Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-12-31
DAILY DEMOCRAT


Twenty-Five Cents.
"Plssss, sir, will ycu buy my chest
nuts,"
"Ch.1,uu.s. Nor returned Ralph
Moore, licking esrelssslT down on the up
turned face. whose large brown e. Is. shad
swed By tangled curls Of dsxsn hair. wsrs
appealing 30 pitifollv 70 his own "Wha,
do want Of chestnutsY
"But please, sir, do buy EN-" pleaded
the little one. treasured BY The rough
kindness Of his tone. "Nebedy SEEMS to
care for them, and-and-"
She fairly burs. into tears, asd MceYe,
Who had been On the point q brushing
carel' ssly past her, stopped inssinesivsly
"Are: you very much in want Of the
men-y!"
"lndesd, sir, W are" sebbsd the child,
"oo'h.S - 4 me cut, and"
| NAY, little ere, ton't cry in such Z
heart b. oxen way" said Ralph. smoothing
her hair down with careless asntleness. ~
don't want your chestnuts, but bers's .
quarter for you, If that will do ven any
goei."
| He did not stay % hear the delight, IN
coherent thanks the child poured GU,
through . rainbow of smiles and tsare, but
strobe on his wav, nuttering between his
teeth:
That cuts OF my supply Of cigars for
the mkt twenty four houre. | d)n't
care, though, fer The brown-eyed object
really did cry as il she hadn't friend
10 the world. Hang ii l wish l was
rich enough TO help every poor creature
out Of the slough of despcnd! "
While Ralph Moore was INDUCING in
these very natural reflections, the dark
srbsd little damsel whom he Rad con
frsnted Was dashing down the street,
with quick, elastic step, utterly regardless
of the basket Of unso!d nuts that still
dangled upon her arm. Down On OBJ
seurs lane she daftsd, bstween tall ruin
Gus rows Of houses, and up . narrow
wooden stair. case to . room whore
pale, ghastly looking woman. with large
brown eyes like her own. was sewing a.
busily ~ il the breath Of life depended
upon every stitch, aud two little ones
we're contsntedly playing in the sunshine
that tsmI orArily supplied the place Of the
absent ere.
"Mary back already! Surely you have
not sold your chestnuts 30 soon -
"Oh, mother, mother, see T. calculated
the brsath'sss child. "A gentleman gave
me . whole quartsri Only think, moth.
Or, . whee quarter y
II Ralph Moore could only have seen
the rapture which bic tiny silver gift
di1rused around il, in the posr vide ~
poverty stricken heme, he would have
grudgsd still lsss the temporary priva-
tions Of cigars 10 which his generosity
had subjected him.
Years came and went. The little chest.
nut girl passed % entirely cut Of Ralph
Msois's memory % il her pleading eye
had never touched the soft spet in bic
heart, but Mary Lee never forgot The
stranger who had given her che silver
piece.
Tho crimson window curtains wsre
closely drawn 10 shut out the storm and
tempest Of the bleak December night
the FIRE was glowing chssrily ia the we'll
filed CRATE. and the dinner table oil in
glitter with cut glass. rare china, and
polished silver, was only waiting for the
presence Of Mr.. Audlsv.
What can it be that dstains papa :"
said Mrs. Audlsy, . fair. handsome matron
Of about thirty, a. she glanced 1t the dial
Of . ,iny enamsled watch. "Six o'clock.
and he does not make bis appearance"
There's man With him 10 the study,
mamma-coms on business" said r bert
Audlsy, . pretty boy. eleven years old, who
was reading BY tbs ERE.
"rll call him again" said Mrs. Audlsy,
stepping to the door.
Ret che ncaoaA - Sha kvs1l:aot -.
light fell full upon the lace Of an humble
usnts, who was leaving the house. while
her husband stood in the doorway Of bic
study, apparently relieved to b rid Of his
visitor.
Charles" said Mrs. Audlsy, whoss
check had paled and flushed, who 10 that
man-and what does he want p
Ellis name is NJ GORE, 1 believe, and he
came TO see if would bestow upon him
that vacant messenee,ship in the bank"
"And will your"
Il don't know, Mary must think
abou. il. ?"
"Charles, give him the si,uatiJn."
Why, my love"
because | ask it Of you ~ favor and
you have said thousand times you would
never deny me any thing
"And l will keep my wsrd, Mary"
said the lover husband with an .affsc,ionate
kiss. "Il write the fellow note this very
evening. l believe rve got his address
somewhere about mo-
An hour or two later, when Bobby, and
Frank and little Minnie we're tucked snuglv
up in bed in tn, spacious nursery above
stairs, Mrs. Audley tod her husband rhy
che was interested in the fate Of man
whose face she had not se.n for twenty
years.
"Thsts right, my ittlo wife y said her
husband, folding her fondly TO his breast,
when the aimple tale vas concluded, never
forget one who has teen kind to you in the
days when you needed kindness most"
Kolph Moore was sitting the self-esm.
night in bis poor edgings, beside his ailing
wifs's sick bed, when . livsried servant
brought note from that rich and prosper
ors bank director, Charles Audley. !:
Coed news, Bertha !" he exclaimed
joyou.ly, as he read the brief words. I'VE
shall not starve-Mr. Audlsy promises me
the vacant situation r.
"You have dropped something from be
note, Ralph," said Mrs. Moore, pointing to
a clip Of paper that lay on the floor.
Moore stopped to recover the estray. II
wss . City dsllar bill neatly folded in
piece Of paper. on which was written:
In grateful rsmsmb fance Of the eilvor
qusrtsr that kind stranger bestowed on
the littls chestnut girl, twenty years ago."
Ralph Moore had thrown his morsel Of
bread On the waters Of life. and after many
gears j: had returned to him.
Lynn this year manufacturss 10000, 900
pairs Of shoes, valued at I'll. 00o.0oe.