The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-01-12

ragged dress, pinched and famished looking
| features, and feet bare, notwithstanding the
| inclement season. She looked up piteously
in the face of job Warner.
g am very cod and hungry" she MUIR
mered.
"Poor child. poor ch;ld!' calculated Job,
compassionaiely. Have you no home?"
''No mother died last week, aad since
then | hare lived in the street."
"Have you had anything to eat to>day ?"
Yes. sir; cracker
"Only cracker repeated job, pitl!uIly.
SAND your poor feet are bare. How cold
you must be -
,'Yes, sir, am very coid," said the little
girl, shivering.
"And where do you expect to pass the
nigLt2'
Il don't know, sir.''
Where did YOU sleep last night?"
a. In doorway; but they drove me off
this morning | wish mother was aiye
again" The poor child burst into tears
s0.s-sln-- c-.lrp,1,r-i-
Don't crv. nv aeor,'' said Job, soothirgIy
''Don't cry. You shall c"me home with me,
and | will let YOU slsep in wArt1 bed and
give YOU something to cat AN poor, I1v
Child, bu, not so poor as you. thank God. ]
had intended to buy soms little presents for
ray children. b4! they will be better pleased
If spend the n[ [oney in making yon comfort
able. Take al hand, AMI We shall s2ou be
at home
Daring tis colloquy J,'.n Bentley with
drew into . doorway. He hal felt some
curiosity 70 learn how his book keeper would
deal with ,hIs Claim upon his bounty. Their.
was something in the straightforward sim-
p,ici tLa; IN lie him feel not little cons
junction for h 5 owa bearag in the interview
whieh had iast taken place between them.
ale is ab0At to- deprive his children oi
their Cari4tmss praseats t,r tie s.&c OF sue
cor:us that poor little ou:cast,' sail jain
Bentley TO h.rli self He has noble heart,
poor f-llog. a nd be shall be no loser ~ ii.
After all, Sc an hundred dollars must be
quite iuzuaiciI Int III these times. | mus, Sc
what / can Id for him.
1t xas the ncrchaa's better nature ;hat
spoke. He az not naturally ! selfish man,
ONLY incousi3 rate. Now iha.-his benevolent
impulse, were excited, BE would no, rest III.
they we're en- bodied in actio'. H3ne.i Job.
never hast n u done a better nights work
than this. Tbs kindness to lie lytlIe Outclst
shall he richly recompenseI
WIth the li,ie gir.'- hand firmly c'asncd
IN his. Job ptused o-iore tbs door Of a sliai,
wooden tenei ben', and turning the kaeJ soft =
sr,crel.a
AWAY. b. how la.e 7oa ar.!'' SAYS A kind
mo;kcrl- woa'1n, advancing u meet him
"Ard-.ncrct.uI goodness "Lo have you
the--?'
- p-o- child, Mar. without fatb-r or
mother. WHO vas wander NJ barefoot and
hungry thr 5l The .Iests. collIn'. Help
br.a.,,:. lid 1h1me. caajl !? IaiaS fit; hld
been l,ile EJe
"a. You dill quite right. Job Poor liitla
thin, Hos iaiu she Is Are yo4 hungry,
'i,lc s;sl?"
80. s., hungry AMI cold. May warm
.ayS.'f br yaur fire. na'am?'
Bless me, eaild. | on, at ;a have Thought
Of Il before. Yes; - aad 1T dovl oa lac
c,ie.c'. aal VII. brias You some bread -aa
nils"
While the ii,te siii's wants vere he,ag
sa;-,.i ]. Mr.. y lr Ter III, '.Wcli, job, wha;
have yon 70, for he ch.ii-en r.
Il didn't Get anything. Mary. / was just
-on- to get some title juiays when lhJs poor
cL..I came un / ihou I5t, mag be, We ut.,.ll
be wiling = keep Der q week OF 81, and fl
her ont -y;ih some better clothes, and / am
alrail wc cant afford 10 10 that and buy
pre,en,s for the children, too. But do you
t.iak they would nc wiling to Do w.tdoa:
them f.r this year.'
am ssre they viii; bnt as all have
ha7s up ID cir stoeking', | must tell tam TO
ui-Lt, So tia. ilsT need no; be disappointed
ia he morning
The cousilcr1te n taer wen; Ep stairs -ad
acquainted tic children That Il cir father haG
brought Acuc :. poor iittlc g,rl WHO had no
fatler or ~ other. an aske.! If, TO her sake,
ilev ;gouA be willing II give Up their Chrisi>
ans presents. THIS appeal went t" the
chidreu's hearts. They were 81 delighted
with the i.ea of a new piay!t!low. ai'i IN
bright antcipatioas 0: the :nGcr1ly, lost sight
entirely OF the stockings that were destined
to remain unified.
"Wha, did tie Children say? asked Job,
q little uneasy.
"Drar children" said Mrs Waraer, wip~
ing her eyes with mo;hsrly affection aAd
prisa
They took i, like lItilo angels. They are
very anxious to see the liIS!e gul. l do ce>
leye hey vill regard her as the best Christ,
mas pr-scr they could tave.'
Il v;sa We could do something more t'an
keep her sor few days, said job, thoughts
fully.
.So 90 / II yoa had only had LITTLE
! larger sa'ary, job, it nigh, be done. Why
don; you ask for more
81 did io-nighi. Mary.
md what dil Mr.. Bentley say?'' IL,
CURED Hrs Werner, eagerly.
ale advised me to economic
"-A5 If YOU hadn't been doing it all YOUR
life exclaimed his wife, Indignantly. Lit
tie be knows what economy is
"Hush, Mary.' said .Jab, half frightened.
| "Of course be don't understand how hard a
! tine we have TO get along.
No, but lie ought to inquire. What harm
would il do him to give You an extra han
dred dollars 2
Il suppose he could al ii ~ said Job ;
"but perhaps he doesn't think I'm worth any
mo,c. As he said seven hundred dollars
used TO BE- considered fair salary"
$50 he re,..sed your application p
"WeH, no, rot sxactly He said he would
take i. into con Iteration. But | am sure,
from his tone, tn At | have nothing to expect.
We mus. get along as well as We can through
the hard times. and perhaps things *ill lni-
prove by a:dby.' -
"wh1t q thoroughly good man you are,
Job T. said Mrs, Warner, looking affections
ately at her husband. who was dear to her
in spite of his shabby oost.
"Uf course. have - good wife, he an>
swered, eheorfuliy; II won't call myself
poor as lcng as have Won. Mary
There were few happier or more thankful
hearts than those of the shabby book keeper
and his good wife, despite their enforced
self.denial and numerous privations. Their
souls were filed with calm and serene
trust that the same kind Providence which
had Guarded and guided them hitherto would
con.d ne its beueicent ,,care and protection.
Mrs. Warner took up her knitting, and Job,
orenihg the weli-used Bible. proceeded to
adjust his spectocles. preparatory to reading
a h4pter, when he was interrupted by a
0uieL sharp, decisive knock OH the outer
door,
Taking tallow candle from the table,
Job went to the door and opened it. The
wind caused his candle to flicker, 80 that he
did not ut first recognize his visitor. When
he did, his heart gave a sudden bound. and
in his surprise be nearly let fall the hight.