Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-11-09
SELECTED MISCELLANY.
FOR FATHERS HONOR"
AB0HEsTIC SKETGH.

Do uEu EuAE
known how it would be :" said Mr..
Sterling, looking up from the morning
paper with a most unpleasant express
sion upon his face.
What is gone ?" asked his wife.
"Aiy money is gone" answered AIR.
Sterling fretfully.
What money p
The money I was foolish enough to
lend Mr.. Granger"
''Why do yOu say that ?"
''He's dead" replied Mr.. Sterling,
coOlly.
Dead r. The wife's voice was full
OF surprise aud pain. Sorrow over
Swallowed her face.
Eyes, gone, and my money with
him. Here's a notice Of his death. /
was sure when l saw him go away that
he'd never come back except in his
coffin. Why VIII doctors send their
patients from homo to die ?"
'Poor Mrs. Changer Poor little
orDhansl" sighed Mrs. Sterling
"What viii they do ?"
''As well without him as with him, "
was the nnfeeliug answer of her hus-
hand. who was only thinking of the
three hundred dollars he had been
Over-pursuaded to loan the sick clergy
man, in order that he might go sonth
during the winter "He's been more
Of a burden than support to them
tGfse two years.
''Oh, Harry how can you speak
so p demonstrated Mrs. Sterling. "a
kinder man in his family was never
seen. Poor Mrs Granger She will
be heart-brOEen.
Kindness is cheap and easily dis
Tensed, cOldly replied Mr.. Sterling
He wOGld have been of more use to
his family If he had fed and clothed
them better. l reckon they can do
without him. II / had my three hun
bred dollars / wouldn't -"
But he checked for shame, not for
any better feeling, the almost brutal
words his heart sent up to his tongue.
Not many yards away from Mr.. Ster-
EnP's handsome residence stood a small,
plain cottage, with a garden in front,
neatly laid out IN box bOrdered walks,
aud filled with shrubbery. A honey
suckle. tWined with a running rosebusb.
covered the latticed portion, and looked
ia at the chamber windows, giving
beauty and sweetness. The hand of
taste was seen everywhere, not lavish
but discriminating taste. Two years
before there was not happier home
than this IN all the pleasant town of
C.. Now the hand of death was
upOn It.
''Poor Mrs. GraDgsrl Poor little or
phans" Well might Mrs. Sterling pity
them. When her mercenary husband
was signing over the loss of three hun
bred dollars, the yOung widow lay sense
less, with her two little children whis-
pering over her Ia childish terror. The
news OF bis death found her unpre-
pared. Only a week before she had
received a letter from Mr.. Granger in
which he talked hopefully of his recov-
cry. Il am stronger" he said; ssmy
appetite Is better; have gained five
pounds IN flesh since i left home. -
Three days after writing this letter
there came a sudden change of temper
sture; he took cold which was followed
by congestion of the lungs, and no
medical skill was sufficient for the case.
dis body was not sent home for inter-
ment When the husband aud father
went away, two or three months before,
his beloved ones looked upon his face
Tor the last time IN the world.
Love and honor make the heart
strong. Mrs. Granger was gentle,
retiring woman. She had leaned upon
her husband very heavily; she had
chung to him as a vine. Those who
knew her best felt most anxious about
her. ''She has no mental stamina. I"
they said; 'she cannot stand alone. :"
But they were mistaken. As we have
Just said, love and honor made her
heart strong. Only a week after Mr..
Sterling read the news of the young
minister's death, he received a note
from the widow.
MY husband" she said, twas able
to 60 south, in the hope of repaiuiDe
his health, through your kindness. III
he had lived. the money Won loaned
him would have been faithfully return-
ed, FOR he was a man of honor. Diving
he LETT that honor in my keeping. and /
will see that the debt Is paid. 73nt Won
will have to be a little patient y Ith me. -
Cali very fine" muttered Mr.. Ster-
ling. with a slight curl of the lip. eve
heard of such things before-tbey
sound well. People will say of Mrs.
Granger, what noble womanr What
q tine sense of honor she hast But I
shall never see tue three hundred dol
lars L was foolish enough to lend her
husband.
Very much to Mr.. Sterline's sur
prise, not little to his pleasure. he
discovered about three months after
ward that ne was mistaken in his esti-
mate OF Mrs. Granger. The pale, sad,
fragile little woman brought him the
sum OF twenty-five dollars Ha did
not see the tears in her ewes as he dis.
played her husbands note, with its
dear famlliar writing, and made there
on, with considerable formality, an en-.
dorsement of the sum paid. She would
nave gwen many drops of hen
hearts blood to have been able To
clutch the document from Mr.. Ster.
ling hands. His possession of II
seemed ike a blot on the dear lost
ones memory.
Kate Granger is the queerest little
girl L ever knew" said Flora Temple
to her mother on the evening of tht
day on which her first payment wa,
made. Mr.. Sterling heard the remark
and letting his eyes drop from tn,
newspaper he was reading, turned hi
ars TO listen.
- think her nice little GIRL" re
piled the mother.
so she Is nice, p returned the child
"but then she is queerF' - ...1--.H
What do you mean by queerP"