The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-10-02

everybody to enjoy it who can. You shall
sit with us this eyening-you room is aw-
full dreary, johnson"
The frozen tears thawed in the old mans
eyes, but his voice was so choked that he
could not express his thanks. Sitting
himself in rickety old chair, he warmed
his cold shins, and rubbed his shriyeled
hands over the stove, patting the children's
heads, and ended by dividing the larger
portion of his loaf among them, reserying
but scanty fragment himself
Mrs. Stone demonstrated against his
generosity. But the children seized upon
TIE food so eagerly that the grateful old
man declared, with tears running down
his cheeks, that it did him more good to
see them cat than it would to sit down to
a Gaost beautiful feast
l'he a,eagre meal was soon concluded,
when heavy footsteps were heard on the
stairs. The poor woman's heart ceased to
beat. She turned so pale that the old man
observed her change OF countenance even
in that dim light.
sit is father whispered the children
At that moment an angry voice deTaad-
ed, with an oath, why she did not hold a
light.
Hush p said Mrs. Stone to the COVER
ing little ones.
She opened the door, and presently a
shabby frost bitten, middle aged man, came
clustering into the room. 1t was the wo-
mans husband, who always, when he had
money to spend, deserted his family for the
grog shop, and who returned to them for
shelter.
He was brutal, tyrannical man, though
he had not always been so, in SCOTLAND
his appearance was the signal for general
trouble and fear. 1t made poor old Roger
Johnson's heart burn in his bosom to heai
Jacob Stone demand money of his wife,
and curse her because she had that day
spent all of their oldest sons earnings for
fuel, and when the unfeeling father snatch
ed from the hands of sickly child the
crust that had been given to it to gnaw
the old man spoke out his Indignation
This led to a sharp quarrel, and ne was
driven with oaths from the room. jacob
slammed the door after him, and the feeble
lodger crept darkling up to his cold ant
| WlHuy pltlC.
He sighed as he sat there in the gloon
on the uninviting bed. The comfort he
had Just tasted made the present desolatioI
more bitter by its contrast. The olp maj
huddled together, with the 'tattered bed
covering wrapped around him, and sobbec
Ike little child. 1t seemed the darkes
of all the dark hours he had yet known
Always, until now, he had some little IA,
of hope when the gloom was thickest, bu
in the present anguish nothing was lef
: him but to die. tt-ls'4 sN4
Once the old man started up, and curset
: himself for fool. He was half famishe,
in wintry garnet, and the reflection tina
he had given away to the greedy ones Q
Jacob Stone nearly the whole of his las
loaf fred him with indignation at his folly
81 deserve to starye!' he muttered
'gThe word is all selfshness and he VIII
gives anything is a full dolt; let him sui
fer But, o, this hunger and cold =! HaT
/ deserved so much?'
There were others we'll fed and warmed
that night Roger thought OF them; h
saw happy families, with smiling faces, sit
; ting around glowing hearts. Then heweI
4 again-not now with envy or remorst
: He thanked God there was comfort in tn
world, although his lot was to suffer. II
thought of the man that gave him tn
money that purchased the loaf; of hil
q who had lifted him up when he had fallel
: and spoke kind words to him of the goo
and patient Mrs. Stone, the mother of tn
t children he had fed and for his hungr
+ pangs he felt richly compensated for hay
ing done one self forgetting, charitabl
/ act, which made him, in spite Of his poI
erty and rags, brother to all the goc
II and noble hearts that throbbed in huma
> clay. o..
The old mans limbs, meanwhile, gre
d numb and cold, and he was wondering if
r. were possible for him to get warm if
g went to bed, when he heard a step on IL
n stair, and presently saw light shinir
IA through the cracks around the door.
g I" Have you gone to bed, johnson p
III 1t was Mrs. Stones voice, and the o
a man aroused himself to answer. @
Or "No, thought I'd try sitting free
first" said he, with sad, playful hume
u :" "Anything wanting"
Ht." eS replleu the WOnlau, 1luclS Q d hi'
s. down stairs wishes to see you" ~
- To see me !" echoed the astonish'
Il lodger, starting up. "You didn't met
y me 7"
- Mrs. Stone mean him, indeed, and
- hastened to shake the coverid from b
,o shoulders, and accompany her down stail
- All was quiet in her room, Jacob havil
IS fallen asleep by the stove stupehed by Il
! heat. The caller was waiting in the da
Il entry-way below, and the woman held y
- lamp while Roger went to speak with M
m The old man was tremulous with vag
IL apprehension that something was going
re happen to him; nor was this fear entire
dissipated when in the person who to-
ht his hand, and addressed him in kind
en- words, he recognized the man who had
he lately helped him to regain his footing
i'd the slippery street. ...-. ....
ds II was afraid / should not find you
et said the visitor "but from the time y
/ left, your words-'0ld Roger johnson
of around the corner-third door up the
as ley'-kept ringing in my ears, and "
re finally compelled to come back and 10
'r' for you" 'ps' q ''''-.'.t