The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-02-10
4 TOUCHING SKETCH.
TWENTY-FIVE CENTS.


"Chcstnuts! MOI" returned Ralph
Moore, looking carclcssly down on the
upturned face whose large brown eyes,
shadowcd by tangled curls of faxcn
hair, were appealing so pitifiilly to his
own, what do l want with chest
nuts"
"Dut please, sir, do buy EN-" plead
cd the little one. rc-assurcd by the
rough kindness Of his tone. Nobody
seems 20 care for thcm,-nnd'-
She fairly burst into tears, and
Moore, who had been OH, the point Of
brushing carelessly past her, stopped
instinctiVcly.
"Are yon very much in want Of the
money!"
Indeed, sir, We arc" sobbed the
child "mothcr sent ME out"
Nay, little one. do not cry in such
Il hcart-brokcn way" said Ralph,
smoothing her hair down with careless
.cn,lcnc:s 81 don't want your chest
nuts, but here's n quarter for you II
that will do you any. Sood.'
lie did not stay TO hear the delight.
ed incohcrcnt thanks the child poured
out through Il rainbow Of smiles and
Tears, bu, strobe OH his way muttcring
between his teeth:
"Thal cut of my supply Of cigars
for the next twcntv-four hours.
don't care though, for the brown.eycd
object did really cry rs 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 orbcl little damscl whom he had
confronted. was daShing down the
street with quick, elastic step, utterly
regardless Of the basket Of unsold nuts
that still danglr,l upon hcrarm. Down
au obscure lane she dartch, between
tall run0uS rows OF houses. and up Il
narrow wooden staircase TO u room
where Il pale, neat looking woman
with large brown eyes like her own,
was SEWN. as bu>ily as if the breath
of lie depended upon every stitch
and two little ones were contcntcdly
PLAYING in the sunshine that Temporal
rily supplied the place ofthc absent fire
Mary! back already! surely you
have not sold your chrStnuts so soon:
"Oh. mother. mother, see" cjacula'
ted the brralhlrSS child. "a gentleman
gave me Il whole quarter. Only think,
mother. Il whole quarlcr.'
If Ralph Moore could only have
seen the rapture which his tiny silver
gilt iill'n>rd around il, in the pool
widows poverty stricken home, ht
would have grud"rd still less the
TEMPORARY privation OF cigars to which
his generosity had subir"trd him.
Years came and went. The little
chestnut girl passed as entirely out Of
Ralph Moorc> incimory rs If her plead.
in. 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 criiMS,A4 window curtains were
closely drawn to shut out the storm
and tempest Of 4 black December night
tho fire was glowing eh.Grl'ully in
the well.liIlrd .raic, and the dinner
table all in Il glitter with cut glass,
rare china and polished silver. only
waiting for the presence of Mr.. Aud.
ley.
What can it he that dctains papa:
said Mrs. Audlcy, fair, handSomc
matron of about thirty, is she glanced
ut The dial Of Il tiny enanlcllcd watch
six o'clock and he does not make his
appearance.
"Thcrc's man with him in the
study. mamna-camc on business
said Robert Auhlcy. pretty boy clcv-
en- years Old, who was reading by tho
fire.
I'LL call him again. said Mrs. Aud,
ley, stepping 10 the door.
But as she opened it tho Sasliglt fell
upon the face OF al humble looking
man in worn and thrcadbarc garments,
who was leaving the house while her
husband stood in the doorway Of his
study, apparently relieved TO be rid Of
his visitor.
Charles" said Mrs. Audlcy, whose
check had palcd and flushed, "who is
that man-and what does he want?'
Ills name is Moore, | believe
love, aud he came to see II | would be.
stow OH him that vacant messenger
ship in the Bank"
And will you"
IL don't know, Mary-I must think
about IT,"
Charles, give him the situation"
"Why, my lovc:'
Because, ask it Of YOU rs favor
and YOU have said q thousand times
you would never deny nc anything"
"And | will keep my word, Mary
said the loving husband. with an aflcc'
tionatc kiss. "IIl write the fellow q
note this very evening. ! believe Pve
got his address somewhere about me-
An hour or two later, when Bobby
and Frank and little Minnie were
tucked up in bed in the spacious nur.
sery above stairs, Mrs. Audley told
her husband srhy she WAS interested IN
the futc Of q man whose face she had
OF seen for twenty years.
"That's right, my little wlfc" said
her husband, folding hor fohdly to his
breast, "ncvcr forget one who haa
boon kind to you iu tho days when you
needed kindness most" ...
Ralph Moore was sitting tho sclf-
samo night III his poor lodgings, be.
side his ailing wifc's sick bed, when q
liyeriel servant brought note from
the rich and prosperous Bank director,
Charles Audley. .-.t." ..