which she
was ushered seemed to her inexperienced sight too
beautiful for use, and he who came in, with his
kindly glance and handsome face, the noblest perfec-
ton Of manhood she had ever seen.
"Well, young lady, he said, blandly smiling, F'to
whom am [ indebted for this pleasure?"
"My father, sir, died in your debt said Eva,
blushingly, speaking very softly. "By the ~strictest
economy and very hard work. my mother and [ have
been able to pay all his creditors but yourself. If you
will be kind enough to receive the balance Of your
account in small sums-I am sorry they must be
small, sir-We can, in the course Of u very few years,
fully liquidate the sum, and then-wcs shall have full
filled my fathers dying wish, that every strain might
be wiped from his HONOR She paused a moment,
and said again, falteringly, "My father was very
unfortunate, sir, and broken in health for many
years but, sir, he was honorable he would have
paid the last cent, if it had left him a beggar.''
Mr.. Morse sat a while thoughtfully, his dark eyes
fastened upon the gentle face before him. After a
moment of silence he raised his head, threw back the
mass Of curling hair that Swallowed his handsome
brow, and said
81 remember your father well. [ regretted his
death. He was q fine fellow he added, musingly !;
"but, my dear young lady, have you the .means-do
you not embarrass yourself by making these pay
ments 20
Eva blushed again, and looking up, ingenuously
replied, 81 am obliged to work, sir but no labor
would be too arduous that might save the memory of
such a father from Disgrace
This she spoke with keen emotion. The rich man
turned with q choking in his throat, and tears glis-
tened on his lashes. Eva timidly held out the two
gold pieces he took them, and bidding her stay q
moment, hastily left the room.
Almost instantly returning, lie handed her O sealed
note, saying: 'FIhere is the receipt, young lady, and
allow me to add, that the mother Of such Il child must
be a happy woman. The whole debt, | find, is nine
hundred and seyenty-iye dollars. You will see by
my note what arrangements | have made, and [ hope
they VIII be satisfactory
Eva left him with q lighter heart, and q burning
cheek at his praise. His manner was gentle, so
-fatherly, that she felt he would not impose hard con-
ditions, and it would be a pleasure to pay one SO kind
and forbearing.
At last she got home, and breathlessly sitting at
her mothers feet, she opened her letter. wonder OF
wonders bank-note inclosed she held it without
speaking, or looking at its value.
Read it." she said, after a moments bewilder-
ment, placing the letter in her mothers hand-s'here
are fifty dollars what can it mean:'
This, said the sick woman, bursting into tears,
sis q receipt in full, releasing you from the payment
of your fathers debt. Kind, generous =
viii bless him-God will shower mercies upon him.
From a grateful heart l call upon the Father to re-
ward him for this act of kindness. Oh what shall
we do to thank him
Mother said Eva, smiling through her tears,
"I felt as if he was an angel of goodness. Oh, they
do wrong who say that all who are wealthy have hard
hearts. Mother, can it be possible we are so rich
I wish he knew how very happy he has made US, how
much We viii love and reverence him whenever we
think or speak of him, or even hear him spoken of?''
He has bound two hearts to him forever muir
INJURED her mother.
eyes dear Mr.. Morse little he thought how
many comforts. we wanted. Now we need not stint
the fire we may buy coal, and have one cheerful
blaze, please God. And the tea, the strip of carpet,
the sugar, the little Injuries for you, dear mother
and the time, and a very few books for myself. l
declare I'm so thankful, [ feel as if ought to go
right back, and tell him that we shall love him as
long as We live
That evening, the CRATE heaped with Lehigh gave
the little room an air of rudy comfort. Eva sat
near, her curls bound softly back from her pure fore
head, inditing 4 touching letter to their benefactor.
Her mothers face, lighted with the loss Of cankering
care, shone with a placid smile. and her every thought
was q prayer, calling down blessings upon the good
rich man