Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-05-14

The pleased sun, the grateful shower,
The calm Of household weather.
Twenty-Five Cents.
PLEASE, sir, will you buy my chest
nuts ?'
"Chestnuts! mol" returned Ralph
Moore, looking carelessly down on
the upturned face, whose large brown
eyes, shadowed by tangled curls and
fiaxen hair, were appealing SO pitt
fully to his own. "What do I want
of chestnuts?"
"But please, sir, do buy'm," plead
ed the little one, reassured by the
rough kindness OF his tone. "No-
body 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
instinctively.
"Are you very much In want of
the money!"
"Indecd, sir, we are, sobbed the
child, mother sent me out, and"-
"Nay, little one, don't cry In such
q heartbro.;en way" said Ralph,
smoothing her hair down with care
less gentleness. az don't want your
chestnuts, hut here's a quarter FOR
you II that will do you any good"
He did not stay to hear the delig hit
ed incoherent thanks the child
poured out through a rainbow OF
smiles and tears, but strobe on his
way, muttering between his teeth:
THAT cuts of my supply Of cigars
for the next twenty-four hours. i
don't care, though, for the brown
eyed object really did cry as IL she
hadn't friend In the world. Hang
IL! wish / was rich enough to help
every poor creature out Of the slough
Of despond!"
While Ralph Moore was INDUCING
In these very natural reflections, the
dark-orbed little damsel whom lac
had confronted was dashing down
the street, with quick, elastic step,
utterly regardless Of the basket ol
unsold nuts that still dangled upon
her arm. Down On obscure lane she
darted, between tall, r,iinous rows OF
houses, and up narrow. wooden
staircase To q room where n pale,
neat-looking woman, with large
brown eyes like her own. was sewing
as busily as IL the breath Of life de-
pended upon every stitch, and two
little ones were contentedly playing
In the sunshine that temporarily
supplied the place of the absent fire,
Mary! back already? Surely you
have not sold your chestnuts &c
soon 20 ..
20, mother, mother. sect" ejacu.
lated the breathless child. IA gen.
tleman gave me o whole quarter
Only think, mother, whole quar-.
teri'
III Ralph Moore could only have
seen the rapture which his tiny sil.
yer gift diffused around It, In the
poor widows poverty stricken home
he weuld have grudged still less the
temporary privations of cigars Il
which his generosity had subjected
him.
-
Years came and went. The little
chestnut girl passed as entirely ou'
Of Ralph Moore's memory as II heI
pleading eyes had never touched Tn,
soft spot In his heart, bat Mary lie,
never forgot tho stranger who had
given her the silver piece.
The crimson window curtains wer,
closely drawn to shut out the storm
and tempest Of the bleak Decembel
night-the fire was glowing cheerily
In the well.fillca CRATE, and the din
ner table all In q glitter with Gu
glass, rare china, and polished silver
was only waiting for the presence o
Mr.. Audley.
"What can IL be that detain
papa?" said Mrs. Audley, q fair
handsome matron Of about thirty, u
she glanced Mt the dial of tiny en-
ameled watch, "Six o'clock, and h,
does not make his appearance.
'"rhere's man with him In Tia,
study, mama-come on business,
said Robert Audley, a pretty boy
eleven years old, who was reading b.
the fire.
"I'il call him again." said Mrs
Audley, stepping TO the door. Bu
as she opened 1t, the brilliant ga
light fell full ON the face Of an hum
BILE looking man In worn and thread
bare garments, who was leaving tn
house, while her husband stood II
the doorway Of his study, apparent
ly relieved to be rid Of his visitor.
"Charles, ,"said Mrs. Audley, who's
cheek had paled and flushed, "wh
10 that man--and what DOES b
want?"
"His name Ii Moore, ] believe, an
he came to see II I would bcstow uE
on him that vacant messengessAip Il
thc bauk.n
And you wili?n
"Idon't know, Mary, I must thin
about it.n
"CharIes, give him the situation.
"Why, my love7'
Because l ask II of you as favol
and you have said a thousand time