Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-07-08


The poor girl took the money with
trembling hand. and as she looked at the
biils-two fves-she was startled.
"You have made mistake, SIR" she
said.
GLOW so?''
"You have given me ten dollars"
$50 meant, girl"
A moment the child gazed into the
old mans face, and then she burst into
tears.
80, sirl'' she uttered. catching his
hands and pressing her lips upon them
"God bless you for this! You know not
what will Hume my poor fathers heart
when he knows of this. God bless you,
now and foreverl''
When Martha Allen was gone. Absa-
lom Burr wiped tear from his eye.
Kate looked up through her own tears
and saw him. She moved quietly to his
side, and putting her soft aim about his
neck, she kissed him upon the cheek.
But she did not speak.
An excellent supper was partaken of.
and in the evening Kate sang some of
her sweetest songs to her uncle, and
more than once while she sang she saw
tears in his eyes.
That night, when Absalom Burr laid
his head upon his pillow, he had new
emotion, and it was a strange one to him
-yetit was sweet AMI blessed one. He
had done deed of charity, and the bless
ing o. that poor but noble giil yet rung
in his ears and dropped upon his soul;
and he imagined he could hear the pray
els of Mark Allen ascending 10 heaven
in his behalf. He knew Mark Allen
for an honest; industrious, steady. hard
working man, and he felt sure that Mark
would pray for him. Surely the thought
was blessed one.
But stop! Who gave that saving gift?
Who was it did that deed of charity?
"By the saints" murmured the old
man, stating half up in bed, ''I did it!
Kate shan't Pay one cent! She shan't
Bleses me if she shallI"
And Absalom lay back upon his pi l.
low, and in the night be dreamed that
Martha Allen was an angel, and that
she came to bless him. 1t was sweet,
and cheering dream.
Two days afterwards Kate proposed
that they should go and visit Mark Alien.
For" said she, "our presence may
cheer him.
And the cd man finally consented to
go. They reached the humble cot, and
were welcomed in by Martha. They
found old Mark sitting in great, stuffed
chair which neighbor had sent in, and
though he looked pale and wan, yet q
warm smile suffnsed his lace, as he saw
The visitors.
"Mr. Burr" he sail, while big tears
stood in his eyes. Il can never pay you
for the noble kindness you have shown
me- l may at some time pay you Il e
money, but l cannot pay you all, for tie
bare money is as nothing compared with
The knowledge that have such gener-
Gus friend to stretch ont his saving
haud in the hour Of gloom and misery"
Talk not OF money to me" returned
Uuclo Absalom. earnestly and warmly.
"If it served you l am already more
than repai. The blessings of man are
cheePIy purchased when so slight sum
can do it; and, moreover, l have been
OF St rvice to a suffering fellow"
Even Kate was surprised at this; but
she knew twas real and she was glad.
When they arose to depart, at the end
OF nearly an hour, Martha followed them
to the door and here she blessed the old
man again. He was moved by gener-
Gus impulse. and he took golden half
eagle from his pocket and handed it to
her.
"No, no, she said, drawing her hand
back. What you have already civ en-
US will suffice until father gets out. But
there is cne who would be blessed with
the gift, and if you will permi. me l will
relinquish the gift in her behalf. The
poor Widow Wildredge is very low, and
her daughthr is sick. 1 carried them
over some food this morning, aud found
them quite destitute"
But Uncle Absolum was a stubborn
man, and he would have his own way.
"Take this" he said "and l may
find another for Mrs. Wildredge. Your
father will not be able to work for some
time yet; SO take it. Ii you will. will
call on the widow-but II yon refuse me,
1 wont move a step only towards home"
Martha took tie mUnry with fearful
eyes, and Mr. Burr heard more blessings
as he turned away. Widow Wildredge's
dwelling was not far off. and thither the
uncle and niece turned their steps. They
found the mot er, woman of some Gf-
ty years sitting by the bedside of her
sick daughter. She arose as the visitors
came in, and her countenance plainly
showed that she wondered W by Absalom
Burr had called. But she saw an angel
in Kate's mild blue eyes.