The Lincoln County herald., 1870-04-07

whero in the interior Of his being he
Registered little oath that she should
never be hungry again-not If he could
aelp III and then he thought Of his little
sister once more.
And at last the supper was eaten (of
course Caleb took nothing, for Delmonico
had supplied hm) aud as she looked up
aud he asked her If she would have any
thing else, she said /: IL am ashamed Of
myself" and then she went to crying
again, but still silently. And then, after
u little, Caleb got her story out OF her.
How she was crying because she had a
widowed mother and little brother at
home,who we're just as hungry as she was
and who would not have any kind friend
to give them food aud how she had
come out this night with wicked purpose
in her heart, because that she could not
bear longer that they should starve and
how that when she spoke to Caleb her
own hunger overcame her and she was
SO selfish, so wickedly sel6sh--and now
she must 60. But Caleb started up and
called back that waiter, aud gave hin
sundry orders very rapidly; and when
be went away to fill them, put his hand
on her shoulder aud told her to sit
quietly for few moments, and he would
60 with her. And then she sat down, like
q very child, as she was, and told him the
rest Of her story. Poor green Caleb had
never heard ono of those stories before
They had been very poor, che said,
ever since her father died, and that was
about ten years old. Her mother had
supported them for good while with her
needle, and then Josey-.,hat she said
was her name, Josey Carroll-had been
able to sew, too; and thus they had man.
aged to live-but that WAS all. And then
her mother had taken sick, and then - the
waiter came in with large, covered 5as.
kct, which Caleb seized and utter he
had paid the bill, he tucked Josey under
one arm, and they hurried up the steep
saloon stairs and out into the starlight
and the glare Of street lamps again.
They took a car, and about twenty
minutes later were finding their way up
; dark courtyard, into a narrow alley way
up flights Of rickety stairs, and so to q
room on the top floor of tumble down
tenement house, which was Joseys home
|. There was no FIRE in the little stove .
spluttering biz of candle burned ou a
rough pine table and on the floor, upon
q mattress. and covered with few old
9uil:s and rags, lay huddled the widowed
mother md the poor little brother.
Caleb dropped his basket, and saying
that he would be back in moment, fled
to corner grocery which he had seen
boy about closing as he passed.
, Five minutes later he was back in the
the roo u, with the boy following laden
with coal, wood, and candles.
: Then he made the fre with his own
hands-for he had learned that accom-
plishment when he was boy at the old
homestead.
The candles were lighted, the table was
spread, the mother and litele boy were
seated and when they were fairly at
work, and he saw how hungry they
were, then Caleb broke down.
He went aud opened the window and
looked out at the stars; but he didn't
see them, for hes eyes dropped tears, too
many to see through.
And presently little hand was slipped
into his, and as he turned around. Josey
said, Don't cry you have made US all
SO happy, and you have saved Us from 30
much! Dontcry
Caleb pressed her hand: then he
looked at his watch, aod said he must 60,
but he would come to them the next
morning. And then he shook hands with
them all, and went out, while tho bless
ings and prayers Of the poor widow fol.
: lowed him.
!. II was nearly day break before Caleb
had finished his Office wo.k and got home
to his boarding house but at ten o'clock
he was again in the room in the bic
down tenemment house.
1t was nicley swept, and bright Gre
burning, and the few bits Of furniture
| made to look as home.like as possible.
, Aud three smiling faces met Caleb
when be entered, and . welcome that made
the young man blush for very shame.
That was the last day they spent 10 tho
tenement house.
Caleb, delighted to have some one to
; spend his money on, found them comfort
; able apartments, neatly furnished, hunted
up some ladv friends of his, who
! gave the widow all the sewing she could
: do, with the aid Of sewing machine.
, which Caleb furnished her; got Josey 4
proatab bic position in public institution (;
, and what then? ,,-.
Well, then-that is TO say, about six
: months after, when the public institution
: gave Josey . fortnight's holidry, Caleb
, took the whole family-the little brother
I bad been going to school all this time
-out into the country to the old home
: stead. And when the fortnisht's vacation
was over Caleb wrote to the directors Of
the public institution resigning Josey' g
position; and one bright summers morn,
} Jog be tucked Josey under his arm once