Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-07-14


ness-any loop-hole through which hope
comfort, or Joy could enter. The cripple
seemed to have no heritage in the delights
of a beautiful world. Yet to the very
lowest there is always heaven at hand.
One bitter night he was returning home
As he passed under an archway he saw 9
child seated upon q step, her eyes closed
her face and hands blue with cold. He
bent over her. For the first time in his
| life he recognized link between himself
and a fellow-creature. She was also cold
| poor and lonely. They were equally mis-
erable. Seized by sudden impulse he
lifted her in his arms and carried her
through the streets to his wretched garrett
| Then taking off his coat he wrapped her
| in it, and commenced rubbing the icy
hands and feet. After some time the child
| opened her eyes, and from that moment
the strong bond between them was sealed
| forever.
She never left him. He soon lavished
upon her all the devotion of an undying
nature. In return, the poor little heathen,
who had never entered a church III her
life, thought nothing on earth SO wor-
shipful as Tom, and adored no other
Deity. A new life had dawned upon
them both, great mine of wealth had
been opened. They were no longer poor,
lonely, desolate. Call it infatuation, or
what you will, it was wonderful power
plenty, cold into warmth, comfortlessness
into luxury-one of those few inexplicable
powers which combat and conquer Death.
It can now be understood what was the
old mans despair when the Postmistress
sent for him and proposed to adopt the
child. She had taken fancy to the little
thing, and having learnt the destitute
condition in which the two lived, never
doubted her charitable offer would be ac-
cepted. The old man could not rejoice.
He could only realize the one miserable
fact-she must go. he hastened home
very detected, and when in sight of the
house, thought it had never looked so
poor. The roof was broken in several
places and states wanting The window,
in which q faint light glimmered, was
patched with paper, the walls were dis
colored with the damp, and the door was
low. As he groped his way up the rickety
stairs, he sighed involuntarily:
"Oh, Dot, Dot, I'd like to take all the
warmth and shine out of that house be-
fore 1 ever tell of it to your
On entering he peered through the
darkness for the one object which made
the room light to him. The child knelt
close to the fire, sewing some coarse gar
ment. Der gentle, quiet face, with the
short brown hair brushed smoothly of it,
possessed all the thought, power and pur-
pose of womanhood. Her eyes sparkled
with pleasure on seeing the old man, but
she greeted him with a comic pretence of
al was hoping" she said, with dignity,
"it wasn't you. 1 thought you'd have
STAYED outside al night rather than come
in and look me in the face. Perhaps
you've forgotten what I told you yester-
dayH"
Tom hung his head with a happy con-
sciousness of guilt, and could not restrain
a chuckle of enjoyment.
"No," he said, meekly; "I remember.
It was not to be late again"
"The very words" replied Dot, sternly.
And vet here you are. What did you
think I'd dor Weren't you frightened of
me2"
"No," said the other, submissively.
"Well, wonder you WEREN'T" she con-
tinued, with cruel determination; I've
been thinking, and have settled what to
do. First, I hit upon no fire, but that's
too common to be any punishment at all.
And then I said no supper, but that
wasn't hard enough. 30 now l have it
dry bread, and nothing to eat with it.
I've put the beer, butter and bacon into
the press"
any longer, she looked at him, and they
both laughed gaily. The fact was, the
three aforementioned articles were dain-
ties never seen in poor Toms cupboard
from years end to years end.
Enough was truly a feast to them, and one
of very rare occurrence. This grand
stretch of Imagination fully supplied the
absence of these luxuries. Tom was en-
chanted.
al don't wonder" continued she, grave
ly, "you think the supper bare. But my
minds made up, and however much you
beg, I'm not going to give in"
There was no doubt the table was bare.
The assortment of glass and china was
anything but magnificent 1t consisted of
GERS, and q clumsy pocket knife, rather
the worse for wear. Nor was the palate
tempted by much variety. In solids they
had the choice between two things-bread
or nothing-and in liquids, water or moth
ing.
former misery returned, and his mirth
was gone. Dot observed the change.
&c see," she said, quietly, you're dis
contented, and Pm glad. It's well you
should feel uncomfortable for a little
Just what want"
They seated themselves, but he could
not take mouthful. His eyes were fixed
on the child with a long devouring gaze.
She, indeed, was his sustenance and re-
freshment. How could he live without
her?
"Dot," he whispered, with a sudden
effort, "don't everything look poor ?
Wouldn't the floor be warmer to tread if
it had a carpet? and the room feel less
cold if the CRATE held all the Goals it could
holdS and wouldn't curtain at the win
dow help to keep out the wind? Say,
don't you feel it poor ?"
She opened her eyes in silent astonish-
ment and looked around her. After few
minutes scrutiny, az should say" she re-
pied, there amt no doubt you're the
Pleasantest thing in the room to look at"
AND In truth that was not saying much.
Tell me-" repeated Tom, anxiously,
is 1t poor, very poor?"
The child nodded assent
"AhP he sighed, "I knew it :" then
added, gently, "How would YOU like to be
always warm and well fed-to have everv.
thing soft underfoot, and no wind to keen
you awake at night? Gould you fancy It
for a moment ?"
She shook her head. No, she could
not.
"shut your eyes," said the old man,
tremblingly, "and try. I shall describe
it to you as well as / can"
She obeyed, and he laid the picture
before her in as bright colors as he could
muster. When complete, he disclosed the
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