Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-04-29
THE TROU L ONE NIECE
Or, Opening A Hardened Heart.
lCONTINUED

One afternoon when the wind blew cold, and
the snow was falling fast, poor girl raped AT
the door, and Kate let her In. Her name was
Martha Allen, and her father was a poor day
lsbOrer, who had been confined to bis bed for
several months, having been severely injured
while blasting rocks. Martha was only fifteen.
and was a mild, bIe-eyed, pretty girl She
had come TO see if Mr.. Burr could not help her
father. .... .. .Hts 'f
why shOuld he send to me ?n the old man
asked, neryOusly. f...
''Oh. sir, he does not know that have gone
out to beg for him., returned the girl % but
could not bear tn 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
ia kept back by the fearful thought Of the debt
he will have upon his shoulders when he gets
up. But thus far have not run him in debt
though he thinks have, and dare not wholly
undeceive him. for fear that | must do SO. We
have spent every cent he had laid up and I
have worked hard, and sold many of my things;
hut have nothing more to sell. and all nv
time must be spent with him Oh, sir, for the
love of mercy, give me something. II we ever
can repay You. we will"
= But what would You have, girl ?" the old
man asked, moving uheasly in his chair
IL dollar. sir, or two dollars. You would not
miss it. willie
Not miss it, And do you think am made
of money!
At this moment Kate left the room. and in n
moment more she opened the door and called
for uncle to come out
What is itI'' he asked, as he came into the
back room. leaving the poor girl alone. ..
Uncle AbsalOm, you must not send that poor
child away empty handed, she said, placing
both her hands upon bis shoulders. Just think
of her poor father, and of how much she suffers
for him. You are able, and as sure as you
give in charity to her, 50 sure shall you re-
warded be -
bn' 70 ro,rarI - .L:Il1.,
Your own thoughts and feelings, uncle
But haven't the money to spare"
Then give her ten dollars
Ten dollars, Mercy, Kate, you would ruin
Hear me out. Give her ten dollars. and if
at the end Of six months you want il back
will pledge myself 10 see il paid''
You will see it paid Where will you get
Il have more than that-money which have
laid up to buy clothes with. / can go without
clothes easier than can see a poor honest man
suffering. when by any means he may be bless
ed. u. would rather have the free, heartfelt
blessing OF one honest soul, than all the dresses
in the world. To walk forth and feel that
am loved for the good do. were better far than
millions of money piled away in dark corners
60 and give her ten dollars. and keep me to
my promise, for will not break it, But mind
you-my name must not be mentioned. Give
II TO her as your own gift"
But will you pay me-
'.When you ask for it,
. / think it is foolish for you to throw away
your money SO, and yet I'll give it to her You
wont come to me for dresses. though !''
No, sir
The old man returned, and having pulled out
his pOeket-bOOk, he drew out ten dollars and
handed il TO Martha Allen
= Here, he said, take this and see that
you make good use of it
1ne poor girl took the money with a trem-
bling hand, and as she looked at the bills-two
tyes-she was startled.
lou have made q mistake, sir,'' she said
.. How so -
You have given me ten dollars g.
a 30 meant, girl
moment more the child gazed into the old
man face, and then she burst into tears
%, sir - she uttered catching his hand and
pressing her lips upon them. 'God will bless
y0u for this. You know not what ioy will
hlume my poor fathers heart when he knows
Of this God bless you, now and forever"
When Martha Allen was gone. Absalom Burr
wiped a tear from his eye. Kate looked 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 eIcellent supper was partaken of, and in
the evening hate sang some of the sweetest
songs to her uncle, and more than once while
That night, when AbsalOm Burr laid his head
upon his pillow. he had new emotion, and IL
was strange one to him-yet it was n sweet
and blessed one. He had done a deed of chari-
y and the blessings Of that poor but noble girl
rung IN his ears and dropped upon his SOUL and
he imagined he could hear the prayers of Mark
Allen ascending to heaven in his behalf He
knew Mark Allen for an honest, Industrious
steady, hard-wOrking man, and he felt sure
that Mark would pray for him. Surely the
thought WAS blessed one.
But stop Whog gave that saving gift {! Who
did that deed of charity
BY the saints murmured the old man
starting half up in bed, a.. did Kate shant
pay me one cent. She shant, bless me if she
shall -
And Absalom lay back upon his pillow. and
In the night he dreamed that Martha Allen was
an angel, aud that she came to bless him Ii
was sweet, cheering dream.
Two days sfterward Kate proposed that thew
Mould visit Mark Allen. - For'' said she
"Ou presence msy cheer him"
And the old man finally consented to 60
They r,Nached the humble cot, and were wei
rOmed in by Martha. They found old Marx
sitting in great stuffed chair which a neigh
bor had sent iIf. and though he looked pale and
van. yet warn smile suffused his face as hs
saw the visitors.
Mr. Burr" he ssid while big tears stood
in his eyes. II can never pay you for the nObl,
Kindness you hdYe SHOWN me- may at sOms
time pay you the money, but cannot pay you
sll. for the bare money ia nothing compared
with the knowledge that have such n gene
rOUs friend to stretch out his saving hand in thu
hour Of gloom and misery"
Talk not Of money to me, returned Uncl,
AbsalOm, earnestly and warmly. IF it served
You, i am already more than repaid The bles
sings Of man are cheaply purchased, when SC
slight sum can do il; and, moreover, hav,
been more than repaid in the very knowledg,
that have been Of service to a suffering fel
low ... e..
Even Kate was surprised by this, but sh,
knew that it Was real, and she was glad.
When they arose TO depart, at the end Of a,
hour. Martha followed them to the door, IN,
there she blessed the old man again. He wa
moved by generous impulse and he took
golden half eagle from his pocket and hands'
IT to her.
No. sir, she said, drawing her hand back
what you have already given US will sufic
until father gets out But there is one wh
would be blessed with the gift, and if you vii
permit ne will relinquish the gift In her be
half The widow Wildredge is very low, an