Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-07-19

L
so much; but l was SO hungry" and
then she went to crying again, but still
silently. And then, after little, Ca
leb got her story out of her.
How she was crying because she
had widowed mother and little
brother at home, who were 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 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 selfsh-and
how she must 90. But Caleb started
up and called back the waiter, and
gave him sundry orders very rapidly /;
and when he went away to fill them,
put his hand on her shoulder and told
her to sit quietly for few moments.
and he would go with her. And then
she sat down, like very child, as she
was, and told him the rest of 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 had supported them
for a good while with her needle, and
then Josey-that she said was her
name, Josey Carrol-had been able
to sew, too; and thus they had man
aged to live-but that was all. And
then her mother had been taken sick,
and then-the waiter came in with a
large covered basket, which Caleb
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 car, and about twenty
minutes later were finding their way
up dark court gard, into narrow
alley way, up flights of rickety stairs
and so to room on the top floor Of
a tumble down tenement house, which
was Josey's home.
There was no fire in the little stove
a spluttering bit Of candle burned on
a rough pine table; and on the floor
upon a mattrasS, and covered with a
few old quilts and rags, lay huddled
the widowed mother aud the poor lit
tie brother.
Caleb dropped his basket and say.
ing he would be back in moment, fled
to a corner grocery which he had
seen boy about closing as he passed
Five minutes later he was back il
the room, with the boy following lad
en- with coal, wood and candles.
Then he made the fire with his owl
hands-for he had learned that ac
complishment when he was boy a
the old homestead.
The candles we're lighted, the table
was spread, the mother and little bo.
were seated; and when they wer,
fairly at work, and he saw how hun
CRY they were, then Caleb brokt
down.
He went and opened the window
and looked out at the stars; but h
didn't see them, for lis eyes dropped
too many tears to see through.
And presently little hand wa
slipped into his, and as he turned
around Josey said, "Don't cry! yol
have made us all so happy, and yo1
have saved US from so much! Don
cry!"
Caleb pressed her hand; then h
looked at his watch, and said he mus
go, but he would come to them tn
next morning.
And then he shook hands with then
all and went out, while the blessing
and prayers of the poor widow fol
lowed him.
1t was nearly day break before Ca
leb had finished his Office work ant
got home to his boarding house; bu
at ten o'clock, he was again in tn
room in the tumble down tenemen
house.
1t was nicely swept, and a brigh
fire burning, and the few bits of furr
iture made to look as handsome a
possible.
And three smiling faces met Gale
! when he entered, and a welcome tha
: made the young man blush for shame
, That was the last day they spent i
! the tenement house.
Caleb, delighted to have one t
spend his money on, found them con
Portable apartments, neatly furnished
hunted up some lady friend of hi
! who gave the widow all the plai
sewing she could do, with the aid of
sewing machine, which Caleb furnisl
! ed her; got Josey profitable stu;
tion in public institution; and whs
, then?
. Well, then-that is to say, abol
n six months after, when the public il
. stitution gave Josey a fortnight's ho
iday, Caleb took the whole family
- the little brother had been going
:. school all this time-out into IL
= = country to the old homestead. An
! when the fortnight's vacation WI
over Caleb wrote to the directors
:, the public institution ,resigning Josey
position: and one bright summer
. morning he tucked Josey under h
= arm once more, and the widow, G
Il leb's mother-also widow-and G
i, leb's little sister, and Josey's lit
/, y brother, and whole troop of Caleb
= uncles and aunts, cousins and friend
= all strolled quietly down the qui
, country road and into the little Vi
lage church; and there Josey and G
:. leb were married.
- - And as the two widows had becou
~ ~ fast friends, they lived together
- the old homestead, while Caleb toe
his little wife-thin and pale no lon
y er, but plump and flushed, and hapF
e as any robin-back to the greatly cit
=. And surely it is recorded somewhel
II II by the good angel that Caleb shoul
x never again be unhappy, or regret th'
Is he had taken for wife, the poor, hal
starved girl he had found in the stree
H. -Harpers' Weekly.