The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-03-06

> The sight OF the child touched the hear
Of the woman, and they went into the larg
kitchen, and sat down in the aag-bottomet
chains, while with glowing check, tho girl
cast about IN her mind for the best manne,
in which to present her petition for food.
Before she had desided, the master Of th'
house suddenly entered the kitchen, for il
was nearly dinner time. He was large
muscular, broad.chested, sun.burnt man,
with, o hard, gloomy expression on the face
where sixty years were now beginning to
write their history. He stood still with sur
prise, gazing on the new occupant Of the
kitchen and the boy drew close to his sis
ter, and the girl threw up q tlmid frightened
glance into the gloomy face.
"You don't know Of nobody round here
that wants little help, do 20 farmer ?''-
asked the cid woman. "lIere's u girl wants
u place, and Us she's walked from the depot,
I told her she might come in and rest q bit
before she went up into the village to try
her luck"
"No," shortly answered the farmer
"Dinner rcady?' 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
qulvered Us he turned his face from the far
mer's.
"Lucy! Lucy!'' How those little trem-
bling tones went down, down, down, into
the mans hard heart! How the dead days
of his youth burst out of their graves. and
rushed through his memory at that low,
broken " Lucy! Lucy"
He turned and looked at tho girl, not
sourly Us before, but witha kind Of eager,
questioning interest. 20
"What is your name?'
"Lucy Wheeler, slr.''
lie staggered back, and caught hold Of the
nearest chair. "And what was your moth
er's p
"I.ucy Reid. She used to live in Mead
ow Brook, and so came here to got work,
for she told mo to before she died." :.
At that moment tho angels looked down,
and saw the seed that had lain for Two score
years in the Heart Of Justin Keep, spring
up, and the aoiver bl,ssom.d in the ,siid.r-
ness
lie strobe across the kitchen to the be.
wildcred girl. Ho brushed back her bonnet
and turned her flcy to tho light. lie could
not bs mistaken. 1t was the ono framed
and hung up In the darkened room Of his
soul. The blue eye Of his Lucy looked once
more In his own. At that moment the lit
tic boy pushed up between them, and gazed
wistfully into the mans face. Farmer
Keep sat down and took the child on his
knee. He tried to speak, but instead, great
sobs came, and hcaved his strong chest
The trio in the kitchen gazcd on him with
mute astonlshment. Id.
"Lucy's children! Lucys children :"
he murmurcd ut last, in voice whose ten
derness was like that Of mother. "God
has sent you to me-, For her sake this shall
be your home: for her sake will be father
to you.
Five years afterwards Cora wrote to me ::
"Wc are having fine times now, dear cousin
Jennie, and mamma wants to know if you d
not need to renew your rosy cheeks among
the dews of Meadow Brook. Uncle Charlie $
with us this summer, and If you were here
also my happiness would bc complete.
Lucy Wbeeler-you remember her
has tho place in my heart next to yours
Her disposition Is Us lovely as her face, and
that is saying great deal. for its rare,
sweet beauty doe, one good to behold it,
Farmer Kccpsccms to worship her and Ben
ny. He is q changed man now, and goes to
church regular us the Sabbath. He has
spared no pains or expense in Lucy's cduca.
ton. and she will be most accomplished
woman. She is here very often, and | have
susplcions that Uncle Charlie n'inporfe
will not trust this to pen and paper.
"But D. Jennie what lesson has all thi,
taught me! How 1t has deepened my faitl
in God and humanity!
Snow, when my heart ycarns over the
wretched, the SHINING, the outcast, remcm
Der always that there is a. .forer in The ,riider
ness"