Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-09-28

I
ed himself with evil he had wrapped
the drapery of sin about him, with ma
ny a curious, complicated fold, o
whose windings only the spirits o
evil had the clue. -.
Now, when I was a little one.
said the poor man, with sigh,
had a good mother yes, Jake, di'
so. I've known the time when sh
was that hungry she Jest cried lik
a baby, and then dryin' her tears sh,
jest down and prayed to the Lord a,
if she could see him that He'd sent
us bread to keep us from starving
And he sent it."
Don't believe it. All yarn
"Well, guess if you'd gone hungry
for twenty-four hours, you'd believed
that bread was bread and not yarn
when you'd got it. I tell you, some.
body brought basket to the door,
and it was filled to the top with every.
thing we wanted. There, Bob, says
my mother, says she to me, don't new.
er forgit to pray to the L. I'd = lut
havn't minded her no, not once as
! ! know of" ..
He hid his face in his hands and the
beautiful presence bent still nearer to
him, and the sleeping child so dimly
seen in the weak fire light, smiled
again.
Come, come, you're down spirited,
man take sip of the brandy, there'll
be none here in few minutes don't
be fool, tell you. If God cared for
you saying there was such one
would he let you grovel as you do in
misery and poverty, while others have
everything heart can wish ?" H.
"'Twont do for you to talk to me
that ere way, Jake, though l knows
you're big sight cleverer than be,
or ever will. But / saw something
once that was worth more to me than
all you can say. What was that !?
Why, it were my poor wife dying.
The poor thing! hadn't been over
kind to her, Jake; it were along of
my spreeing habits, you see, Jest reg
larly giving of myself over to the old
one, for mighty poor pay, I tell you:
Well, she had the rough word many's
the time, poor soul |! and rough fife
of it altogether. Blu: when she died
she jest said the lovingest things
about heaven and forgivin' me every
wicked action I'd did and said she
saw blessed angels, and was going to
her father in glory. You may laugh
at me if You like for me taking on so
like baby, but when / think O. her,
and see poor little Nanny that'll mabbe
grow up in sin and shame-Tm like to
die with my feelins."
Look how Gods took care of me ?
say you. Better say look how you've
took care of, yourself. Better say,
Bob, you've spent money enough in
drink, and tobaccy, and bettin', and
treating, and foolin' in your younger
days, to have a nice little house over
your head-and a living wife, too
and that baby there, dressed in decent
clothes. I swear if there's such a
thing as a better life, Pm going to find
it. I'll not be drawn into believin'
your wicked notions, though you do
know power more than me hillo (!
bless me, has the girl seen somethin 2"
The atheist turned and there sat lit
tie Nanny, with shining eyes and lift.
ed hands.
"What is it, girl 2" cried her father,
shaking her little.
"Oh pa, the house it was your
house," gasped the child" turning
slowly round to him.
Wake up, Nanny, wake up"
And there was flowers in the gar
den, and great high trees, and q real
stove in the kitchen, and the sun shone
there" the child drew long breath.
"And, and great angel sat there
with silver wings"
Why, what is the little one talk
ing about? Why don't you tell, Nam
ny?"
"She's got fever" growled Jake.
"And the door opened and nanny
came in all smiling. And she went
and opened the closet and there was
great big loaves Of bread, and tins full
of sweet things, and then she put
them on the table and gave me great
pitcher of milk, and l drank it all up
oh 7" and a weary sigh closed the
description for the child was hungry.
you've got fever" growled Jake
Sand you wasn't there" cried the
little one in a spirited voice. a guess
we left you down in the city, guess
we did" .........
"Well, didn't want to be there
neither" growled the atheist.
"Pa?"
"Well, Nanny 2"
"What was the big light when
walked up?"
"The big light. child?"
"Yes, over there--oh (! it was like
fire. Pm cold" and she shivered.
Come up here on the hearth, Nan
NY"
The child, now thoroughly awake
crept toward the smouldering ant
scant warmth. She gathered hcrsel
between her fathers knees, at his feet
and her sad eyes opened wide on here
and there one red ruby-like coal. There
was thought Of beauty in that wal
face possibility that if health ant
happiness might but throw tints ant
touches here and there some wondrou'
limning waited development. Th'
scene was picturesque now |; Jake
| tho hardened ruffian who scrtlDled no
to pick mems pockets or enter hous'
at midnight and perhaps would no
have troubled himself if by chanc'
or we'll directed blow he had sent
soul into the eternal world. Bob, no
quite hardened, lowering, gloomy
penitent |; the child, crouched eli,like
With unframed locks curling and cling
ing to thin, sharp shoulders, and larg'
troubled eyes with dark shadows nn
der them a few spirals Of fog-lik
smoke, here and there a meagle Q to ngu