Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-10-24

his bosom! With what a quicker mo
tion came the heart beats! Joe sal
down, aud now for the first time exam
lining the thin face carefully under the
lamp light, saw that it was an attractive
face full of childish sweetfess which
suffering had not been BILE to obliterate
Your name is Maggie?" he said, as
he sat down and took her soft hand in
Yes, sir. Her voice struck chord
that qaivered in low strain of music
Have you been long sick?'
/ slss Sir. What sweet patience
twas in Her tone! ~e-~sz
"Has the doctor been to see you?"
! 'He used to come -
"But not Iately?'
. "No, sir"
''Eave you any pain?'
This morning my side ached, and
my back hurt when you carried"
1T hurts you to be lifted or moved
about?"
"Yes, sir
Your side doesn't ache now?"
"No, sir
Does it ache a great deal?' :.
Yes, sir; but it hasn't ached any
since I've been on this soft bed?''
The soft bed feels good?''
20 yes, sir--so good!'' What sat
sfaction. mingled with her gratitude
was in her voice!
I Supper is ready. said Mrs Thomp.
son, looking into the room little after.
wards.
Joe glanced from his wife's to that OF
Maggie; she understood him and an
Swered
She can wait until we are done; then
will bring her something to eat
There was an eff)rt of Indifference or
the part of Mrs. Thompson; but hel
husband had seen her through the win
dow, aud understood that the ,oldness
was assumed. Joe waited after sitting
down to the table, for his wife to intro
duce the subject uppermost in both oi
their thoughts; but she kept silent on
that theme for many minutes, and he
maintained like reserve. At last she
said abruptly:
What are you going to do with that
child?
i Il thought you understood me that
she was to go to the poor-house," re-
piled Joe, as if surprised at her ques
ton
Mrs Thompson looked rather
strangely at her husband for some mo-
ments, and thea dropped her eyes. The
ho
meal At its close, Mrs. Thompson
toasted a slice of bread, and softened il
with milk and butter; adding to this a
cup of tea, she took them into Maggie,
ana held the small waiter on which she
had placed them, while the hungry child
ate with every sign of pleasure.
us it yood?' asked Mrs. Thompson,
seeing with what keen relish the food
was taken.
The child paused with the cup in her
hand and answered with IL look of graft
tuie that awake to new life Old humane
feelings which had peen slun berins
in her heart for near Il score of years.
"We'll keep her day or two longer;
-he is so weak and helpless, said Mrs
Joe Thompson, in answer to her hus
bands remlrk, at breakfast time the
next morning, thai he must see the
guardians of the poor about Maggie.
Shell be too much IN our way" said
Joe
Il shan't mind that for day Or two
Poor thingr'
Joe did not see the guardians of the
poor on that dav, on the next nor on
the following In fact, he never saw
them at all on Maggie's account, for III
less than week Mrs. Joe Thompson
would as soon have thought Of taking
up her own abode in the aims house
rs sending Maggie there.
What light and blessing did that sick
and helpless child bring to the home O
Joe Thompson, the poor wheelright
1t had heen dark and cold and miserable
there for ii long time. just because hi:
wife had nothing to love and care fol
out of herself. and 50 became sour and
. irritable, ill-tempered and self-alalcted
in the desolaton of her woman 5 nature
Now the sweetness Of that sick child
looking over to her in love, patience
aud gratitude, was us honey to her soul
and she carried in heart is we'll as in hel
lrm, precious burden. AS for Jo'
Thompson, there WAS not IA man in al
the neighborhood who drank daily of
more precious wine Of life than he
An angel had come to his house, dis
yuised as sick, helpless and miserable
child, and filled ali its dry chamber
with the sunshine Of love.