Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-06-17
and knew that he was sobbing, she went in
to her bedroom and wept an hour.

/ IN Wnlcn lived uttle OLD man, whose name
was Aaron Perry. He had lived there a
dozen years, and all that people knew about
him was that he lived very poorly; went
meanly clad, and seemed to have no friends.
He came to the village sometimes to sell
! the berries which he had picked, and once
in while he bought little tea and sugar.
He was curious looking man, being over
eighty years of age; small and bent; with
long, white hair and beard, hanging low
upon his back and breast; and always walk
] ing with long, stout staff. He was known
las the Old Man of the Wood, and many
people who knew him well, knew him by
no other name. Where he came from was
mystery, as he would never give any in
formation upon the subject
One day Nellie theug ght to herself that
she had not seen the old man pass her cot
for some time, and she wondered why it
could be. He had to 60 by there on his
way out from the wood, and it had been bis
custom to stop there and rest. Something
must be the matter, for it was early spring,
and the weather was very pleasant; and she
resolved to 60 and see at once.
When Nellie reached the hut she found
the old man sitting in his chair, with his
brow upon his hands. He seemed to be
very weak, but new light cleaned upon
his face as he saw the sweet look of his fair
visitor.
sWhy, Uncle Aaron, what is the mat
terw she asked, sinking upon her knees be-
fore him, and taking both his hands in her
own. She looked SO earnestly. and so ten
der, and so loving, the old mans lips trem-
bled for some moments before he could an
}swer.
II have been quite sick, ;" he finally said
''Sick! And who has taken care of you?''
'tNobody."
..What! sick all alone?' cried Nellie,
with emotion. 'sOh-why didn't [ think
before? ought to have known something
was the matter. But you shan't be sick so
any more, for will come every morning
and evening, and take care Of you.o,rr--,
i-sss-s ( c1IInot pay you, my uear child
he said, gazing into her face with a sort of
bewildered look.
s'You are naughty to talk SO, sir" she
returned. ''Mercy on me, what should l
be good for, if couldn't help people that
needed it?''
.'But then you ought to have some pay,
child" And as Aaron spoke he looked
very sharply out of his little gray eyes upon
the lovely presence.
ses'And don't [ have pay, sir? Isn't one
word of gratitude from a true heart worth
more than money? If you had money, I'd
hire somebody to come and take care of you;
but as you haven't got any I'll do it myself.
So cheer up, and let me be your nurse"
! Nellie would hear no more argument, but
went at work as soon as possible to make the
old man comfortable. She made him some
tea, and fixed up matters as best she could,
and finally took her leave. In the evening
she came again, and again in the morning.
In few weeks the Old Man of the Wood
could walk out, but it was only by leaning
upon Nellie's arm She had become neces-
sary to his very life, and the only regret he
ever expressed was that he could not repay
her.
every well, SIR" she would say, ssbring
on your money, and I'll take it and hire a
nurse for yeu, and turn my attention else
where, for there are plenty that need nurs-
ling who have no money
a One evening, away into the summertime
J old Aaron called Nellie to his side, and bade
Der sit down. Then he took silver snuff:
4 box from his pocket, and patted it with his
: finger. It was old, and much worn, and
: quite large, and seemed to have been once
f elaborately engraved, though but little o
/ graver's work could be seen now
''Listen to me, child" he said, s'and b.
j very attentive, for I am going to tell yor
: something about this old silver box"
Nellie knew by the old man S look that he
was going to tell her something of import
] ance. So she drew her stool close up be-
} fee him, and gave him her whole attention
i I think great deal of this old thing,
/ he said patting the box Familiarity. ''My
: father gave it to me on his dying bed. L
| was given to him by soldier, whom he
nursed in the woods after battle So you
: see it is sort of memento of good-a kline
of pledge. of gratitude. Well-when my
father died was left all alone. My mother
: had died before, and l never had any bro
3 tllors- or sisters, nor did my father have any
but my mother had sister-a young sister
q who has since been married However
: this young aunt did not have home of hel
, own then, and was thrown out upon the
/ world. l went-to sea, and visited foreign
t countries. | had very good fortune, and
J then had very bad fortune. I grew ole
e. and had no friends. L thought of my aun
J ,I-the only relative I had and went to her
j She was in comfortable home and had {
wealthy husband !; but she did not wish tc
4 know her poor relative She said she coulG