Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-11-11

shook her head till her hair, half in curl
and half III wave upon her shoulders,
danced and swung in the pleasant sun
light
''Do you fee! better?'
The man smiled strange, pitlful smile,
as though his sodden heart was trying to
look out into his din eyes.
90 yes, better!'
Poor SHINING Bob Hunter, that was no
lie
"Have you any little girls like me p
Again he smiled as if his heart was try
ing to speak from his eyes, but had forgot
ten its language. Heaven pity him, but
Bob Hunter had neither kith nor kin in
the great proud world that would own
him. He had proud brothers and sisters
once, and he remembered away back in
the past, sweet mother who had loved
him--but she had long since slept that
sleep which knows no waking. No, no,
he had no friends. looked into the
child's tender face, and said:
"No, no, lave nothing, nothing"
What was there in the reldened visagc,
or hesitating speech of the bleered-eyed
closer to his side ?
May be your little girl p
She asked it with both hands clasped in
his; so near him that her sweet breath was
against his burning cheek.
I'm poor Bob Hunter, what dye want
to be mine for ?"
lie hid his face in his hands while he
spoke. Out from the world as he was, he
was no stranger to its cruel -ebuffs. In
this sober moment of his life they came up,
on him like a terrible curse. AS he
crouched before the child, he saw himself
as lie really was. Through the light of
her purity he behe!d his heart in all its
rcttenness. lie was Bob Hunter know
ing this would the little creature still cling
to him? She answered him softly, still
clasping her hand in his Did all heaven
listen to her:
81 want to be yours because you hav'nt
anybody to love you"
''But Pm wicked and don't deserve any
body's love-
His whole heart gave way as he spoke,
and the words came from his lips in gasps
and sobs.
"Well, you won't be wicked any more
will you, if III be your little girl 2"
Now she put back the damp hair from
his fore head and temples, with her soft
baby hands. Was it the caress or the
words that quivered his poor lips?
"T can / be good," he said, 81 get drunk
"But YOU won't any more"
She had hand on either cheek now,
boated and tear stained as they were
coaxing him with gentle touch, her sweet
voice and gentle smile, to be man once
more Could he be anything, anybody, if
he tried, he wondered. He had thought
of it before, but no one seemed to care
which way he went. But now his weak
heart trembled and throbed in the battle
How his poor head sank lower and lower
upon his breast, AS if he would hide his
face in very shame from the child. But
he could not turn away from her or from
the storm within him.
mo, God helping me will not get
drunk AGAIN he said, starting to his feet
and then staggering again from very weak
ness to the ground.
"Who are you, little child ?" he asked,
looking up into her face.
81 am Elsie Haynes. live with aunt
Lucy in the next house, Won't you
come in ?"
"No," he answered, shuddering
"Where do you live?"
IL live Anywhere. | sleep in barns,
by the roadside, and under fences
80, dear, dear Aunt Lucy shall fix you
a bed, I know she will. Amt you sick p
He shook his head, and said he was
used to such care. lie did not work and
/ he could not do better.
"But won't you work for Uncle Haynes?"
Come up and see."
She held fast TO his hand, coaxed him
inside the garden gate, and then tried to
pull him up the smoothe path to the house.
But no, he would not go, he said no. He
wouldn't want him. But still the child
pied with him, and at last he walked by
her side up to the piazza, and seated him
self upon the steps, while Elsie went for
her Uncle.
There was strange expression of won
der and surprise on the face Of good MIR.
Haynes, when little Elsie presented to him
her protege. Bob Hunter asking for
work! What did it mean? He would
not have been more surprised to have seen
the dean OF a score of years at his door
asking for work.
'What can he do Elsie ?" he asked
20, anything, guess. He can work in
the garden with you, and I'll carry you
water all day."
For moment Mr. Haynes hesitated,
then he said putting his hand out to Bob:
"You may try, and as long as you will
work, you may have work '
There was no small amount of wonder
in the village when it was rumored that
Bob Hunter was at work for Mr.. Haynes
And when weeks after be crept silly
among his fellow man, we'll clad and sober,
avoiding steadily the places where his ruin
had we'll nigh been wrought, some said
that great miracle had been wrought,
that God himself must have spoken to
Bob Hunter, or lie would not have chang
ed from darkness to light
All, miracle it was, indeed, wrought
by the dear merciful hand of the one God