Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-03-08

such monsters-but did he say anything p
"Yes, he said God bless you, Martha
and God bless John, and all your kind
ness"
John, whose heart was much too big fol
his other faculties, withdrew his head from
the door, and vented his smitten feelings il
a howl.
John and Martha crawled up to bed tina
night with the sense of a premeditateC
crime weighing upon their souls. As they
passed the room where the old man lay
they turned away their faces.
Next morning Martha dressed her old ba
by in his best clothes. crying over him all
the while, and hiding her tears as best she
could. Daddy wanted to know if it was
Sunday, that they were putting on his best
things, and Martha could not answer Ev
cry innocent word he uttered was reproach
to her She could not look at him at break
fast time, neither could John.
When breakfast was over, John said to
the old man, in as cheerful tone as he
could command
Grandfather, I'm going to take you for
walk"
That's kind of you, john" said the old
man very kind"
well, come along, grandfather here's
your hat and stick"
Pm ready, John, quite ready Eli
bless me, what's the matter now, my dear p
Martha had her arms round his neck, kis-
sing him.
GOOD by, father" she said, through her
sobs, good by"
She had resolved not to say it, but she
could MT help it.
"Tut tut, my DEAR" said the old man,
1--WE are not going far. Are we, John ?"
No, grandfather, not very far"
"And we'll come back soon, won't we,
John ?"
40 yes, grandfather" John said and
the words almost choked him.
Martha whispered to the children to go
and shake hands with their grandfather
and wondering what this unusual ceremony
meant they were told, quietly and silently
The old man was as much puzzled as the
children, and wanted to know if it was a
birthday. John could not answer him; his
heart was full and his utterance choked
Without another word he took the old man
by the hand, and led him from the house /;
and Martha stood in the doorway, surroun-
ded by the children, looking after them
sadly through her tears. 1t was barely a
quarter of mile to the workhouse, but it
was long Journey for Daddy, who was
getting very frail now. He dropped his
stick very often, and John had to stoop
and pick it up for him, and there were dan
gerous crossings to pass, where it was nee
essary for John to signal to drivers of We
hicles to draw up and slacken speed until
he carried the old man safely over to the
other side of the road. Poor old Daddy,
going to the workhouse, was highly hon
ored that day The stream of traffic stayed
it's current and diverted its course to let
him pass. 1t could not have done more for
the Lord Mayor. At length John, leading
his unconscious charge by the hand, arri-
we'd in front of the workhouse gates At
the sight of the gloomy portal and the
high black wall, which shuts in life and
shuts out hope, his resolution began to fail
him. He stopped and hesitated
Grandfather" he said, it's about time
for your glass of ale, amt it y
"Well, yes, John, think its getting on
that way" said the old man in a CHEEKY
tone
"Will you take it here ?" John asked
"Is this the Nag's Head 2" the old man
inquired.
The Nag's Head was the house which he
had fused" for forty years.
"No, grandfather" John said " this is
not the Nag's but they keep good glass
of ale here"
"Well, just as you like" Daddy assented
So John took the old man into a public
house opposite the workhouse gates, and
| +h, hnlf fnr q
was Daddys pride always to pay for his
| liquor with his own hand While Daddy
was slipping his ale, John tossed off coup
lie of glasses of spirits he was trying to
screw his failing courage to the point.
When the old man had finished his glass
John took him once more by the hand, and
| hurriedy led him across the road. He was
at the gate, hesitating. with a full heart,
| looking through a mist of tears at the han
die of the workhouse bell, inviting only the
clutch of despair, when the old man looked
up in his face end said
| John :"
"Yes, grandfather"
Amt this the workhouse?"
| Daddy's look his intimaton that he knew
where he was the thought that he suspec
ted his design, struck John to the heart
and he hurried the old man away from the
| gate.
"The workhouse, grandfather, no. no ?
John said what made you think of that!
Come, come away, come away we're go
ing home, grandfather, going home as fast
as we can"
John was so anxious to dag Daddy
away from the spot, that he fairly lifted
him off his legs and carried him across the
road In his excitement and haste he quite
forgot Daddy's feebleness, and hurried hin
along at such rate that the old man los
his breath, and was nearly falling. 1t wa'
not until street had been put between
them and the workhouse, that John relaxed
his speed and allowed Daddy to recover
himself After that he led him gently bacl
to the emporium, took him in, and replaced
him in his old chair by the fireside.
" | couldn't do it, Martha" he said "m,
hand was on the bell, when he looked up a
me and spoke to me aud his look, anC
what he said, struck me to the heart.
couldn't do it, | felt as if was going t,
murder the poor old man. It's worse thar
murder, Martha, to put poor fellow crea
ture in there it's burying him alive p
"But, John"
I" | say it shall never be done by me