The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-05-10

course Caleb took nothing, for Delmon
leo had supplied him and as she looked
up, and asked her if she would have any
thing else; she said: i am ashamed fol
eating so much, but was so hungry
and then went to crying again, but still
silently. And then, after little, Caleb
got her story out of her.
How she was crying because she had q
widowed mother and little brother al
home who were just as hungry as she
was, and who would not have any kind
friend to give them food; and how she
had come out this night with a 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 overcome her
and she was so selfish, SO wickedly selfish
land now she must go. But Caleb
started up and called back tho waiter,
and gave him sundry orders very rapid
ly; and when he went away to fill them,
he put his hand on her shoulder and told
her to sit quietly for a few moments and
he would 60 with her. And then she sat
down like a very child, as she was, and
told her story. Poor green Caleb had
never heard one of those stories before.
They had been very poor, she said.
ever since her father died, and that was
when she was about ten years old. Her
mother who had supported them for
good while with her needle, and Josey
that she said was her name. Josey
Carroll--had been able to sew, too; and
thus they had managed to live; but that
was not all. And then her mother had
taken sick, and then--the waiter came
with u large, covered basket, which Ca
leb seized; and, after 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
a courtyard, into a narrow alley way, up
flights of reckety stairs, and so to room
on the top floor of a tumble-down tene-
m ent house, which was Josey's home.
There was no fire in the little stove; a
spluttering bit of candle burned on
rough pine table, and on the floor, upon
a mattress, and covered with few old
quilts and rags, lay bundled the widow
ed mother and the poor little brother
Caleb dropped his basket, and saying
that he would be back in q moment, fed
to the corner grocery which he had seen
boy about closing as he passed.
Five minutes later he was back in the
room with the boy, following laden with
coal, wood and candles.
Then he made a fire with his own
hands, for he had learned that accom-
plishmen when he was boy at the old
homestead.
The candles were lighted, tho table
was spread, the mother and little boy
were seated; and when they were fairly
at work. and he saw how hungry they
were, then Caleb broke down.
He went and opened the window and
looked out at the stars; but he didn't
see them, for his eyes dropped tears too
many to see through.
And presently little hand was press
ed 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 SO much Don't cry
Caleb pressed her hand; then he look
ed at his watch, and said he must go,
but he would come to them the next
m orning. And then he shook hands
with them all, and went out, while the
blessings and prayers of the poor widow
followed him.
1t was nearly daylight before Caleb
had finished his otiice-work and got
home to his boarding house; but at ten
o'clock lie was again in the room of the
tumble down tenement house.
1t was nicely swept, and bright fire
burning, and the few bits of furniture
made to look as neatly as possible.
And three smiling faces met Caleb
when he entered, and a welcome that
made the young man blush for very
shame. This was the last day they spent
IN the tenement house
Caleb delighted to have some one to
spend his money on, found them com
Portable apartments, neatly furnished;
hunted up some lady friends who gave
he widow all the sewing she could do,
With the aid of sewing machine which
Caleb furnished her, got Josey profit
able 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 holiday. Caleb
,ook the whole family-the little boy
lad been going to school all the time
,ut in the country to the old homestead.
And when the forLnight's vacation was
,ver, Caleb wrote TO the Directors of
public institution resigning Josey's po-
ition; and one summers morning he
tucked Josey under his arm once more,
md the widow and Caleb's mother--she
Ilso was a widow--and Caleb's little
sister, and Josey's little brother. and a
vhole troop of Caleb's uncles and aunts,
cousins and friends, and strolled dow
he quiet country road and into the lit,le
'illage church; and there Josey and Ca
eb were married. And as the two wild
'ws had become fast friends they lived
ogether at the old homestead, while
Ialeb took his little wife--thin and pale
10 longer, but plump and flushed and
lappy as any robin--back to the large
ity. And surely it is recorded some
Vhere by the good angel that Caleb
lever again should be unhappy, or re-
ret that he had taken to wife the poor,
title, half-starved girl that he had found
n the street.