The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-07-30
Old Griffin, tEae gJsurer.

/
usurer, loved better than money-one thing,
and one only-his daughter. She was not
beautiful either in form or features. Through
neglect in childhood, she had contracted a
disease of the spine, which left a sad curva-
ture. This INSTRUCTED free nervous action,
and SO the whole physical life became dwarf
ed. Her face was weasened, and her form
di1ninutiye. She stopped forward, bending to
the right and one shoulder stood above the
| tha other. Of course her movements were
uugraceful
For all this, everybody who knew Katy
Griffin loved her. The sweetness other tenn
per, the kindness of her heart, the good will
shown in benefits where it was fitting to be-
stow them-all these gave the impression OF
soul that lived nearer to. heaven than to
earth. t..
One day, the angels lifted this beautiful
soul out of its deformed earthly body, and bore
it, clothed in an immortal body of spiritual
substance like their own, upward into heav-
en- There had been only slight warning of
the change. Katy had dropped little, but
without complaining Then she went to sleep,
| like tired child, and the heart Of the hard
old man, her father--hard to the world, but
soft to his child-was stricken with q sorrow
beyond the power Of healing.
The long cherished greed of money, which
had grown into second nature, was not dimin-
ished by this event Pain seemed to stimu-
late instead Of weakening the passion. Old
| Griffin exacted from the weak and necessi-
tous who came to him in their extremity, the
largest discounts to which they would sub
NIT often taking from poor men, forced by
present needs to sell the notes of hand in pay
Inent for work, at the rate of thirty, forty, Or
fifty per cent per annum! All day long he
sat in his Office like q great bloated spider,
waiting for the flies that were sure to be en-
tangled in his web then he went back to his
home, from which the light had gone out and
sat there in darkness and grief.
| With the money taken by the old usurer
from needy merchants, manufacturers ard
mechanics, he built a'splendid monument ov-
er the grave of his child. Within the mas
sive iron railing that enclosed this monument,
seats were placed and sitting in one OF these
late in the afternoon, after the days business
was over, you would find old Mr.. Griffin. when
| the air was warm, and the sky clear. Choic-
| est flowers doomed around the monument
ssShe loved flowers" This was his answer
to stranger who, seeing him in the little en-
closure one day, entered and stood by his SIDE
saving, as the old man looked up
"These flowers are very beautiful.
''She loved flowers"
Your daughter" responded the stranger.
Eyes. She was never without them"
''You loved her very much, said the stran-
ger.
'Ioved herr" said the old man. glove
seems too common "a word to express my feel
ings. Our language wants new term"
'"Everybody loved her, returned the stran-
did you know her?" Mr.. Griffin looked
up at his companion curiously.
Il know those who both knew and loved
her. A few times she has come in my way,
and felt the sphere like that Of some blessed
one"
ooh, sir, she was an angel on the earth !"
The old man spoke with tremor of enthusl-
iasln.
Il believe it, sir. Oh, yes@T Believe that.
If she is not with the angels, and an angel
herself, who shall hope to enter the Kingdom
Of Heaven" ..
(Which is q kingdom of love and use, > said
the stranger.
q don't know, replied Griffin, dull shad-
ow falling Cd his face-'I'm no theologian,
and don't pretend to understand their phrase
ology. The talk Of your pious people is gen
orally Greek to me-"
Ibid Katy love herseIf?" asked the stran-
ger. ... ...-...
seShe was the most unselfsh being I ever
| knew" promptly answered the father, with a
flash Of pride in his face.
Always doing good, as she had opportu-
nifty"
ayes, always"
'Do you thinks she comes to you often now
that she has laid of, her earthly vesture?'
q am sure Of it," was answered. Though
my bodily eyes may be too dull to see her
vet love tells me that she is near"
Sand she looks into your heart-knows
what you feel and think-sees, by her more
interior vision, away down into the secret
places of your life"
Old Grihin's countenance changed. 1t be-
came more thoughtful, and just little troub-
| led
In coming near to you now, she is past all
outward things. No feeling, no purpose, no
quality of mind is hidden" continued the
stranger. '1Iave you thought Of this"
The old mans head dropped upon his breast
His eyes rested on the ground. He made no
answer. ...
let me relate to you little incident, p"
Jsaid the stranger. The old usurer raised his
inead.
"A poor, honest, hard working mechanic
| had a sick child, whom he loved very much.
Your child was no dearer to you than his
child was to him. This poor mechanic had
other children, and it taxed all his efforts, and
took all his earnings to buy them plain food
and clothing. The sick child needed many
things not in the fathers power to give. She
needed to be taken out into the pure air--to
Ihave change, cordials and luXuries his slen-
der purse might not afford.
| met your angel-minded daughter in the
chamber of this sick child, one day. She had
brought some delicacies to tempt her appe-
little, and a bunch of flowers to refresh her SEN
SEES. son Saturday." said the child warmth
coming into her wan face father IS gong
with me to the seashore. The doctor says it
will do me so much good Father will take
me down, and leave me there week. shall
be so happy II never saw the sea. How
grand it must look"
Nv heart went with the child in her jour
ney to the seashore knew that both body
and mind would receive healthy influence.
wish you could have seen the pleasure that
shone i'll your Katy's face, as she saw the JOY
Of this poor sick Child. ''Fm so glad you are
going" she said taking her little hand
:When you come back | will see you, and
you must tell me all about the grand old
ocean
Well, sir, Saturday came, but the sick
Child did not see the ocean, nos get health
from it's cool and stimulating breezes. Why!
Let me tell you. Her father, as | have said,
was apoor man. who toiled hard for his mon
ley. It so happened, that he was doing Mork
for a man who promised him pay as soon as
the job was completed He had to buy the
tools with which to do the work, and for
which he was to settle on receiving payment
The work amounted to a little over seventy
dollars, and the cost Of the material was thir-
ty-fve. When the job was done, instead OF
recaiz;nc. c.sL IS he bad oZnected. The poor