The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-11-01


length, folding up the letter aud laying
it aside. Poor Mrs Maynard Is the
day indeed SO dark God knows how
willingly would help you, were it in
my power But misfortune has not come
to you alone. 1t has passed my thres-
hold also, aud the thresholds of thousands
besides. Westbrook has seen some sad
changes since you went away.
blr. Fleetwood took the letter from tie
table on which he had placed it, and laid
it in drawer, "Poor Alice Maynard p
he sighed, as he shut the drawer and
turned away. All day long the thought
Of that letter troubled him How could
he answer it? What could he say2 1t
was an eager, cxpectant cry for help but
Le had no help to give The widowed
mother had asked him for bread; and
Low could he offer her mere words in re-
turn-cold, disappointing words
For two days the letter remained in
the drawer where he had placed it.
at is no use," he would say, as the
thought Of it cow had again intruded
I'' cannot bring myself to write an an
swcr. Say what l will, and the language
must seem to her but heartless sentences.
She cannot understand how greatly things
have changed with ne siuce she went out
from Westbruok If she does not hear
from me she may think her letter has
been miscarricd She, like the rest Of
us, is in Gods hands. lie will take care
OF her. We are ot more value than the
sparrows."
But tbs could not satisfy Mr. Fleet
wood. He had conscience, and it would
cot let him omit a plain duty without re-
procf.
off you have no money to give; offer
her kind and hopeful words" said the in
ward monitor Given the crp Of cold
water must not be withheld =
Uuable to make peace with himself,
Mr.. Fleetwood at last sat down to answer
the widows letter He wrote her a brief,
kind suggestive note, but after reading
it over twice tore 1t up, saying as he did so,
at reads like mockcry. She askod
me for bread and it seems like giving
her stone"
Theu he tried it again, but not much
more to his satisfaction. This answer he
was also about destroying; but he checked
himself with the words:
81 might pen forty letters, and the
last would be no better than the first.
Let this one 90 ~
And he folded, sealed and directed it.
The next mail that left Westbook bore
it away for its remote destination. Let
US return to Mrs. Maynard.
eve should have had an answer FROM
Fleetwood two days ago Alice"
Tie daughter sighed, bu5 did not an
sWer.
"What time does the mail from the
cast come in, Alice p
''At four o'clock 2"
"And it is five now ?"
Eyes, ma am"
"Won't you put or your bonnet and
step over to the post Office u
Alice went aud returned, as on the
two previous days, with nothing in her
hand.
"No letter." said Mrs. Maynard, as
she came in.
"None," was the sadly spoken reply.
ooh, why has lie not written? If
help come not from Mr.. Fleetwood,
there is no help for US in this world.
Another day of waiting, in which that
deferred hope which maketh the heart
sick trembled like the light of a taper
fickering in the wind, passing wearily
away At five o'clock Alice was at the
post Office again. Now letter was placed
in her hand, directed to her mother, aud
on the invelope she read, with heart
bound the wcrd ''WestDrook." Not
fcetcr than her footsteps was the wind
as she ran back home.
GA letter, and from Westbrook - she
cried out eagerly, as she entered the room
where her mother was anxiously awaiting
her
The hands Of Mrs. Maynard shook as
she opened and unfoldcd the long hoped
/ for answer 1t was brief, and its con-
tents understood in few moments
Alice, whose eyes were fixed eagerly up.
Oh her mother as she read in silence saw
her countenance change, grow pale, and
the look OF hopeful expectation died out
utterly. Then as the letter dropped to
the floor, her hands were held up against
her face so as to hide it from view, anl
she sat with the 5ti!lnes of one who had
been paralyzed. Taking up the letter,
Alice read it.
"Hc writes kindly" said Alice, as she
finished reading the letter, land there
is comfort even in words when they come
from the lips of friord."
"Words do not feed the hungry or
clothe the naked" answered Mrs May
nard in some . tt rness Of tone.