The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-09-30
CHARITY.

CHARITY.
"And now abideth Faith, Hope, Char
ity, these three; but the greatest of these
is Charity"
1t is hopeful sign in young man
when his meditatiOnS on heavenly virtues
are so deep and earnest us to cause him,
almost unconsciously, to repeat aloud to
himself passages of Holy Writ, as did Dr.
Norton, riding slowly home in his sulky,
one clear June afternoon, the above quoted
verse. But when we cOnfide to you that
he had just come from well-to-dO Farmer
AbbOtt's, whose three blooming daughters
were severally named Faith Hope, and
Charity, it may reasonably be doubted
whether the handsome young doctors
meditatiOnS were as much on heavenly
virtues as on earthly.
IL was rather a pretty tablcau that he
interrupted when lie stepped into the
Abbotts cozy sitting-room that afternoon
and somehow its memory haunted him
still. The wheels of his light sulky made
no noise rs they rolled over the grassy
lawn in front of the house, and with all
the freedom of an intimate acquaintance
he sprang lightly to the steps, then in
through the open door without knocking,
and was in their midst before they knew
him to be anywhere near. Now Charity,
the youngest of the sisterly trio. bad that
very day purchased pair of new gaiter
boots, and at the very moment when he
darkened the doorway, was exhibiting
them for the opinion of her mother and
sisters So she stood in the middle of the
rOOm her dress raised ju.t far enough to
show the lin boots, Il little strip of snowy
stocking, and, above ALL the fantest suspi-
ciOn of dimity ruffiing. Down went the
dress, however, when she suddenly saw
her trio of spectators changed to a quar-
tette, and up, up to the very verge of her
brown hair, mounted the rosy bushes
but the burst of laughter from her mother
and sisters at her discontinue, restored
her compOsure.
"Td like to know your opinion of my
new boots, Dr. NortOn?" said the little
puss, saucily, walking up to him, deter
mined to face it bravcly out, and thrusting
forward one dainty foot i'
"Hum, WE'LL" said the doctor, with as
much gravity as though he were pronounc-
ing on case of malignant typhus, "let
us see. Cloth, but that's no objection if
You always remember your rubbers in the
damp. Heel rather too high; if l were a
cobbler I'd take half inch off that; but
perhaps you'll stand it if you've been used
to that sort of thing. Don't pinch any
where do they? Consumption soled? No,
as live, good, honest, half inch soles /
think they'll do, Miss Charity"
"What is your consultation fee" said
Charity, gravely, pulling out neat port
mOnnaic.
"Five dollars in SO important case as
this" replied the doctor, subsiding into a
cosy rocking chair, "but don't pay me the
money; I'll take this chair for few mo-
ments, and a glass of water, and call it
even" so Charity went for the water.
When she came in with it he was just
making known his errand.
"Tvc been to see old Mrs. Wells. She
| is very low, won't last much longer; but
the family are all worn out, and l agreed
| to send a watch for tonight. So l called
to see if one of you ladies wouldn't 60"
can't I'm sure" said Mrs. Abbott,
promptly. q haven't been able to watch
| tor years; but one of the girls could go. y
al shouldn't like togo into such place, F"
said Faith, "they are so poor, and every,
thing seems SO disagreeablc there" and
her handsome face expressed such lofty
| diStlain that for moment DR.. Norton felt
a suggestion to one so gracefully fastidious.
II should be really afraid to 60" and
| Hope raised her soft blue eyes timidly to
him. "What if the poor creature should
die in the night?" Hope Abbott looked
just what she was, a gentle, contiding girl,
and we must pardon our young hero if the
thought did pass through his head, what a
pleasure it would be to cherish and protect
one so lovely all his life.
"Pll CO." said Charity, quietly, "Tm not
afraid, and if the place is disagreeable l
can endure it for one night. Even if the
poor creature should die, can call the
| family"
Yes, certainly" said the outer DR.
Norton, while the inner man was com
menting: "Most sensible of the three
sisters Behold true Charity. I'm very
glad to have found suitable watcher fOI
the night, and also much obliged to you
Miss Charity" said he, as he took his leave
few moments after. "The family will
tell you all about the medicines and drinks
and | shall be over myself in the morning
unless / hear of her death previously
Keep up good courage, and take good care
of yourself GOod-day." And with
wave of his hand to the whole family h,
whirled away in cloud of dust, the noble
prepossessing young doctor, whom hal
the girls were breaking their hearts for
but who, as they Indignantly averred
seemed to have not the least bit of hear
to give anybody excep his patients, t.
whom he made himself very dear, no mat
ter who they were, or how old and repui
sive. His breakneck pace, however, sub
sided'intO slow walk as he rode up tn,
hill beyond, and it was then that his re
Election gave rise to the scriptured quota
ton which heads this story. q sn
. That evening, just at sunset, Chart,
Abbott went leisurely down the meadow
path across lots from her pretty home b
the humble cottage of the Wells family
The grass waved and surged around II
, the evening breeze, a sea of billowy green
gemmed with tall, nodding buttcrcups
| The delicious breath from the crimson
/ clover on the hillside came waited to he
t, like purest incense, and . little. .tusther on
/ faint delicate odor from the, lowland'
, told of strawberries ripening 10 luscio,i
sweetness down among the rank grass an
weeds. The bobelink nodded their sauc
/ black caps at her as they followed alongi
friendly proximity; trilling forth, NEAR
! while, their unintelligible jargon, ric