Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-01-21
THOBURN & NICHOLS, PROPRIFTOBS.l
NEW SERIES, VOL 3, NO A.

/
Kate got such a dinner as she vas able to
pick up, and Tie afternoon she spent in
mending some OF her uncle's old clothes. =
He came in towards the middle of the af.
ternoon, and she told him she was out OF
fur. He proposed getting two pounds,
but she finally made him see that it would
be to his interest to get barrel. Ii came
hard to pay out six dollars for a barrel oi
flour, but be did it; and while he was about
it, he got pound of tea, pound of coffee
dollars worth of sugar, and some other
| little things. These be had sent home, and
when he came to sit down to his supper Of
/ light warm biscuit, and taste he fragrant
tea, he really confessed to himself that he
was gamer BY the money thus far ex,
pended.
Thus matters mnYed-nn for week. The
Old man watched his reice's every move
1 n1cut, sut he could see nothing wasted
( Livery c7u.ab was cared for and saved, and
he was surprised to see what exce!,e Tent
dishes she prepared from simos: nothing.
| Ore afternoon when the wind blew cold,
and the snow was falling fas., poor girl
I raped at the door, and Kate 'et her in
Her name was Martha Allen, and her father
was poor day laborer who had been con-
fined to his bed for several months, having
been injured while blasting rocks. Martha
was on ly fifteen, and was mild, blue-eyed
pretty girl. She had come to see if Dir.
Burr could not help her father.
"Why should he send to mel" the old
man asked, nervousiy.
"Oh, sir, he does not know that | have
gone out to beg for him." returned the girl;
but | could not bear TO see him suffer So
in body and mind, without trying to help
him. For three long months he has lain
in his bed, and now he is kept back by the
fearful thought OF the debt he viii have to
shoulder when he gets up. But thus fer |
have not run in debt, though he thinks
have, and | dare not wholly undeceve hun.
for fear that must do SO. We have spent
every cent he has laid up, and have work.
ed hard, and sold many of my things; but |
have nothing more to sell, and all my time
must oe spent with him. ,, SIR, for the
love OF mercy, give NE something. If we
ever can repay you, we will"
"Bu! what would you have, girI!" the old
man asked, moving unesily in his chair.
"A 4 dollar. sir, CT two dollars. You would
not miss il, while
Not miss it, And do you think l am
made OF money!"
At this moment Kate lei the room, and
in moment II IRE she opened the door, and
ca led ior her uncle TO come out.
WHAT Is it!" he asked, as he came into
the back room leaving the poor girl alone.
"Uns .e Absaiom, you must not send that
poor child away empty handed" she said
placing both her hands upon his shoulders.
just think her poor father, and ui how
much she suffers or him. You are able,
&ad a. sure a. you give ia schaEitye IL hes,
so sure shall you rewarded be-
-'AEa gho's 10 reward rine. ciii,d!''
"Your own thoughts and feelings, uncle. :"
But haven't the money TO spare"
"rhen give her ten GoiGrs-.'
Ten dollars! Mercy, Kate, you would
ruin me!'
Hear me out. GIVE her ten dollars,
aad if at the end of six months you want it
back, will Plejge myself to see it paid :"
You will See it paid! Where will you
get it!''
Il have more than that money, which l
have laid up to buy clothes with"
81 can go without clothes easier than I
can Sc poor, honest man suffering, when
by any means he may be blessed. o, !
would rather nave the free, heartfelt bleS-
sing OF one homes: soul, than all the dresses
in the wcrId. To walk forth and feel that
| am loved for the good do, were better
far than millions Of money piled away in
ddTk>corEers. Go and give her ten dollars
and keep me to my promise, for | viii no;
break it. But mind yUu--my name must
not be mentioned. Give it to her as your
own gitt.'
"But you will pay mel"
"When you ask for it."
81 think it is foolish 20 throw away your
money SO, and yet I'll give it TO her. You
won't come to me for dresses, thought"
"No, slr."
The old man returned, and having pull
ed out his pocket-book he drew out ten dol
lars and handed it to Martha Allen.
Here" said he, stake this and see that
you make good use of liz
The poor girl took the money with
trembling hand, and as she looked at the
bills-two fves--she was startled.
"You have made mistake, sir" she
said.
"How 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
90, sir!' she uttered, catching his hand
| and pressing her TIPS upon Them. "God
bless you for this! You know no; what
joy VIII i,lumine my poor fathers heart
when he knows of this! God bless you,
now and forever
| When Martha Allen was gone, Absalem
Burr wiped a tear from his eye Kate look
ed up through her own tears and saw him.
She moved quietly to his side, and putting
her soft arms about his neck, she kissed
him on the cheek; but she did not speak.
An excellent supper was partaken oI, and
in the evening Kate sang some Of the
sweetest songs to her uncle, and more than
once while she sang, she saw tears in his
eyes.
That night, when Absa!om Burr laid lis
head upon his pillow, he had new emo
tlon, and 1t was strange one to him-yet
it was sweet and blessed one. He had
done deed of charity, and the blessings OF
that poor but noble girl rung in his ears
anG dropped upon his soul; and he imagined
be could hear the prayer of Mark Allen as
cending to heaven in his behalf. Ii knew
Mark Allen for an honest, industrious,
steady, hard-wcrking man, and be felt sure
that Mark would pray for him. Surely
the thought was blessed one"
But stop! Who gave that saving giit'-
Who did that deed of charity!
"Bv the saints" murmured the Old man