Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-02-10
twenty-five CENTS.

!tsAoC otAf NAii Ou puy OuCobuuto
'Chestnutsl Mol" returned Ralph
Moore, looking carelessly down on the up
turned face, whose large brown eyes shad-
owed by tangled curls of faxen hair, were
appealing so pitifully to his own
''What do want of chestnutsY'
"But please sir, do buy en-" pleaded
the little one, reassured by the rough kind
ness of his tone. Nobody seems to care
for them, and-and =
She fairly burst into tears, and Moore
vino had been on the point of brushing
carelessy past her, stopped instinctively.
Are you very much In want of the mon,
y?"
'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 chestnuts, but here's quarter
for you, if that viii do you any good"
Heidi not stay to hear the delight, inco-
hsrent thanks the child poured out through
arainbow of smiles and tears, but strobe on
his way muttering between his teeth:
That cuts off my supply for cigars for
the next twenty-four hours. | don't care
though, for the brown-eyed object really did
cryas 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 deSpOnd !"
While Ralph Moore was indulging in these
very natural reflections, the dark -orbed lit
tie damsel whom he had confronted was
dashins down the streets with quick elastic
step, utterly regardless of the basket of un
sod nuts that still dangied upon her arm.
Down an obscure lane she darled, between
u!i rows OF rIInou5 houses, AMI up a mar
r9T wooden staircase to a room where pale
Hoat looking woman, with large brown eyes
Ike her own, was sewing as busily as if the
tTeath of life depended upon every stitch
and Two little ones were con temptuously
Paying II the sunshine that temporarily
supplied the place of the absent fire.
Mary! hack already? Surely you have
not sold your chestnuts so soon !"
Oh, mother, mother. Sect calculated
the breathless child. "a gentlemen gave
NE vhO!e quarter!"
II Ralph Moore could only have seen the
rapture which his silver gift diffused around
H. ID the poor Widows poverty stricken
hoale' he would have still less the Temporal
y yPHVauons Of cigars to which his generos-
!ly had sul-.-.-I L.
1ears came and went The little chest
Ia1 grl passed as entirely out of Ralph
'ioo'e memory as if her pleading eyes had
,.'sF touched the soft spot in his heart, but
nary l.eeneVer forgot the stranger wac had
gwen her the silver piece. i
Inc crimson window curtains were closely
~'-'n to shut ont the storm and tempest of
'.7 o'eah December night-the fire was
s-Fng eheerfuIly in the we'll filed CRATE,
-''he dinner table all in n glitter with cnt
-.-5', rare china, and polished silver, was
! waiting Tor the presence of Mr.. Aud
hat can it be that be that detaius pa
"a. sad Mrs- Aulley, fair, handsome
5''on oi about thirty, as she glanced at the
1I -, u ilny enamelled watch. six o'clock,
'- -r l' does not make his appearance. -
Here man with him in the study,
,-'ana-eome on business" said Robert
'-''y' pretty boy, eleven years old, who
"l' reading bT the fire.
/ call him again, said Mrs. Audley.
sPnns to the door.
n ~, as she opened it, the brilliant gas
'eA iull on the face OF an humble look
= '--u III worn and threadbare garments
,, 1' Vas leaving the house while her hus
- .' s,o'E IN the doorway of his study, ap-
MY Ia, relieved TO be rid of his visitor.
.,.I IAar!es' said Mrs. Audley, whose
lex aai paled aud flushed, who is that
IN ana what does he want?''
l MS name Is Moore, believe, love, and
t .'nie to see if l would bestow upon him
-, ''eant messengership in the bank"
And viii you?"
=. l don know, Mary-Imust think about
..,,l, Ular!es, give him the situation"
by, my love?''
because | ask it of you as a favor, and
nave said a thousand times you would
'er deny me anything"
=, ALd viii keep my word. Mary" said
.T.I aver husband, with an affectionate kiss,
~. "flte the fellow note this very eve
vI believe I've got his address some
Slere about me- !