The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-02-20

ors of winter set in, empty wood
sheds were often replenished in a
mysterious manner in the night,
and sacks of -four found their way
into the kitchens of the poor in
the same way.
One cold bleak day, Laura met
.ka little gifI.on The street, ahtl lnp0hl
Inquiry she found that the childs
father was out Of employment, and
his family in destitute crcum-
stances. 1t so happened, that the
father had incurred the displeasure
of Col. Meredith in his lifetime,
and the former entertained a bitter
animosity towards the family of
the latter. ''Never mind, Susy,"
said Laura, "you leave your kitchen
door unfastened tonight, and never
tell anybody about it, or what l
said to you, and it will all come
right" The chiId's face bright
ened up as she hurried home, and
that night she silly unfastened the
kitchen door, just before she went
to bed. The next morning, the
father was astounded to find a sack
of -four, a bag Of potatoes, a ham,
a side of meat, large roll of but
ter, a variety of groceries, and a
liberal supply of goods for clothing
the children, all laying in a pile on
the floor. The man was Supplied,
and wondered who could have done
it. The wife thought Laura Mere
dith had it done. "Niver q bit of
it," exclaimed the man, who was
an Irishman, "they don't like me
at all, since l blackguarded the
Col. so, when l was a little out of
the way with liquor" go, but
Laura knew nothing about that, -
intcrposed the wife; sit must have
been her (bless her soul y that sint
us this blessing After breakfast,
the grateful and repentant Irish
man made his way over to the
mansion of the widow Meredith,
and on entering, made known Ills
errand to Laura's mother. 81
know nothing about it." said the
widow, after hearing the mans
story.
, Laura was summoned, and as she
entered the room, the man rose to
his feet and making a low bow,
f said, "it was you, you blessed child
. of a fine gintleman-rest his soul
that sent US such a blessing last
|, night. Is it so, darling?"
, Laura was confused at this un.
expected turn of affairs, but was
, forced to acknowledge her agency
: in the donation.
"Bless yer SOUL" responded the
Irishman, while tears dropped from
his eyes-"I've seen you when you
=. looked like an angel, you were SC
} beautiful /; but you never were SC
r much of an angel as ye are this
I moment. May you never know q
l sorrow as long as you live, and may
, you live thousand ycarsp'
!, Mrs. Meredith added to his hap
piness, by making him liberia
t donation of money, to purchase
t such necessaries as his family still
Y stood in need OF. When the mar
l was gone, the mother commended
her daughter for the noble deeds
: of benevolence which she had beer
/ doing, and inquired whether shc
: found as much pleasure in them
e as she had formerly found in the
/ gay and fashionable life she had
/, previously led. .-
!. go, a thousand times more
: mother; [ never knew the mean
: ing of that passage of Scripture
g which says, 'it is more blessed tc
r give than to receive until | trie(
r it. l would not exchange thu
I. pleasures now enjoy, for all til,
r pleasures of vanity, and all my
d former beauty restored and in
y creased added to them.
e The fortune left by Col. Mere
d dith to his wife and daughter wa
f large, the income upon their prop
e erty being much more than the,
}, could make use of in the ordinar,
}. course Of humanity and religion
d as fast as it accumulated. The,
g became known far and wide 70
y their bcnefactions. The poor al
|, most idolized them, especially Lau
II ra, who was always on the look
|. out for some worthy object, ant
d she always gave with a liberia
e hand. ..
|, AS time rolled on, the traces O
e her detormity gradually diminish
d ed, and her former beauty in
.e great degree returned. TO tn
is poor, she appeared more beautifu
G than she ever had been, and all ac
.e knowledged that her improved de
b portment more than compensate,
% the slight damage she had sus
% tained by the scourge. But he
l. former vanity and pride had fle,
ID forever. The butterflies of fashion
$, again fitted about her, but the
Is were gently, but firmly repulsed
ID She had entered upon q new life