Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-04-29
SeIeft Story.
THE BARLEY LOAF.


Thirty yearsi tits long period in the allot-
ted term Of life on earthI First the baby Sleep
ing in its cradle; then the child in short frocks
romping in ths garden walks; then the much
coveted jacket and trowsers. and the going to
school; then the ambitions boy from school to
college; then the farewell address and crown
ing honors of college life and out into the world
to findjoy and sorrow; and then the closing of
the eyes and rest TO the restless heart; and to
how many comes all this within the short space
of thirty years!
Ifany one had said TO Master Elias, on his
thirieth birth day: master Elias there will
come beggar to your door to-day; give her
one of those two barley loaves of yours; and
thirty years from to-day you will be paid for 1t
and good price too" Master Elias, would
probably have started at this announcement,
and might, in truth, have answered that there
was charity enough in his heart to give a loaf OF
bread to a beggar, without hope or promise OF
being paid for it, either in thirty years or at any
other time. 4l
Master Elias. must tell you, was the village
school, master; but he did not live as country
school-masters usually do-boarding around,
f1rst at one house, and then at another When
he came TO the village, three years before, he
brought with him little sister. a pretty child,
about twelve years old; they two were all alone
in the world and he seemed to feel the need of
some place that he could call home for himself
and her; SO he hired q humble little cottage,
and took into it a poor old woman, who for her
support was willing to be his housekeeper.-
After two years she died, and then thelittle girl
became house-keeper.
Whether Master Elias had a little store of
money when he first came to the village, and
t,ic saff dom com
Icannot tell; but certain it is that he grew
poorer, and poorer, and now was very poor in
deed
1t was poor village where he lived and
taught; each one of the villagers thought that
the others were all doing great deal Tor the
support OF the school-master; so, being every
bodys business. to support him, ii became In the
course of time nobody's business; and SO it
happened that on this thirtieth birthday, a
bright September day, when he and his little
sister sat down to the grand banqust on the oc-
casion, the grand banquet consisted of nothing
but bread and milk-the contents of the pantry
having been reduced to two barley loaves.
But bread and milk is a very good thing to
anybody with good appetite and a good con-
science; SO the two satlong and merrily over
the repast, and Just as they finished, came rap
at the door; poor girl in rags; her mother was
forfood. Master Elias hesitated for one moment
onlv. "IfI give away the bread. what will we
cot to.rnorro,y o., ,bo,obt be II vas hpt nass-
inc tboupbt ant, he mt ii from him and felt
trnstf,l in divine nrovidance for the n,orrov
.Iviu gsve rop half of an 7 boya. con- dono
), he .aiJond cove ,bo oirI o,,., 90 h;s
,,,ria ,,a,,as a,,3 li,i5,, ,;,l, r., A.. soo,,,,
-, -. - - -, a. ,,,.,a .aI -,
,hora he o,,, 70 COOL o,,d The ,,fr, Iar,ar,sd
rno Ionc, ooI, Uy;n.ar ,,,s..,. - e..
,,,obt when his 1abors we're oI,er he ,ro,,d -
hv his solitary teScbing her TELLING qber s,or,os
o,a ,hirl,ira 81 t,poa She ,,,o,,d ,,a
,roman-a GOOD and l,essntff,,I woman ,vitI, a
hr,,ht ho,,n,, bon,a ~ he, cur -
p,,t tx,ra,ss s,,ri,,. t,,e-a .. No a +i,,, -,
ND 20 ,,s,,iss l,;s school on5 sbnt nth..ot,,o,
honse and tell his hoys his Iittle .;ct
90 tbo-o ,,,orld he 10 eoooI CO.. g sa..a
nntr sbe cot we'll AGAIN and ths days gra,, ~
,r-ee,s and sti1l tbera ,,,.,s No, sct,,,i
And there camean evening when Maste- Elias
saf outte alone in his coi1aqe and in The xil1ag.
- =, ~, ~, -, n,
,r.,e non So, M, ,,d ~, ,,,,,t, ,,,s -
a. "a az ,,,,is,Ias a,.o.;
Ter Eli.s r.,,sr .s.
a, -. - :, -
- ...s y Nv ""e
49, ,,as.ss -,
,oo.s 80 sas, -, ~, ,-,I1a-,a
l,od fro,,, it IT,,
:, .,,o a.,a.-.eI
,,,,,sos1 o,, S,,o,,o, o,,, -
s,reets. o,,d We, xv,,o,, ,,,+,7ar
zone 1,tfIe yerv little in,,eed ,ros iaft =, 49,
y;I,ae,s or t,irt,y ,,eors-hofora rhoo1.. ros
,von,en I-,.,o :;
Of tn Wv co,,ore c,,r.l, a.,
,-,,,,,, -, - b.a ,,,s,l, - 80
- o,Ie D. 80 s,a ,eieo
-. ~ -, a
" .ne
,,od 10, - -, -, -
- -, S-,;,1o.o -. 1No'lei
e,llle woin structure
the ,i,Ioas , "
tt,a to-, 15oa,ar 81
,.asss, ,,.
ioa,, -
anu
r,,,,a 'aH eoio anu
- D -. 9-ie St'iu' .ne oi
''.-1 % 'ei " 'he poor
ma. lesacy was "hat sne
yIrta - g.. : 80
- =. wen 70 her
- siro Ou' n'Ve'
=, t,iiu - II,