Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-07-29

presence of blessed child.
Not very far from the rich mans dwell
ing stood an humble frame tenement. where
a poor day -laborer lived With his wife and
child. He had been very hard at work from
the rising to the going down of the sun, and
now released from toll, was slowly vending
his way homeward, bearing the spirit ol
discomfort in his heart, Though scarcely
numbering as many years as Mr. freeman,
he looked older than the wealthy merchant.
His skin was coarse and brown from long
exposure TO the summers sun and winter :
cold; his body STOPPING from the weight OF
many burdens; his large hands rough aud
horny from labor. Occasionally, ns his
eyes glanced up from the pavement and
rested upon the elegant homes thas stood
proudly along the street, touch q envy
chafed him, and the old thought af aAsftlal
ldistrihntiez- of c od's Dressings came IKE a
spirit of evil into his mind.
In this unhappy mood was John Grant
when he laid his hand upon the latch, and
and pushed open the door of his poor abode.
How different was this tenement, in all its
surroundings and interior appearances, to
the princely dwelling of Andrew Freeman,
the wealthy merchant The low, weather.
stained door, from which all paint had been
obliterated for years, opened into the one
room which was used as kitchen, work
room, eating and siltng-room The badly
constructed chimney only partially scarried
off the smoke, and as John Grant stepped
into the room, he encountered an atmos-
phere loaded with sitting and binding
vapof.
He neither scolded nor complained; but
the sense of oppression was increased. He
looked at his weary wife, and the weary
wife looked at her weary hus5 and. Both
sighed, but neither of them spoke a word;
yet both felt that their lot in lite was a
hard one. John Grant sat down, heavily
and his wife went on with her preparations
for supper.
"Where is Maryi" he asked.
"She's gone to the store for salt" replied
| the wife.
The poor laboring man had looked up
with gieam of interest on his counten-
ance. His head bent slowly down again
until his chin rested upon his bosom.
"lsn't she staying great while!" said
the father, looking towards his vile. after a
few minutes had passed.
ats time she was Eere,'' replied the
mother. "She'll be back in moment"
"She's great deal of help to you now
Jane,' said Grant, with an awakening in
terest in his voice.
"Oh, yes, a great DEAL" answered his
wife.
"You don't know how many steps she
saves me. hardly ever have to run out to
the store now. She buys things there just
liks little wamaa.--And, she 10 learning
TO sew right neatly. Just look at tkat."-
And the mother brought dingy old piece
OF unbleached muslin. on which were sever
al rows of stitches. "Mary did the whole
of this. Now isn't it wonderful! She'll
make smart woman, can tell you."
"And she's so good" said Grant, as
broad smile went over his rough face, light.
ing it up wit, a humane expression tina,
gave it higher type of manhood.
'Look there" added the wife, pointing
TO a basket of carpenters chips, "she
brought that from the shop all herself
Why it's load for stout boy! Isn't she
strong!"
"Too heavy load for her arm, Jane,"
replied Grant. "You mustn't let her bring
such large one again "
"Oh, she Didn't mind it," said the moth
er 81 asked her how she got along, and
she told me she carried the basket sholt
distance at time, resting on the door
steps. and SO making her way homewards
didn'; just like one .hing," added Mrs.
Grant, in voice betrayIng some indigna-
ton; "she says tina: gentleman who lives
in one of the great houses in the next block
drove her off of his steps where she was
resting, and frightened her with his angry
looks
"Curse him." exclaimed John Grant, a
fiery Indignation burning instantly in his
face.
"Don't, don't curse any body, john" said
his wife, in soothing voice. "He didn't
know our little Mary, as we know her, or
he never would have driven her away. There
are idle. Dad, theving children about, John
and the gentleman, no doubt, took her for
one of them"
81 don't care for that" replied Grant,
still in an angry tome. "But, if had been
there, would have knocked him down, as
| would knock down dog!"
John Grant was still broodng over this
treatment of his child, when the msssic OF
of her happy voice, as she came singing to
the door, fell pleasantly upon his ears, scat
tering all clouds and shadows, and filling
his heart with sunshine.
HAS father come homel"
These were her words, as she threw open
the door, and bounded into the room.
ayes, pet, father is home," said John
Grant, reaching out his arms towards the
child, who was as precious to his heart, as
the child of any father in the land; that OF
Andrew Freeman not excepted.
Mary sprang into those great, strong arms,
clasping her own, that were fairy-like in
comparison, about her fathers neck. and
pressing her soft young lips lovingly 90 lips
whose ksses were sweet to her. Then she
laid herself down in ihis arms, and looked
up, with happy smile into his fuce. Mary
was not handsome child. Her features
wero plain, and rather coarse; but. in the
sight of her father, she was very beau,i-
ful. To him. all the swee tness of her child.
life, which was full of love for her paren,s,
was expressed in her outward form. The
blue OF her eyes, the ruby of her lips. the
chestnut brown Of her hair, the soitness of
| her skin, all h I'D refinement a delicacv