The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-12-23

from the newspaper he was reading.
turned his ears t. listen. 81 think her
very nice little girl,' replied the
mother
I $50 she is nice" returned the child;
"but then she is SO queer"
"What do you mean hy queer?'
ooh, she isn't like the rest Of us
girls. She said the oddest thing to.
day. almost laughed out. but I'm
glad l didn't Three of us. Katie,
Lille BoAdlield and [, were walking
round The square at recess time. I'm
Gle Hiram came along, and taking out
three bright ten cent pieces, he said,
there's a dime for each of vou girls, to
buy sugar-plums.' Lille and ]
screamed out. and were starting away
for the candy shop In an instant; hut
Kittie stood still, with her share Of
money in her hand. 'Cbme along |
cried. She didn't moyc, but looked
strange and serious. Amt You 90.
ing TO buy candy will IL? asked
Then she shook her head gravelv and
put the dime in her pocket, saying,
8 Il don't think she meant for me to
hear the words) It's forfather's hon
or and leaving us, weut back TO the
school room. What did SHE mean by
that mother2 Oh she is so strange
"Her mother is poor, You know"
replied Mrs. Sterling, laying up
Katies S singular remark to be pom
dered over.
"She must be-" said Flora, "for
Katie's worn the same frocll to school
every day for nearly three months"
Mr.. Sterling, who did not let sin
glc word Of this conversation escape
him, was far from feeling comfortable
under the prospect of getting back
the money he had loaned Mr. Gran
ger as he had felt an hour before
He understood the meaning of Katic's
remarll-'It's for fathec's honor"
the truth flashing at once through his
mind.
There was another period of three
months and Mrs. Granger called
Iagain upon Mr.. Sterling, and gave
Ihiln twenty dollars more. The pale
thin face made a stronger impression
on him. II troubled him to lift the
money her small fingers in which the
| blue veins shono through the trans
Iparont skin. had counted out. He
wished that she had sent the money
instead Of calling 1t was on his lips
to remark, DO not trouble or pinch
yourself to pay faster than couyen-
lent, Mrs. Granger" but cupidity
whispered that she might take adj
vantage Of his considerate kindness,
and he kept silent
Mr. Sterling was passing n print
shop, where two children were lookig
in at the window when this sentence
struck upon his cars.
can apple won't cost but penny.
Katie; and ] want one so badly an
swercd the younger Of the two chill
dren, little girl not five years OF
age.
"Comc away, Maggie said the
other, drawing her sister oack from
the window. Don't look at them
, any more-don't think about them.
"But can't help thinking about
them sister Katie, . pleaded the child
IL was more than Mr.. Sterling
could stand. Every want of his OWL
children was snppliod He bought
fruit by the barrel. And here was ;
little child pleading for an apple
which cost but 4 cent hut the appl,
: was denied because the penny mus
be saved to make good the dea,
fathers honor. Who held that homo
in pledges. Who took the sum tota
of three pennies, saved IN the sci
denial of little children, and adde'
them to his already brinming Golfers
a feeling Of shame burned on til,
) cheeks of Mr. Sterling.
,, , "Here little onel' he called, rs tn
two children went slowly from the
shop window. He was touched Will
the sober look on their sweet youu;
faces, as they turned at his invita-
tion.
Come in, and I'll gctyou some ap
/, pies he said,
, Katie held back, but Maggie helC
, out her hand, eager to accept the OF
fer, for she was longing for the fruit
"Come," repeated Mr. Sterling
, speaking very kindly.
, The children followed him into tn
/, shop, and he filed their aprons wit
apples and oranges. Their thankful
eyes and happy faces were in hi
/ memory all day. This was his re
: ward, and it was sweet.
: Three months more and again Nj
Sterling had visit from the pal
young widow. This time she ha,
: only twenty dollars. 1t was all tha
she had been able to save, she said
but she made no excuse, and uttere
y no complaint Mr.. Sterling took tn
!, money and counted it over in hesi
tating way. The touch thereof wa
: pleasant to his fingers, for he love
money. But the vision of sober chill
faces was before his eyes, and th
sound of pleading child voices in hi
: ears Through over taxing toll, an
the denial Of herself and little ones
. the poor widow had gathered thi
;, small sum and was now paying it il
IL to his hand--to make good the hol
orable contract of her dead husband
% He hesitated, rullling in half-abser