Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-07-14
MISCELLANEOUS.
/" DOT.''

IT was a cold December nlKnt, Snu
nothing was stirring In the village street
but the wind. This trespasser did not
content itself with the public highway,
bat invaded the private houses without
the slightest compunction. ~ roared
down the kitchen chimneys, rushed
through the public rooms, and even forced
itself into the chambers OF the SICK, max
Ing them SILVER in their beds. II was 90
utterly destitute Of good breeding, or tho
slightest sense Of honor, that not corner
escaped It's scrutiny and having no re-
spect for persons, 1t burst into the Post'
masters parlor, driving the smoke imper-
tinently into the eyes OF his vile, on pur-
poee TO make her snceze. The former
august parsonage stosd with his back TO
the fire, appearing To be In perfect luxury
Of mind, body and estate. The flame
blazed in steady defiance OF the powers OF
the mir, shedding a ruddy glow on the
carpet curtains and carefully polished
mahogany: also on the features OF an old
man standing behind the table who re-
turned the Postmaster smile unenvions-
w, although IL was rare he did not know
cold, hunger and discomfort.
"Yon must see. Tom" urged the for.
mer. that the offer II q capital one for
and educated in very different way from
what she now is You have not the
means TO provide for her. I do not
understand how you can hesitate for
moment"
aThank you humbly. sir" said the old
man, and IN truth the reverence and hu-
mility of his manner could rot have been
greater tn the Queen herself
uTha nh vo,, vary humhlvV
But the tone expressed something be-
sides Difference Tho argument was clear
and unanswerable, yet he was not con.
WINGED. He turned In dull perplexity to
the Postmistress
Remember" she said, kindly guessing
his thought. ut will not be parting from
the child you shall come - often - you
Hike 70 see her--every day II you fancy.
And what pleasure II will be to watch
her growing up, 20 well cared for and
happy"
Persuasion had more power than rea-
soning; yet neither was strong enough TO
convince him. There remained some hid.
den objection, which words would not, or
could not, reveal His helpless silence
reused the Postmaster's Impotence.
.Eir." said the old man at length, I'M
speak TO Dot"
"Suppose," suggested the Postmistress,
"we leave the matter for the present.
Think of il TO night, and let u know TO-
morrow. There II NO need TO hurry your
self in deciding"
Tom assented gracefully, and with .
profound obeisance left the room. Once
out In the open air the wind met him face
70 face. and shook and bufieted him until
he thought he had never known how
thrcadbare and scspty his cost really was
He was feign TO draw 1t closely around
him, to prevent the blast penetrating TO
his very heart, thereby proving itself TO
be not merely INSCRIPTIONS, but unfeel-
The struggle with the unseen enemy
Vae deapefAto, but MOI 70 fierce or violent
- the conflict within, In the heat OF which
tho chills OF the outer world were forgot
tan.
Fortune had not bestowed upon Tom .
brilliant career, nor were bis ciscum.
stances the most cnvisble. To bcRgsry
was added neglect and ill.usage, 70 these
were united the suffering Of bodily de.
fprmity and the sum total OF misery pro-
duced rose to fearful amount. How he
contrived 70 scramble from boyhOOd 70
manhood. heaven knOws-if indeed,
creature may be dignided by the name Of
man, who can only be 80 called IN the
sense Of his being . few degrees higher
than the beasts Of the field, and many
!, lower than the angels. Yet this poor soul
was not without his ambition. His high.
est aim had been to attain the rank OF
tpbbler; he could conceive no greater
Happiness and HE desire was fulfilled. In
service of hsrsh, paraimonious mas.
!, VI, IN dark back room, he cObbled, and
vas content; but he was doomed 70 lose
NJ this qualification. His eyesight
[1dually failed, and he WAS compelled TO
>9ivaAp work. He yielded notonly with.
oa(t &urmur, but with cheerfhlnesa be-.
= "a aconstOmed 10 receive thankfully, but
Is 81 ipthing. A Tow small shopkeepers,
dENeno by this means no picked up .
E tk0Ad IN such circumstancee II =
n ~ 49, conceive any room for happl.