The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-02-12

who came in with his kindly glance and hand
some face, the noblest perfection of manhood
she had ever seen.
"Wsll. young lady, he said, blandly smil-
ing, s.to whom am indebted for this pleas
ure?o
"My father, sir, died in your debt" said
Eva, blushing and speaking very softly. "By
the strictest economy and hard work, my
mother and I have been able to pay all his
creditors but yourself. II you will be kind
enough to receive the balance of your account
in small sums-I am sorry they must be so
small, sir--we can in the course of q few years
fully liquidate the sum, and then--we shall
have fulfilled my fathers dying wish, that eve-
~ stain might be wiped from his honor" She
paused moment, and said again, falteringly,
'smy father was very unfortunate, sir, and bro
ken in health for many years, but, sir, he was
honorable; he would have paid the last cent il
it had left him beggar."
MIR. Miner sat awhile, thoughtfully, his
dark eyes fastened upon the gentle face before
KIM. After moment of silence be raised his
head, threw back the mass Of curling hair
| that shadowed his handsome brow, and said:
81 remember your father well. l regretted
his death. He was fine fellow" he added
I musingly: "but, my dear young lady, have you
the means--do yon not embarass yourself by
making these payments?n
| Eva blushed again, and looking up. inge-
niously replied, al am obliged to work, sir, but
4 1,1. ~ hat u,obf
the memory Of such father from disgrace"
This she spoke with keen emotion. The
rich man turned with choking in his throat,
and tears glstened on his lashes.
Eva timidly held out the two gold pieces; he
took them, and bidding her stay moment,
hastily left the room.
| Almost instantly returning, he handed her a
| sealed note, saying, "There is the receipt,
young lady, and allow me to add, that the
| mother OF sach child must be happy wo-
man. The whole debt, / find, is nine humid
| red and seventy five dollars. You will see by
| my note what arrangements have made, and
hope they will be satisfactory.
Eva left him with lighted heart, and burn
ing cheek at his praise. His manner was gen.
tie, SO fatherly, that she felt he would not inn
pose hard conditions, and il would be pleasure
to pay one so kind and forbearing.
AT last she got home, and breathlessly sit
ting at her mothers feet, she opened her let
! ter. Wonder of wonders bank note en-
closed; she held it without speaking or look
| ing at its value.
"Read it,' she said, after moments be-
wilderment, placing the letter in her mothers
| hanG 'here are fifty dollars; what can it
! mean?'
| ssThis |" said the sick woman, bursting into
tears, sis receipt in full, releasing us from the
payment Of your fathers debt. Kind, gene
rous man, Heaven will bless him, God will
shower mercies upon him. From a grateful
heart call upon the Father TO reward him
for this act of kindness. Oh, what shall we
do to thank him?"
"Mother," said Eva, smiling through her
tears, 81 felt as If he was an angle of good
ness. Oh, they do wrong, who say that all
who are wealthy have hard hearts. Mother,
can II be possible that we are 80 rich? Iwish
he knew how very happy he has made us, how
much we will love and reverence him, whenev-
er we think or speak of him, or even hear him
| spoken off,
"He has bound two hearts to him forever
murmured her mother.
| .Yes, dear Mr. Milner! 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 a very few
books for myself. declare am 10 thank
| full, feel as if l ought to 60 right back and
tell him that we shall love him as long as we
live.n
That evening the CRATE, heapei with Lehigh,
gave the little room an air of rnddy comfort.
Eva sat near, her curls bound softly back from
her pure forehead, inditing touching letter
to their benefactor. Her mothers face lighted
with the loss Of cankering care, shone with a
placid smile, and her very thought was prayer
calling down blessings upon the good rich
man.
| In another room, far different from the
widows home, but also bright with the blaze
Of genial Ere, and whose light made richer
the polish Of costly furniture, sat the noble
merchant.
"Pa, what makes you look 80 happy" ask
ed Lima, = beautiful girl, passing her smooth
hand over his brow.
"Don't always look happy, my little Lii
| na?''
"Yes, but you keer shutting your eyes and
smiliug-so;' and her bright face reflected his
own. al think you have had something very
nice to-day: what was it?''
"Does my little daughter really want to
know what has made her father 30 happy
Here is my Bible, let her tura to the Acts of
the Apostles, goth chapter, s5th verse, and
read it carefully"
/ The beautiful child turned reverently the pa
ges Of the holy book, and as she read, she look
ed up in her fathers eyes
"And to remember the words Of the Lord
Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give
than to receiver
| "Ah, know, she said,' laying her rosy
cheek upon his hand; "you have been giving
something to some beggars, as you did last
week, and he thanked you and said--.God
bless you,' and that's what makes you happy. y
L -