Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-03-15

last to pay our owings, and we was living
very hard
sHow much did you owe?' asked Matilda.
sOver three pounds, dear; and then the
rent was four. | hadn't one halfpenny in
the house; paid the baker, Thursday was
week; t'other four was for the doctor, and
we was hungry and cold, we was but, the
Lord be praised, we amt now
sAh. Joe's good Sod
sAs good as ever breathed, dear; but we
hadn't heard from him for long while, by
reason his regiment was up the country, but
you'll understand l didn't know that till l
got his letter. And SO we was to be sold
up, and go into the house. fretted deal,
and then thought I'd go and tell your
missus; she be a good friend but deary
me. owed such world O. money only,
thinks 1, she'll be main sorry to hear we
must go; and body likes somebody to be
sorry
'Ah, to be sure they de- said Matilda.
But she was out, and SO got nothing
only this child, bless her she runs up and
gives me penny; but, deary me! thinks
l, what's penny to them as owes 81 Is?
But, thinks /, my old man and me, we won't
cry together in the dark this last night. So
| walked on to the town with it, to buy a
half-penny candle of Mr.. Simms at the
postofice. Twas half way there from my
place, and when got into the shop, Sit
you down, Mrs. Grattan,' says he, for he
saw was main tired Il haven't seen you
of long time
sAnd that's true, Mr.. SIMS says I, for
it's little enough have to lay out, and
the shop t'other side Of the turnpike be
higher
well, | sat me down maybe quarter Of
an hour after I'd bought my candle, and
just as was going, in comes Mrs. Simms,
and, says she, Is that Grattan's wife?'
cay says he.
ssWell,' says she, I reckon you remem
bered to give her that letter.
ga good thing you spoke, my DEAR
say he, should have forgotten it-that
should
sIfyou'n believe me, I trembled like a
leaf, to think [ should so near have missed
it. sBe it letter from the Indie p says |.
s'Ay,' says he, that it is, and nothing to
pay ON it; and it is marked sto be left at the
postofice till called for
SWELL, dear, took it home, and waited
for my old man to come home, by reason L
cam read, and about dusk he comes in, and
we lights the candle, and my old man he
read it right out, for he's fine scholar.
And there was two fve-pound notes inside,
bless him; aud, says he, Mother, Eve got
made sergeant and row shall send to you
regular.
well, I've heard no better news this
many day !! said Matilda
1T was good, dear. Well, paid the
doctor, and when Mr.. Bali came next day,
says I, There's the money, sir, and he
stared. Indeed, he says am surprised,
but them that pay can stay. So you see,
there's money to spend, more money dear,
when we be laid up with the rheumatize.'
Upon this she laughed with genuine joy,
and taking up the kettle, wished Matilda
good afternoon, and hobbled away.
And I knew, though it had never occurred
to the old woman, that all this happiness
was owing to my penny If she had not
had it to spend, she would not have walked
to the postoffice; if she had not walked to
the postofice, she would not have got her
sons letter-that precious letter which had
saved her from misery and the work house.
How happy 1 was as we walked home home;
seemed to tread on air, and yet knew of
how little value the penny really was, it
was only n y having been permitted to give
it under such peculiar circumstances that
had made it such worthy and important
coin.
The lesson taught me by these Little
events I did not easily forget, and l think
their moral is too obvious to need elaborate
ly enforcing. 1t may, however, be summed
up in few words. First, do not expect
that in your own strength you can make use
of even the best opportunity of doing good.
Second, do not put off till another day any
good which it is in the power of your hand
10 do at once. And thirdly, do not despond
because your means Of doing good appear
trihing and insignificant, for though one
soweth and another reapeth, yet it is God
that giveth the increase; and who can tell
whether He will not cause that which is
sown to bear fruit an hundred-fold; who
can tell whether to have even penny to
give under certain circumstances may be to
have not a copper, but a golden opportunity.
Magazine. ~