The Van Buren press., 1869-05-25
TouCHuo scU1.

"pleass cir, will you buy ny ehsst.
; nuts p
t "Chestnuts Mo-" ysturnsd Raiph
Moore, locking cass!sssly down On he
. upturnsd face. whose large brown eyes.
} shadowsd by tahgled curls OF daxsp hair.
: we're appealing 80 pitifuiiy 70 his owh.
"What do want with chsstnhts
, but please sir, do buy en-" pleaded
, the little one, reassursd by the Fosgh
kindness of his tons. Nobody sssns
. to care for cm--and-and-"
/. She fairly burst into tears, and Moore.
who hat; been on the point Of brSshinx
by her. stopped instiuctiveay. u
money p 1850 .se
"Indecd, SIR, We are" sobbed the child.
! " mother sent me out, and" ~
} "Nay, little one, do not cry N sne1l ;
broken hearted way. "ssid Ralph, smooth.
ing her hair down With careless gentle
, ness, !" / don't want your chestnuts. but
} here Is quarter for you, II that win do
you any good"
! He did not stay to hear the delight Ia.
coherent thanks the child poured out
through rainbow Of smiles and tears.
but strobe on his way, muttering between
his teeth:
"That cuts of my supply Of cigars for
the next twenty four hours. don't care
though, for the brown-eyed object did
cry as II sac hadn't friend Ia the world.
Hang Il, wish I was rich cnouehts
help every poor creature ..out Of the
slough Of Desmond 7, ~ Nsiif@
While Ralph Moore was indulging h
|, these reflections, the dark. orbsd Mttip
damscl whom be had confronted, was
dsshing down the street with quick elias
tic step. utterly regardless Of the basket
Of unsold nuts that dsngled upon her
arm. Down an obscure lane she darted,
! between tall ruinous rows Of old houses.
and up narrow wooden staircase 10
room where pale, neat looking woman
with large brown eyes like her own, wao
sewing as il the breath OF life depended
on every stitch. and too little ones were
playing in the sunshine that temporarily
supplied the place of the absent Are.
Mary, back already? Surely you
have not sold your chestnuts 30 soou!"
mo, mother, mother see y calculated
the breathloss child. ." A genslemaa gave
Inc whole quorter! Only think mothss,
q whole quarter" 81 ita
i II Ralph Moore could only have seen
the rapture which he tiny silver gin dit.
fused around II, In tho poor widows
poverty stricken home he would have
grudged still less the temporary privation
OF cigars 10 which hi: generosity hsi
subjected him. a.
- pa% - - : ~
Years came and went The little chest.
nut girl passed a. entirely out Of Ralph
Moore's memory ~ il her pleading syss
had never touched the soft spot in his
stranger who had given her the silver
piece. a ''hs .faA .H =
- . as2 sr7es
The crimson window curtains we're
closely drawn to shut out the storm and
tempest Of the bleak December night
tile fire was glowing chcerfully in the
we'll. alled CRATE. and the thinner table oil
in glitter with cut glass, rare ohina, sRd
polished silver, only waiting tos the
presence Of Mr.. Audley. ., l,a.iis.
"What can It be that dstains papa: e
said Mrs Andley. fair handsofns M.
tron Of about thirty,as she glanced q the
dial Of tiny cnameiest watch. Six o.!
clock. and lie does not make his appear,
ance"
"Theres man with him In the atudy,
mamma-coms on business" said Robert
Audley, a pretty boy Of eleven years old.
who was reading BY the fire. rsi
"I'll call him again." said Mrs. Aud.
, lev. stepping to the door, 4,
But as she opened it, the brilliant gaA
light fell full on the face or an humble
looking man in threadbare garments, who
was leaving the house. while her husband
stood in the doorway Of his duty, sppa,
rcntly relieved to be rid Of his visitor,
Charles" said Mrs. Audley, whose
, check had paled and flushed, who ID that
man--and what docs he want ~ tailH
His name Is Moore, l believe, love,
and he came to see IL would bestow up.
; on him that vacant messcngership In the
: bank"
"And will your" t
+ II don't know, Mary; must think
about It." s6 M
Charles, give him the situaticn." ",
"Why, my lover" ~,
4 BccHuSc uak ~ W yOu ~ JuvOrp
, and you hsvc said thousand times you
! wonld never deny mo anything" slgg
; Aud will keep my word, Mary"
|, said the lover husband, with an affection,
ate kiss, "Tll write the fellow uoto THE
evening believe I've got his sddrcss
somewhere about me. w.
An hour or two later, when Bobby and
Frank and little Minnie we're locked saug.
. ly up Ia bed in the spacious nursery shove
stairs. Mrs. Audley told her husband
, why shc was interested in the fats OF Q
man whose face she had not ssea for
twenty years. 3I u iafA
THAT'S right, my little wife. " said hes
, husband. folding her fondly to his breast
" never forget one who has been kindto
you ia days when you needed kisdasss
. most" a3 M .n 1fa4 '9
Ralph Moore was sitting that selesams
!, night in his poor lodgings by bic ailing
wifes sick bed, When . servant brought
. a note from the rich and prosperous bank
director, Charles Audley.
GOOD news. Bertha" he exclaimed
joyously, a. he read the brief words;
q we shall not starve-Mr Audiey prom.