Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-12-21
JOHN FLINT AND HIscLERK.
BY MRS. n. M'coNouonY.

heh WneIe VIII the bread come fronY Oh,
{ would be easy to serve man with
ioul, or even fraction OF a heart. Keep
up your courage, Mary, dear. | will be
nome the instant can get away Get Ru.
by everything he wants or needs. | will
pawn my coat before he shall ask for lux
lry he eau not have"
You can pray, Harry, wherever you
are. said the wife, and oh, pray that
God will spare are our only treasure. lean
not lose him, and she laid her head upon
her husbands already overburdened heart,
with a burst Of anguish which only mo.
ther' s heart can know He tried to speak
words Of comfort, and then after hasty
attempt to cat the food she had provided,
he drew on his overcoat and was gone.
-Four minutes behind time, " said Sc.
we're voice, as the eye glanced up TO tho
hard face OF the relentless looking clock on
the wall. Punctuality is my motto, Mr..
Graham, and if you can not conform to it,
you had better seek employment else,
where.
II am very sorry, sir, but my child is
extremely III, and | have been up all night
watching him"
',Of course its easy to make an excuse"
said the other, coldly, as he lowered his
iron-grey head, stiffly. But let no more
time be lost; we have busy work for all
o.day.
And there was busy work for twice tho
force that Mr.. Flint employed His princi-
pie was to keep all hands at work on the
high pressure principle. No rest. no re-
Taxation, no encouraging words, from the
least to the greatest. Continual rebuko
was the continual watchword in his estab-
llshment The youngest was the hardest
worked Of all. He was a poor orphan,
bound out to Mr.. Flint, and feeding in
his kitchen from such scraps as hi. master
allowed. Many u time had Harry Graham
slipped a couple Of biscuit into his hand on
the sy, and an apple or cake which kind
hearted Mary had sent him, and the boys
famlshed way Of deyouiing them showed
very plainly how he Jared. The poor or
phan heart was bound to him by cord. Of
gratitude and affection, and there was no
service in his power he wOulduot render him.
The weary day dragged on. 10 the ouN-
ious father the hours seemed Ike days in
length, and the old clock seemed for once
to have forgotten his duty atogether-
MONDAY had passed, and the long linrcr.
ing finger o, the time keeper pointed to ono
v'clok. 4 httle messenger came up the
broad stone steps and asked for Mr. Gra-
ham.
There he is" said the crrond boy and
he listened anxiously to hear the message,
for had not Harry said to him that very
morning, MY little Ruby is very sick,
Hugh, and may not live till come lack.
J 1t was indeed worth great deal to have
the sympathy Of even that poor oppressed
child 20 near him all day.
The doctor says Ruby can not live long,
and hi, mother wants yeu to come, SAID
the child.
With a proan he put down hi, pen and
walked to the private Office. TLeyesat Mr.
Flint, deep over his papers, with his whole
soul wrapped up in stocks and bales Of MGR
chandisc. He was just then driving a sharp
trade with the Mandarins, and was impa-
tient at being brought back 50 uuccrcmoni-
ousy to his native shore.
What has happened now? Isthe street
on fire. he asked, sharply, Cone might
think 50 from your look.
My child is dying and Imust go home.
You must not 90. You know it Is i'm
possible to spare you an hour on such bu-
~ day. All the weeks duties must be
: thrown into confusion. No Mr. Graham,
; 20 back to your desk and don't speak Of
, leaving until those invoices are made out.
1t may take few minutes over hours to-
. night.
II must 60 Mr. Flint. Have you no
compassion?" The words were wrung from
him by his agony, but they only served to
, harden the iron heart more than ever.
) If you do go | with you to remember
, that your services are no longer wanted here.
, \ our last month : wages are still III my
q hands. Good afternoon. and with aGOtA.
er stiff bow he shut the door in hi, face.
"All humbug about his sick child. dare
say said the man, as he turned to his pa
pers again.
This last threat was as lie meant it should
be. an effectual argument. de dare no
: forfeit month pay, or hislandlord wouic
turn him into the street.
He might not even have the money t
y bury his child.
So he toiled with a bursting heart unit
the wretched day was gone, and thel
sought with wretched f3rebodings hi, l[3wl.
; home again. She met him atthe hall door
e and her tear. stained face forbade all que,
{ tionings. They sat down by the little cIi
= and each took clay cold hand and held
a for long time They could not speak
d they could only weep together At lengt
u when she was calm enough TO speak, th
y mother told him of the last sad hours wlc
II she sat with the only one kind ncightor b
"a his side and watched the little light 20 on
$ She was weeping by his side, and be locke
lr M with baby sympathy iHto her eyes, au
- raising one thin hand, said with great C.
" fort
It. ''Ruby's sorry mamma Poor lamb, i
could not knew the cause OF her sorrow
1t grew dark to him at last and hc mi>'oo
the shadow of death wings for tie han
twilight which brought his father home.
&C. Papa, take Ruby" was his lastreques
:h By and by his lips moved fain'ly, ana hC
n listening ear caught the familiar worls c
i, his little evening prayer. Now | lay m
n down to sleep" and in little while he W.
~ asleep.
as All, how heart rcndng to'the absent OF
ne was this recital. and even in that hour ,
v sorrow burst of indignant passion rose
70 his heart against the iron-hearted vretc
20 that had kept him away from that dyin
e bed side.
lie Il will repay saith the Lord! y I'VE VI
"a leave our wrongs in God = hands, said NJ.
~ ry.
IS As quickly as he could, Harry Grah hal
e. procured new situation y lower 50 !arf
nc was more than made up rby the consiie
II ate kindness Of his employer. lie was y.
Ibe.souled man, who delighted in dom
good to all around him. And God pro
pered him as he ever does those who a
kind to the poor. Harry too was rewardC
m hundred fold for all his acts Of Eindno
al