The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-04-15

bis life. the -! But then what can
feller dol Ifuou don't sell it to the poor
miserable wretches, somebody else will
And So the stranger said, as he stoop
ed over the still form of the child, who
lay where she had fallen, and so, yor
quiet your conscience in doing wrong by
the thought that other people will, if yor
don't, and thus absorb the gains of ini
guilty which might be yours. Bad phi
losophy, my friend, and worse IL norals !
Don't you think it would DO for you to
act rightly, without reference to other
people or their transactionsr
The man looked abashed, but made
no answer, and the two lifted the still in.
sensible child and carried her into the
dark hall, and up the filthy stairs tba led
to the apartment occupied by her parents.
The blood was treaming from her cheek
where it had been cut By the missile flung
with such force, and from her temple,
which had struck the curbstone in her
fall She revived partially, as the stran-
ger lore her in his arms up the stairs,
and moaned slightly. The grocer did not
see with what clasp Of affection she was
held close to the broad breast that sup
ported her.
As the men came upon the landing
they heard loud voices, and presently a
laundering jar and fall as of some heavy
article
More of the fruits of your gin!' the
stranger said.
He stood aside while the grocer, who
made no answer to bis remark, threw o.
pen the door Then be strobe in and
looked round for couch or bed on which
he might lay the child. And very care
fully be laid her down, before he turned
to the other occupants of the room.
The woman had sunk into a chair, and
with hands uplifted, was striving to ward
of the blows that her husband was inHic
ting, and be, with his bloatcd features all
iufamed by the destroying beverage which
was fast tiotting out all the moral sem
blapce of IL aDohod, and by rage stood O.
yer her, looking far more Gendish than
human.
Tho,e two strong men, however, had
little troub ble in reducing him to subms-
ton. They pushed him into an adjoin-
ing room, locked the door, and then the
stranger begged the grocer to procure, at
once, the services of the nearest physician q
for the child, which be added, he would
remuneTate.
The grocer departed, and the stranger
was left alone with the woman, who was
still sobbing and moaning in the corner
where she sat, seemed unconscious of
much that had passed, Folding his arms
he gazed at her for few moments, while
tears slowly gathered in his eyes and roll
ed down his cheeks. He was thinking of
scenes long past-of the far off happy
days Of boyhood, when be played beneath
the trees that shaded bis fathers
country home, or knelt beside his moth
er's knee to offer up his nightly prayer,
and when at play or prayer, by the fire.
side or 10 the fields his cherished compan-
ion had been the dear sister whose face
be had not for years beheld
He had never seen her since that sad
parting hour when she left the dear
home Of youth and all the beloved home
friends, and went forth young and low
ing bride, with him who bad just pledg ged
himself, in the sight of God and man, to
love and cherish, and protect her through
Iife Never until to-day! And to meet
her thus, after the silence of years, in
which he had known nothing of her wei
fore, though hoping all !! 1t was not
strange that such meeting should bring
tears to manly eyes, all unused to weep
ing.
After little time be went softly up to
the woman and laid bis hand upon her
arm. She moved impatiently, under that,
the gentle touch aud then, as it was not
removed, glanced, fercely sco~ling at tie
intruder.
he returned the gaze sadly, but firmly.
Her eyes fell beneath his, but still there
was no answering look of recognition.
Then be spoke. 1t was but one word,
one simple word, but It's effect was magi-
cal A shudder ran through the womans
frame, her features were for moment
convulsed, then all ferceness faded from
them, a soft dewy light came into her
eyes, her small mouth trembled with sup.
pressed feeling, she grew almost beauti.
ful again, that mean, meagre, squalid
creature, under the wondrous transfor-
nation. The word was repeated.
'MaryP
Then cry burst from her pented lips
She sprang to her feet, confronted the
stranger, and placing her bands upon bis
shoulders, gazed long and fxedly into bis
face. -
sYes, yes, she said, slowly, you are he
you are my OVID, only brother. Albert
Once | would have been glad to meet you
but now, now and REFUSING the arm:
that would have folded her in an atfec
tioaate embrace, she turned away saying
with touching humility, No, no my
brother, | am not worthy! Then, she ioi
the frst became cognizant OF the copdi
ton of her child, and rushing wildly tow
ard tho bed, she bent over the iDanlmat'
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