Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-08-26
An Interesting 5ketfb.
BREAD UPON THE WATERS.

The night was cold, dark, and gusty ;
storm clouds were gathering thickly over
head, and the ground beneath was icy,
affording insecure footing for the weary
traveller, trudging patiently and slowly,
as he had done since early dawn. He
was not young and appeared feeble, and
stopped occasionally, pressing his hand
to his side as if in pain, weakness, and
cold he still toiled on, as one DESTROYS
of reaching home. Home! Had he a
home? Two hours had certainly elapsed
since night had thrown her veil upon
the earth, when, overcome by the bitter,
biting wind, he sank at last into huge
snowdrift by the wayside, and in feeble
accents prayed aloud to God in his an
guish for her whose whole earthly stay
he was. And ''He who heareth the
poor when they cry unto Him." answer
cd the prayer Of the desolate. A farm
er's boy came whistling merrily along,
and like the Good Samaritan, stopped at
the sight of suffering humanity.
"Why do you lie here, sir? The
night is so cold that one must move to
keep from freezing Come, l will help
you"
I" 1t is useless; I am too tired, too
faint to go further"
+" A few rods further is my home. l
can help you walk SO far, and there you
can get rested and warmed"
/" Haverhill--if | could have reached
there but I-have-no more strength !"
and again his anguish burst forth: my
wife oh, God my poor, poor wifer'
The boy threw strong arm around
the man and raised him to his feet, but
his limbs obeyed no longer his will, and
and he sank again upon the ground. For
a moment stood our Good Samaritan, as
in thought; then stripping off his over
coat and wrapping it around the fallen
one, with hopeful "I'll be back soon,
don't move," he hurried away swiftly
towards home, and as be paused on the
threshold to shake off the snow from his
feet, he thanked God that he was not a
wanderer.
The New England kitchen, with its
pewter-filled dresser, rejecting and null
tiplying the genial blaze of the log -heaped
fireplace, its high backed rush bottomed
chairs grating as they moved over the
neatly sanded floor, its massive beam
running midway of the ceiling across the
room, and its many doors, leading to all
sorts of rooms and stairways, is picture
familiar to many. The farmer, too, stout
and tall, with cheeks blushed by the sun,
and huge hands Drowned and hardened
by honest toll with hearts as stout and
and huge, but not as hard except in out
ward seeming Such a kitchen stepped
our youth into, and such man sat in
the warmest corner of just such fire.
place, and looking at the new Corners
glowing cheeks, said pleasantly:
1.-The wind gives you a good color,
boy"
Eyes, father" rubbing his cheeks,
''they do burn some. Father p
"Wellp
81 heard you tell Jones to-day, you
could trust me with all you had will
you trust me with old Moll tonight"
$50 you have ears, sir Well, what
want you with MollF"
ITO 60 to Haverhill."
It's freezing night, boy"
Il know that, sir; but will you not
trust me p
After long pause, eyes, Moses, you
shall have old Moll to 60 to Haverhill, y
said the father; ''but remember, to-
morrow's work must be done"
eff you have any fault 10 find to-
morrow night, don't trust mo again, -
and the boy, turning to the cupboard
beneath the dresser, buttered generous
slice Of bread, then left the room with a
small pitcher, and returned with it brim-
ming full Of cider. bis father closely
noting all as he smoked away at bis pipe,
the New England farmers inseparable
companion. Moses next went and har-
messed, then returned to the kitchen for
the bread and cider.
"Why not eat that here, Moses p
qucried his father.
"Ob I'm not hungry; | have bad
some supper, YOU know; good night,
father" and he hurried away.
Good night, my boy. Where's your
coat - be called out; but Moses vas too