North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-07-28
Bread Cas-. Upon tho waters.

Bread Cast Upon tho Waters.
"Please, sir, will you buy my chest
nuts?''
"Chestnuts3 Nor' returned Ralph
Moore, looking carelessly down on the up
turned face, whose large brown eyes,
shadowed by tangled curls of aaxen hair,
were appealing so piifully to his own.
'What do I want with chestnuts p
''But please, sir, do buy 'em," pleaded
the little one, treasured by the rough kind
ness of his tone. "Nobody seems to care
for them and-and-"
''Nay, little one don't cry in such o
heart-broken way, said Ralph, smoothing
her hair down with careless gentleness. l
don't want your chestnuts, but here is .
quarter for you. if that will do you any
good.'
He did not stay to hear the delighted,
~sincoherent thanks the child poured odt
enough a rainbow of smiles and tears,
but strobe On his way, muttering through
his teeth:
.That cuts of my supply of cigars for
the next twenty four hours. l don't care
though, for the brown eyed object really
did cry as if she didn't have friend in
the world. Hang it! l wish was rich
enough to help every poor creature out Of
the slough Of despend ~
While Ralph Moore was indulging in
these We y natural reflections, the dark
orbed little damsel whom he had confront
ed was dashing down the street with u
quick elastic step, utterly regardless of
the basket of unsold nuts that still dang
led upon her arm. Down an obscure lane
she darted, between tall ruinous rows of
houses, ana up narrow, wooden stair
case to room, where pale, shastly-look-
ing woman, with large brown eyes like
her own, was sewing as busily as if the
breath Of life depended upon every stitch,
and two little ones were contcntedly play
ing in the sunshine that temporarily sup
piled the place of absent fire.
"Mary! back SO soon? Surely you
have not sold your chestnuts so soon p
''Oh, mother, mother, see!" CALCULATED
the breashless child. "a gentleman gave
me whole quarter T.
If Ralph Moore could have seen the
rapture which his tiny silver gift diffused
around it in the poor widows poverty
stricken home, he would grudge still less
the temporary privation Of cigars to
which his generosity had subjected hmi.
4
Years came and went. The little chest>
nut girl passed as entirely out Of Ralph
Moore's memory as if her pleading eyes
had never touched the soft spot in his
heart; bat Mary Lee had never forgotten
the stranger who had given her the silver
piece.
II
The crimson window curtains were
closely drawn to shut out the storm and
tempest of the bleak December night
the fire was glowing cherily in the CRATE,
and the dinner table, all in a glitter with
cut glass, rare china and polished silver,
was only waiting for the presence Of Mr..
Audley.
"What can it be that detains papa? I?
said Mrs. Audley, fair, handsome mat
ron Of about thirty, as she glanced at the
dial of tiny enameled watch. "Six
O'Clock, and he does not make his
appearance"
"There is man with him in the study
mamma,-come on business" said Robert
Audley, pretty boy, eleven years old,
who was reading by the fire.
'I'n coll him again" said Mrs. Audley,
stepping to the door.
But as she opened it the brilliant gar
light fell full upon the face of an humble
looking man in threadbare garments, who
was leaving the house, while her husband
stood in the doorway of his study, appar-
emily relieved to be rid Of his visitor.
"Charles," said Mrs. Audley, whose
cheek had paled and flushed, ''who is thai
man, and what does he want?'
Ellis name is Moore, believe, and he
came to see if would bestow upon him
the vacant messengership in the bank
"And will your
~ don't know, Mary; must think
about it."
J "Charles, give him the situation
"Why, my love?'
because ask it of you as favor, and
you said thousand times you would moi
deny me anything"
"And / will keep my word, Mary
said the lover husband, with an affection