Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-10-27
Twenty-Five Cents.

Twenty-Five Cents.
"Please sir, will you buy my chest
nuts 2"
"Chestnuts Nor returned Ralph
Moore, looking carelessly down on the
upturned face, whose large brown eyes.
shadowed by tangled curls of faxen
hair, were appealing so pitifully to
his own. What do | want of chest
nuts 2"
"But please, sir, do buy EN-" plead
ed the little one, re-assured by the
rough kindness of his tone. Nobody
seems to care for them. and-and"-
She fairly burst into tears, and
Moore, who had been on the point of
brushing carelessly past her, stopped
instinctiveIy.
care you so very much in want of
the money ?"
"lndeed sir, We are" sobbed the
child; "mother sent me out, and
"Nay, little one, don't cry in such a
heart. broken way" said Ralph,
smoothing her hair down with careless
gentleness, Il don't want your chest
nuts, but here's a quarter for you, if
that will DO you any good. "
He did not stay to hear the de-
lighted, incoherent thanks the child
poured out through rainbow of smiles
and tears, but strobe on his way, NUT
tering between his teeth:
That cuts off my supply of cigars
for the next twanty-fOur hours. |
doh't care though, for the brOwn-eyed
object really did cry as if she hadn't
a friend in the world. Hang it |
wish was rich enough to help every
poor creature out Of the slough of de-
spoui
Whiie Ralph Moore was -induIging
dor k-0rbed little damsel whom he had
comtorted, was dashing down the
streets with quick, elastic footsteps,
utterly regardless of the basket of un-
sold nuts that still dangled upon her
arm. Down an obscure lane she dart
ed, between tall ruinous rows of h0us-
es, and up a narrow wooden staircase
to a room where pale, neat-looking
woman, with large brown eyes, like
her own, was sewing as busily as If
the breath of life depended upon eve
ry stitch, and two little ones were
contentedly playing i'll the sunshine
that temporarily supplied the place of
the absent fire.
MARY back already? Surely you
have not sold your chestnutS SO soon !"
"Oh, mother, mother, see !" eiacula-
ted the breathless child. "A gentle
man gave me whole quarter! Only
think, mother, whole quarter !"
If Ralph Moore could only have
seen the rapture which his tiny silver
Gift diffuSed around it, in the poor
widows poverty stricken home, he
would have grudged still less the tenn
porary privation of cigars to which
his generosity had subjected him.
Years came and went The little
chestnut girl passed as entirely out of
Ralph Moore's memory as if her
pleading eyes had never touched the
soft spot in his heart, but Mary Lee
never forgot the stranger who had
given her the silver piece.
The crimson window curtains were
closely drawn to shut out the storm
and tempest of the bleak December
night-the fire was glowing cheeriy
in the well-filled CRATE, and the dinner
table all in a glitter with cut glass,
rare china and polished silver, was
only waiting for the presence of Mr..
Audley.
"What can it be that detains papa 2"
said Mrs. Audley, a fair. handsome
matron of about thirty, as she glanced
at the dial of tiny enameled watch.
"Six o'clock, and he does not make
his appearance.
There's a man with him In the
study, mamma-come on business
said Robert Audley, pretty boy,
eleven years old, who was reading by
the fire. a III ...
"I'll call him again" said Mrs. Aud
ley, stepping to the door. .,.. p.
But, as she opened it, the brilliant
gas light fell full on the face of an
humble looking man in worn and
threadbare garments, who was leav-
ing the house, while her husband stood
in the doorway of his study, apparent.
ly relieved to be rid of his visitor.
"Charles,'' said Mrs. Audley, whose
cheek had paled and flushed. "who is
that man-and what does he want ?"
"His name is Moore, believe, love,
and be came to see if | would bestow
upon him that vacant messengership
in the bank"
"And will you? ?"
aI don't know, Mary-I must think
about it. '
"Charles give him the situation.
i"Why, my love?''
Because / ask it of you as a favor,
and YOU have said thousand times
| you would never deny me anything"