The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1863-01-08

llOu duh l'u bloiu W "OlV
percep .iblr in his feeble step, emaciated
lorm. and uembling voice.
If Ih4re was one thing that farmer Har'
dy detestrd above all others, it was TO lie
aDno,e ed nv applications for assistance, it
mattered not whether the suppiants were
worthy or not. '....
The new conner shivered with the cold
for his clothing was too thin to protect
him from the icy wind. and he gazed up
on the FIRE with feelings OF bitterness, for
it trecaled To him the destitution Of his
home. He turned to tie old farmer who
was leaning back iu cushioned chair,
and in tone Of agony thus en,reated
him. . ..
Gould you assist poor man ? | am
out of work. sir. | am oot accusl toned to
beg, but sickness and want have driven
me 10 it.
'T have nothing f@r you" said the
tarmcl. at the same time stirring up the
blazing FIRE before him."
al it is ouly lrifc.' persisted the
man hunlbly, my family ere starving.
can get no work, and without relief we
must die of hung'r." .. ..
The heart OF Amelia was moved to com
passion at the poor mans complaint, and
she regretted the cold refusal Of her
father. Rising. she said .
Poor man l think, father, have
some small things which might be Of ser
vice t. him - and she was abou, to 60 in
search of Them when the old man ex.
claimed .. ...
Silence, girl Be off, you vagabond
i never encourage beggars." '.
! am no beggar, sir" said the shiver
ing visitor IL am NO, abl" to get work
now, hat when spring sets in | shall oh
tain it. and until that time | must have
aid or parish" "... ..
Leave my house begone!' was the
reply: n. -. 's. e.
The poor man departe with sorrow in
his heart, to frd "a kinder soul thar lha
OF farmer Handy. lt- ...f p.-.
"Fathtr," said tie daughter after he
had gone, 1--WE have plenty aud why no
assist the poor Tat man is w"rrhy o
assistant e, and We might have aided hin
aud never missed it,"
IL viii have 10 beggar encouraged a
my house" was farmer Hardy's rejoinde
If Jon is in want let him apply oltht
trustees OF the almshouse
Amelia did not answer. Her thought
were wandering TO the des o!ate home o
the poor mar, and her mind was engage
in forming plans for his relief
Hsnry jones WAS i'll fsted for the lra'
ola bsggar, and the pressing wants u
his family slona nrgeh him on. Leavin!
frmer Hard, 9 ne once more bra,sd SC RI
and cun'eWpt; tut all in vain. Wear.
and worn he AT last turned his step
honeward The midDigb' despair wa
raging in hi soul, ano as he thought O
his slArving wife and children, tears o
bitter agony courred down his cheeks.
Amelia Hardy. in the meantime, wa
not idle. The old farmer. after mo
! ment's silence, lighted his pipe, and wa
soon nvelopsd in cloud oi smoke
While thus engaged, his daughter si0l
softly from the room. TO put IN prac'ic'
operation her plans Of reliet
She had recognized d the man who ha
applied to her latker for assistance, an
WAS deeply hurt'at his refusal. Calm
the servant, she loaded him with all I'll
necessaries of life. A basket was file
with bread and meat, tea and sugar,
gether with some old clio hes, and thu
with this burden, they proceeded on The
journey. Ii Was long two miles befol
81 e reached her destination, and the col
n was most bit er. But what cared the nj
d Bile girl She was IN an errand OF me
S cy, and the warmth of the fles of cha
. ity which glowed within her heart, sPre'
n lie genial influence throughout her fran
, AT lust she reached the cottage
e Henry Jones. But what "a sctne OF mi
e cry net her sye-grealer even than 81
N anticipated. The walls we'e damp al
,e bare, nothing but bed of straw, and
9 broken table, made up the furni ure, an
p, little, hungry. faces peep.d from eve
ls corner. AS Amelia gszed upon Ih
d scene Of woe, she wepi, and mingled h
in tears with those of the Iamishng moths
Bot a light breaks in upon the SceI
in Of dark dss--lhe silver liring" is di
is csrncd beneath the black cloud which
Lh long bad hovored over them, and hops
10 bright rainbow spanned their dark hea
III ems. Like AN angel of mercy, Anne
10 took the basket, and as she raised the |
c, the children gathered round her, a
smiles lit up the mo'her's face. Fo'
ts was given to tho hungry, clothing to
Of thinly clad, and tea and sugar, and 9th
at luxuries to the invalid. Soon FIRE "
ny kindled ~ on the hearth. and as its flau
is rose upward, they reflected the bcami
ly counIenances of the happy group Ov'
sl whelmed with thanks, tho kind mssst
in ger Of help Withdrew. g ..
he Long and anxiously Mrs. Jones watc
ed for The return of heI husband, to W
eT come him back to the long unknown II
nt uries Of a comfortable meal aud a wa
he 6reside. Night came at last, and tho
ls- sent one entered. There was a stro
ls CLEAN 10 his eye, and w'ldness in
al actions. but they saw it not AS he (
tered lie gazed around him, but be kn
not what TO make Of The scene.
r "How came this food and FIRE in {
house 2" he exclaimed. q. 1-r.l..
all "God sent one Of his angels" was
reply, . ... Nv
ow "Who is it that has done this ?"
no ashed--"Miss Hardy, the friend CT