The Republican journal., 1870-05-12

Wnen he went away W LII uuoiu, PuG LIS HtiHe
on her shoulder and told her to sit quietly
for few moments, and ne would go witt
her And then she sat down like a 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, evel
since her father died, and that was when she
was about ten wears old Her mother had
supported them with her needle, and ther
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 all
and then--the waiter came IN with large
covered basket, which Caleb seized; and
after he had paid the bill, hetuckedJos un
der one arm, and they hurried up the steer
saloon stair and out into the starlight and the
glare Of street lamps again
They took n car, and about twenty minutes
later were finding their way up a dark court
ward, into a narrow alley up flights of rick
ETY. stairs, and so to a room on the top floor OF
a tumble down tenement house. which was
Joseys home.
There was no fire in the little stove y flut-
terng bit Of candle burned on a rough pine
table; and upon the floor, upon 4 mattress,
and covered with few old quilts and rags,
lay huddled the widowed mother and the
poor llltlt DIOlucI.
Caleb dropped his basket, and. saying that
he would be back in q moment, fled to a cor
ner 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 the fire with his own hands
= an accomplishment he had learned when he
was q bov at tha old homestead
The candles We're lighted. the table was
spread, the mother and little boy We're seat
ed 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 Il white hand was slipped in
to his, and as he turned around, Josey said,
Don't cry. you have made us all so happy,
and you have saved us 50 much! Don't cry!''
Caleb pressed her hand then he looked at
his watch, and said he must go, but he would
come to them the next morning. 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 daybreak before Caleb had
finished his otlice-work, and GO home to his
boarding house; but at ten o'clock he was
again in the room in the tumble-dOWn-tene-
ment-house.
twas nicely swept, and a bright fire burn
ing, and the few bits OF furniture made to
look as home-like as possible.
And three smiling faces met Caleb when he
entered, and u welcome that made the young
man blush for very shame. That was the last
day they spent in the tenement house.
Caleb, delighted to have some one TO spend
his money on, found them comfortable apart
ments. neatly furnished; hunted up some
lady friends ofhis, who gave the widow all the
plain sewing she could do, with the aid OF 4
got Josey u profitable position in a public in-
stitution; and what then2
Well, then-that is to say. about sixmonths
after, when the public institution gave Josey
fortnight's holiday. Caleb took the whole
family-the little brother had been going to
school all this time out in he country to the
old homestead And when the fortnight's
vacation WAS over Caleb wmte to the Direct
ors of the public institution resigning Josey's
position and one bright summers morning
he tucked .Josey under his ann once more and
the widow, and Calob's mcles and aunts,
cousins and friends, all stroll1d quietly down
the quiet country road and into the little vii
lage church; and there Jcsey and Caleb
were married. And, as the two widows had
become fast friends, they lived together at
the old homestead, while Caleb took his little
wite-thin and pale no longer, but plump
and flushed and happy as any rebn-back to
the great city. And surely it is recorded
somewhere BY the good angel that Caleb
never again should be unhappy, OF regret
that he had taken to wife the poor, little half
starved girl he had found in the street.