St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-06-14
Gonlantit skettb.
MINNIE BLAKE:
TIE REWARD OF TRUE CHARITY

"Now, father" They were only
two littlc words, but they were said
in soft, pleading tones, which have
more weight than Il score Of arSu-
mcnts.
al know just what you mean, Es-
thcr," exclaimed Jason Strong, as he
slipped his right arm into his work
mans ovcralIs' that spring morn
ing, " but there's no use wasting any
words between us. 1t would be folly
and madness for us to think of adopt
ing Widow Blakc's child, when it's
lust as much as we can do by screw
in and turnin', to put bread into the
mouths of the three we've got at
home"
"No man has better will than
mine but when I'm laid up half the
winter by rhumatiz, and can't earn
but scvcnty.tivc cents Il day on the
best Jobs, its high time to put down
notions about taking other folks
children, when the chances are our
own'll have to scatter aforc long"
He was large, heavy-limbcd, stall
wart man-shc was a small, shrink
inc. gcntlc,faccd and voiced woman,
and now her tones came like minor
key, after the grutf, positive voice,
which half-conccalcd as honest and
true a heart as ever beat in mans DO
som.
Il know, Jason, it's all true, that
you've a hard row to hoe, and it seems
as you say, mighty tug to make
two ends meet and take care of tho
children God has given us, but | don't
believe he'll forget if we remember
the widow and the fathcricSs in thcil
atlliction and what if it was little
sis, now 2"
Here Mr.. Strong raised the key anG
went cncrgctically TO windmg up tho
clock.
"You know" continued the littl,
woman, setting a couple of chairs op
positc each other, and girdIing tn,
backs with skein Of blue woolcI
yarn, " that the doctor says Mss Blake
can't stand it morc'n this week out
and | tell You, Jason, it fairly broke
me down when went in there las
night, and little Minnics golden hca,
was shinin' and a bubbjn arount
among the chairs where she was play
in singin' school, till could think o
nothin' but the butter cups 4 twlnklln
every May amongst the clover, am
+ Miss Blake's eyes followed her with ;
longin'. pityin', anxious look, and the
turned on me-
go, Mss Strong, what'll become o
her ?" she said.
) "God'll take care Of her, 0Es
Blake
but sometimes forget this, an
then it seems as if couldn't die i
peace and leave her here, without
friend in the wide world to look on
for her, with her father slccpil
away off under the deep waters, an
her mother lying in Il little cornc
, of the village churchyard -
: Come wife, come" here intcrrup
| ed Mr.. Strong, in quick, sharp voic,
| and he took out his pocket handkc
chief aud blew his nose with a grca
deal of emphasis.
). His wife did not observe it,-sl
e was very intent just at that momci
, on shaping her ball of yarn with he
thumb and forc-tingcr.
"Wcll, Jason, | haven't much MOI
= to say, for Miss Blake broke riSE
y down here herself and couldn't fin
c a word to comfort her, for somethi
h away down in my heart kept viii
perrin, suppose now it was your littI
Wealthy 2"
at would be dreadful tough, wifi
t that's fact exclaimed the carpe
$ ter, and he put one foot uncasily b
fore the other
"And then, suppose Miss Blah
stood in our case"
: 90, mother, | see now just VIII;
n you're coming to- interrupted NJ
o Strong, in a half.surly, halfdespairiu
tone.
Il amt comm TO say anything br
r this, father, that we've got all
n Gods p onises on our side, and