The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-04-09

'sey woolsey sklrt-answered to her

The old lady peered at her with o'm
evms. No." said she There ann
.bot four on us-Farmsr Keep and the
two bired men aud me. It's harvest
time just now, though, and reckon you
will 6od place up in the village. .
Thank you. Benny here, my little
brother, is tired, for we have walked
from the depot. Can you let US come
ip and rest awhile 7"
"Sartin you can."
The sight Of the child touched the
heart OF the woman, and they went into
the large kitchen, and sat down in the
flag boitomed chairs, while with glow
ing cheek the girl cast about in her mind
for the best manner in which to present
her petition for food.
Before she had decided, tue master
of the house suddenly entered the kitch-
en-, for it was nearly dinner time. He
was a large, muscular, broad chested,
sun burnt man, with hard, gloomy ex-
preston on his face, were sixty years
were now beginning TO write their last
history.
He stood still with surprise, gazing on
the new occupants Of the kitchen and
the boo drew close to his sister, and the
girl threw up timid, frightened glance
into the gloomy face.
" You don't know of ybody round
here that wants little help do ye, far
mer 7" asked the old woman. Here's
girl wants place, and as she's walk
ed from the depot, told her she might
come in and rest bit before she went
up into the village to try her luck"
"No shortly answered the farmer
Diuuer readyi" and the rich man
turned away without one gentle word or
kind look for the homeless children whom
God had brought to his door.
Lucy, Lucy, don't stay here I'm
afraid )" and the little boys lip curled
and quivcr,d as he turneo his face from
the farmers.
Lucy, Lucy !" How those little
trembling tones went down, down, down,
into the mans hard heart How the
dead days Of his youth burst out of their
graves, and rDshed through his memory
at that low broken " Lucy, Lucy" He
turned and looked at the girl, not sour
ly as before, but with kind Of eager
questioning interest.
" What is your name ~
Lucy Wheeler, sir"
He staggered back and caught hold
Of the nearest chair. "And what was
your mothers :"
Lucy Reid She used to live in
Meadow Brook, and so | came here tc
get work, for she told me to before she
died"
At that moment the angels looked
down and saw the seed that had lain for
two score years in the heart Of Justin
Keep spring up and the fOrer bl0ssOnled
IN the uilderneu.
He strobe across the kitchen to the
bewildered girl. He brushed back her
bonnet, and turned her face to the light.
He could not be mistaken. 1t was the
one framed and hung in the darkened
room of his soul. The blue eye Of his
Lucy looked once more in bis own. AT
that moment the little boy pushed up
between them and gazed wistfully into
the mans face. Farmor Keep sat down
and took the child on his knee. He
tried to speak, but instead, great sobs
came, and heaved bis strong chest. The
trio in the kitchen gazed on him in mute
astonishment.
"Lucy's children Lucy's children ~
he murmured at last, in a voice whose
tenderness was like that of a mother
"God has sen. you to me. For her sake
this shall be your home for her sake
will be father Of you"
Five years afterwards Cora wrote to
me we are have fine times now, dear
cousin Jennie, and mamma wants to
know if you do not need to renew your
rosy cheeks among the dews Of Meadow
Brook. Uncle Charlie is with us this
summer, and if you wcro here also my
happiness would be complete.
Lucy Whecler-you remember her
has the place 10 my heart next to yours.
Her disposition is as lovely "a her face
and that is saying great deal, for its
rare, sweet beauty docs one good to be-
hold it. Farmer Keep seems to wor.
ship her and Benny. He is changed
man now, aud he goes to church regular
as the Sabbath. He has spared no pain:
or expense u Lucy's education, and she
will be most accomplished woman.-
She is here very often, and | have sus-
picions that Uncle Cbarlie-n' n'importe,
! will not trust this to pen and paper.
But D, Jennie, what lesson has all
this taught me How it has decpeped
my faith 10 God and in humanity
Now when my heart yearns over the
wretched, SHINING outcast, l remember
always that there isa blossom in tho viii
derncss"