The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-12-18
i The boy struck his hands together with
sudden joy. exclaiming:

The boy struck his hands together with
sudden joy, exclaiming:
Oh, mother will be so glad-so gladp
As he went back into the store, Mr.. Hick-
man sat quietly in his chair, feeling happier
than he had been for lnng time. When
the sun went down, and Frank came in TO
shut the windows of the counting room, Mr..
Hickman handed him sealed envelope, saw
ing:
Take this to your mother. |, contains
lnirty-sK dollars, as your wages, at three
dollars week for twelve weeks, the time
you nave been IN my store. Tell your moth,
er mat you have been good. Industrious
boy. and have earned the money"
Frank looS the little package in silence;
MS feelings were so much overcome by this
additional good fortune, that he could not
speak his thanks. But his eyes told what
was in his heart and Mr.. Hickman UNDER
stood them.
There are many ways to catch sunbeams,
u We could only set traps for them. Nay,
there IS no occasion to 90 to that trouble.
lhe ar IS tull Of sunbeams. and we have on
ly to open the doors and windows &c our
hearts, and they will enter, in countless null
ttudes. But the doors and windows Of most
peoples hearts are shut and barred as was
the heart Of MIR. Hickman How are they
TO be opened? Just as the doors and win
dows of his heart were opened by kindness
10 others.
When Mr.. Hickman took his way home
ward, his step was lighter and his feelings
more buosant than they had been for long
time. Though conscious Of this. and of the
ssnse OF pleasure that was new to him, his
thought did not 60 directly 10 the cause.
Not that he had forgotten Frank and his sick
mother; or the glad face that looked into his,
when he told the bay of his generous deci-
slnn in his favor; all this was present to him.
though he had not yet connected the kind
ac' and the pleasant feeling in his consc ioas-
ness as cause and effect.
There was no sound Of pattering feet on
the stars A. Mr.. Hickman came in. Time
was when his first stepin the passage awoke
the echoes with laughing voices and the rain
Of eager foottalls. But that time had passed
loHg ago. The father came home 90 often in
cold, repeIlant mood. that his children had
ceased to be glad at his return. and no long
er bounded to meet him. Sitting on the
stairs were little boy and girl, Of the ages
OF hive and six years. As he advgnced along
the passage, they neither stirred. nor spoke,
nor smiled, though their eyes we're fixed on
his face. Mr. Hickman stood still when he
came near to where they were sitting, and
looked at them with new feeling Of tender-
ness in his heart. He held nut a hand to
each. and each laid hand in his, but with
an air Of doubt as 10 whether this cOndescen.
sIon on the part Of their father was to be ac-
copied as token OF love. moment he
: stood holding their hands, then stopping he
i. drew an arm around each and lifted ihem to-
his breast.
+, " Hasn't Edie kiss for papa" said Mr..
Hickman, with so much warmth in his voice
that the little girl now understood tina, all
: Was earnest.
"Yes. hundred kisses" answered Edie,
flinging her arms around her fathers neck.
and kissing him over and over again in child
: Ish fondness.
AT the head Of the FIRST landing, opened
: the sitting room. Into this Mr.. Hickman
! came with the two children in his arms both
, Of them huggins and kissing him in wild
happy way.
"l,ess me! what's The meaning OF all this:"
! exclaimed Mrs. Hickman. rising and coming
!. forward, her face sglow with sudden pleas
y IRE al 4 sight aud sounds 50 new, yet all
9 welcome to her heart.
These little rogurs are hugging and kiss
!, ing the very breath away from me-" said Mr..
!. Hickman. laughing and struggling with the
z children.
y "Ile asked me for one kiss cried Edie.
' "and I'm gning TO give him hundred
2 Mr.. Hickman sat down with a child on
y each knee. aud Mrs. Hickman came and
!. stood by him, with hand resting on his
:, shoulder.
: Oh, you must kiss lin too" said Edie,
u looking 90 at her mother.
!. Mrs. Hickman did not wait for second
q invitation.
!. The old pleasant face Of her husband was
4 again before her. and her heart was lraping
< with the old loving impulses. She bent
IS down and laid warm kiss on bis lips which
5 he lelta sweet glow through all his being.
This was IN evening long u be remember
!. ed in the household ol Mr.. Hickman. He
i had caught SUNBEAM and brought il home
with him. aud light aud warmth we're all a.
round them. Al we're happy, and Mr.. Hick-
man the happiest of them all. fnr he had The
!. CONSCIOUSNESS in his. heart Of having made
another aud humber home than this happy
also.
THE CUsr or MaHse SALr.-By an es,i.
2 mate made by 'l'hos. Spencer. who Va;
once State Superintendent Of the New York
!. Salines, he shows that BY the erection O.
.nA aVannraEnra aaif If The hest kinI