The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-04-02

| don't want your chestnuts, but here's quar-
ter for you, if that will do you any good
He did not stay to hear the delightful in
coherent thanks the child poured out through
rainbow of smiles and tears, but strobe on
his way, muttering between his teath.
That cuts off my supply of cigars for the
+ next tweniy-four hours! L don't care,
though, for the brown eyed object really did
cry as if she hadn't friend in the world. -
| Hang it, | wish / was rich enough to help
every poor creature out of the Slough Of Des-
| pondP
While Ralph Moore was indulging in these
| very natural reflections, the dark-orbed little
damsal whom he had confronted, was dashing
down the street with quick elastic step, ut
terly regardless of the basket Of unsold nuts
that still dangled upon her arm. Down an
obscure lane she darted, between tall runious
rows of houses, and up q narrow wooden
| staii case to a room where pale neat look
ing woman with large brown eyes like her
own, was sewing as busly as if the breath of
life depended upon every stitch, and two lit
tie ones were playing in the sunshine that
temporarily supplied the place of the absent
fire.
Mary! back already? Surely you have
not sold your chestnuts so soonY
No, mother; mother see! calculated the
the breathess child. "A gentleman gave me
a whole quarter Only think, mother,
whole quarter'
If Ralph Moore could only have seen the
rapture which his tiny silver gift diifdsed
around it''in the poor widows poverty-stricken
home. he would have grudged still less the
temporary privations Of cigars to which his
generosity had subjected him. =.
Years came and went The little chest
nut girl passed us entirely ont Of Ralph
Moore's memory, as if her pleading eyes had
never touched the soft spot in his heart, but
Mary Lee never forgot the stranger who had
given her the silver piece.
X = K x
The crimson window curtains were closely
drawn to shut out the storm and tempest Of
| the bleak December night-the fire was glow
ing cheerrully in the weIl-fled CRATE, and
the dinner table all in q glitterwith cut glass,
rare china, and polished silver, only waiting
for the presence of Mr. Auiley.
What can it be that detains papa?' said
Mrs. Au1ley, fair handsome mutron of
about thirty, as she glanced at tue dial of
tiny enameicd watch. Six o'clock, and he
does not make his appearance.
There's man with him in the study,
mamma-come on busines, said Robert Aud
ley a pretty boy eleven years old, who was
reading by the hre
IN call him agan, said Mrs Aud'ey, step
ping to the door.
But as she opened it, the brilliant gaslight
fell full on the face OF an humble looking
man in worn and tbreadbarc garments, who
was leaving the house while her husband
stood in the doorway of his study, apparent
ly relieved to be rid of his visitor.
Charles, said Mrs Audlcy, whose cheek
had paled and flushed, who is that man-
and what does be want?'
His name is Moore, believe, love, and
he came to see if would bestow upon him
that vacant messengership in the bank.
And will you?'
d don't know, Mary must think about
! it,
Charles, give him the situation
why, my loveY
. because ask it of you as a favor, and
: you have said thousand times you would
) never deny me anything
And will keep my word, Mary, said the
lover husband with an aflectonato kiss III
; write the fellow Il note this very evening.
> believe I've got his address, somewhere about
) me-
An hour or two later, when Bobby, and
, Frank and Little Mamie were locked snugly
| up in bed in the spacious nursery above
stairs, Mrs. Audley told her husband
| why she was interested in the fate of a mou
whose face she had not seen for twenty years.
! That's right, my little wife! said her hus
band, folding her fondly to his breast, never
, forget one who has been kind to You in the
; days when you needed kindness most.
Ralph Moore was sitting the self-s,me
night in his poor lodgings beside his ailin9
| wifes sick bed, when a liveried servant
brought a note fron, the rich and prosperous
} bank director Charles Audley
Good news, Berthar he exclaimed, joy
ously, as he read the brief words: we shall
not starve-Mr Audley promises me the va
cant situation"
'you have cropped something from the
note, Ralph said Mrs. Moore, pointing to {
slip of paper that lay on the floor.
Moore stopped 10 cover the estray. 1t wal
fifty dollar bill, neatly folded in piece o
/ paper, on which was written:
In greatrul remembrance Of the slve
quarter that a kind stranger bestowed on
little chestnut girl twenty years ago.
e Ralph Moore had thrown his morsel o
bread on the waters Of life, and after man
,lor, - bod raturnn1 n him