Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-02-10
C1oits gitafatare.
God Bless yca Max p
By ME

a dash of recklessness ii He vas Ivino
negligently on chistz Ius,1sze. draw, Il
front of the fireplace. '.|. I.;e. fItshed
handsome face, and dark hair. 1hfo.sn bael
on the cushions. His So l.s'. EI|len osf
upon the floor, and his 5.Isas were balf fol-
led across his 8 IS ..at..
The giflish hgiire ii the red CLOAK came
noiselessly across the room, and knelt down
beside him. His listless gaze beheld her
there, with her patient face, so full of beau
ty, love and compassion, bending over him.
Don't you remember Max" said Mercy.
gently when we were children, a long while
ago, how fell from the old swing and
broke my arm, and how you carried me
home in your arms y
"Yes, yes" answered Max, proudly then
his eyes grew moist when he thought how
often since then she had carried patiently
all his infirrnities-heavier by far.
Then" she continued, "you sat by my
bed of suffering, bidding me look forward
to bright days, when should be again your
play-t As you bade your little sister
hope, then, now God has permitted her to
grow up by yonr side, that her love may
build stronghold in your heart as lasting
as the Rock of Ages. There was hope for
you as boy, there is hope for you now
when you are man. For Twill help you,
and | will work for you, and will see you
braver, better, nobler than all"
Her pride spoke out from her glittering
eyes, her glowing cheeks even from her
shining hair; it seemed so warm, and
bright, and loving, Max turned away his
face from the fire; it scorched his cheeks,
for they were burning red And THIS was
the noble heart he had SO often wounded;
this the voice that he had listened to, as
he would listen to any idle song. These,
too, were the slender hands, whose earnings
he hal throug ghtlessly put into the dice
box, and thrown with then-a lifetime.
Oh, Max
He gathered his indolent form, and sat
upright, brushed back his hair, and repla-
ced his cap over it. He took her hands
and joined them about his neck, as though
to make her shield between his two selves
the better and worse.
Mercy, heaven knows I'm wretched
aro too sood for yet God has given
But ha7n't gotta 'e.:s....e neyer deserved. You
that Well work together, darling we'll
make happy and honored home for our
old AGE. Yes, we'll do it with His help"
So honest and true was that handsome
face then, notwithstanding its lines Of vas
cillation and Incidence, that Mercy drew it
down into herneck, and cried over it.
There, there, darling" and Max put
) her gently from him. !" You know must
: be off now. promised to leave in the
stage tonight, to be at work early in the
morning Every month I'll come to you
: as my banker, and patience and persever
ance will secure the rest"
) He spoke gayly-spoke Of patience ano
perseverance; he, with his easy confidence
: and negligent grace.
= Come,-kiss me and I'm gomez?
" Mercy clasped him close in her arms
y y kissing him quietly and fervently. "Go'
g bless you, Max p
y His hand was on the lock, and, as h
70 70 opened the door, he nodded over his shoul
~ der at her standing by the fire. His fac
- - looked happy and animated; there was
y thoughtless smile on his lips. Then b
> strobe away, and was gone. Mercy sto
to the window and listened. Easily, chez
~ ily, he passed, in the winter noon-hgh
% humming to himself-his quick, lrregulf
;, step sounding on one pavement. He hs
~ II walked just that way through life-wou
a' he walk thus into eternity!
m There was numbering old type-foundl
i'm on the corner of busy street, where era
ye- iron wheels dropped shining lead, with
lie monotonous hum. Every evening, the
mo came, from under its black, smoky doc
ed way, a noisy troop of women and glr
,oy with their bright tin dinner-pails. A
+ad among them, with her firm pace, and che
full smile, came always slight figure in
-, red cloak. She threaded her way ap
: from the throng, leaving their din far
;on hind. When she came to her turnir
,gn y, she always stopped, and looked westw;
80 with beaming, hopeful face, as if say
O." to herself as on a certain night-"G
# bless you, Max !"
y Weeks came and went, and the enc
aste that month came also. All through
long day bright vision lowered arol
ave Mercy in the old foundry, coming in, {
pite the snatches ofsong, humming whe
tch- and discordant voices. A vision Of a +
the little room, a sparkling fire, and, better t
$ as all, pretty chintz lounge with high c.
firm ions, and a weary, but honest head res
there.
and, At last, the sunset waned quite av
and the great, harsh bell rang out lou
= Swiftly, even gayly sped the figure
the red cloak along the chill pavement
,,;tb This time it did not stop at the turnin!
~ look westward. The door of the hui
80 house stood open.
fro "He is here, then, before me!' and
aar cy's heart gave quiet throb of glad
Yes, he was indeed there!
bin, She passedin quickly, but started a
.f.ass entered. A group of rongh workme
= their soiled clothes and shirt-sleeves,
az in the centre of the room. They
sh OF back silently towards the fireplace
qu.t- she came in. There was the neat i
all with its white curtains; the sparkling
d se~ and the pretty chintz lounge. But
ribed what Scared and mangled mass Q
imanity rested upon those cushions!