The mountain Democrat., 1864-05-21
PHILLIP DUVAL.

young man named Phillip Duval, his wife
Annie, and their two children, . boy and
. girl. aged respectively three and five
years.
Phillip Duval was comparatively poor
when he married, and was worse of nov
by considerable. Misfortunes seemed ia
dog bis heels with persevering industry.
His employment was uncertain and poorly
paid; and try as hard ss he would he could
not obtain anything better. Year after
year, too. sickness and trouble had come
upon him thick and fast. Without q
doubt bis burden was hard to bear but
with Q brave and manly spirit the poor
fellow prayed for strength and patience,
and still persevefed in the face of all OBJ.
stacles.
His humble home was meagerly, even
meanly furnished. On occasions, too,
when his precarious employment was
slack-he had no trade, and for want o,
something better followed the business oi
an amanuensis-his little family needed
the commonest necessarieS Of life and al
no time were they in circumstances that
enabled them to do more than just to live
from hand to mouth. They were posi-.
lively poor; but still clean, respectable and
genteel-fOr both Phillip and his wife had
seen far better and happier days, though
not during the period of their welded
years.
Mrs. Duval-or Annie, as I prefer to
call her was one Of the most loving, Iowa.
BILE. warm hearted, kind souled. charitable
women the good Lord ever created. Her
troubles, her misfortunes, regret them as
she might-and she would have been
something more or less than human had
she not regretted them-She bore meekly
and patiently ; and in the hour of their
deepest, darkest trouble, her sweet and
beautiful face never lost its look Of holy
calmness-hcr true spirit never failed in
its great and long abiding hope. She was
indeed n good woman in the broadest
meaning of the term-good to all from
her idollzed husband down to the ragged.
est men1Icant that came begging a crust
at her humble door.
Charity brgins at home, Annie Phil.
lip Tould sometimes say, just to tease her
little, by making her think he was get.
ting lard hearted. We shall always be
poor if you don't take better care nf NUN.
Der one That's just the truth, little wo-
man, or wouldn't say anything about il.
Phillip, the good book tells us tina,
what We give to the poor we lend TO the
Lord, aud that is a blessed promise, lin
sure; far better than any hope Of growing
rich. Now, don't you really think so,
huShand.'
We'll, Annie, guess I do, Phillip
would smilingly reply; so give on, my
, darling. so long as there's anything to
give
( And Annie did give, even when she
gave what they needed themselves.
The winter Of lS- was n very severe
and dull one; and an unusual amount Of
suffering prevailed all through the coun-
try. Phillip came in for his share; and for
several months during the depths Of the
season, his family was really in a very pit.
liable plight. For time death, and death
By starvation and madness, stared them
in the face. Their suffclingS may be INA
J gined, but hardly described; and how they
passed through the drsolate period God
alone can tell.
Spring approached at last The weather
grew mildcr aud business better, and Phil
lip was so fortunate as to secure more than
his usual employment. But then, as If to
try them to the very limit OF human en-
durance, their children suddenly fell sick,
and physician had to be called in; and,
Of course, their expenses became much
heavier than usual, while every prospect
of getting ahead little was nipped in the
bud.
Never mind, dear Philip said Annie,
one noon; the blessed babes will get bet
ter soon, hope; and then, with strong
hearts, willing hands. and the blessings Of
Providence, We shall be able to work our.
| selves out OF ell cares and troubles
Il hope SO, Annie; though it really seems
that as fast as We work out Of one difficult
ty we fall into another, responded her
husband, somewhat gloomily. Still, he
added, with an effort to keep up his spir-
its, faith and hope are bright guiding
stars in the hour of human trouble; and /
will try, even as never tried before, to
keep my eyes steadily fixed on them, leav.
ing oil the rest to the overruling provi.
dence Of Him who tempers the wind to
the shorn lamb
oh was ever . woman blessed with
such dear and noble husband I fervently
responded the loving little wife, as she
earnestly hugged Phillip to her warm and
gushing heart.
At that moment there came a sudden
knock upon the door, and Phillip arose to
answer the summons.
A gray haired old man displaying all
the evidence of extreme poverty in his
tattered and dingy appearance, was stand.
ing on the rickety steps
well, my friend, what can I do for
your demanded Phillip, mildly and re-
spectfully, Notwithstanding the cid mans
unprepossessing appearance.
'PardOnnez, moi, sarel I've taken Ze
libertee to call and make one inQuiree for
Monsieur Phillip DuVal,' humbly respond
ed the mendicant, in a mixture Of French
and English. 4 see re name in re direc-
tor. My name, sare, is re same, and
come from &c grand Paree ven come to
ziS countree.'
Phillip Duval is my name, certainly =
rejoined the young man. 'and my great
grandfather, on my fathers side, unques-
| tioRably came from France and possibly
we may have sprung from the same family
century or two hack. Still, the rela.
tion>hip must be nearly or quite run out
it, indeed, auy ever did exist; however,
walk in, my friend, and we will talk the
matter over at our leisure
Thank you, sare, with plazure + CRATE
fully responded the old Frenchman, as he
stepped into the house, respectfully NOV.
ing bis hat and politely bowling to Annie,
who came forward as he entered.
1t was just after dinner time. and the
poor remnants of the meal still remained
on the table The old hennar Enr snrh he