The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-07-14
CHARITY.

And now Abideth Faith, Hope and Charity
hut the greatest of all is Charity
1t is hopeful sign in a young man,
when his meditatlons on heavenly virtues
are SO deep as almost uncOnciOusly to repeat
to himself passages of the Holy Writ, as did
Dir. Norton, riding slowly home in his sulky,
one clea, June afternoon, the above quoted
verse But when We cOnfide to you that he
had Just come from well-to-do Farmer
Abbotts, whose three blooming daughters
were seyerally named Faith, Hope and Charity,
it may reasonably be doubted whether the
handsome young doctors meditations We're
as much on heavenly virtues an on earthly.
1t was rather u pretty tahleau that he
interrupted when he stepped into the Abbotts'
coy sitting room, that afternoon, and some
how its memory haunted him still. The
wheels of his sulky made no noise rs they
rolled over the grassy lawn in front of the
house, and with all the freedom Of an init
mate acquaintance he sprang lightly to the
steps. then in through the open door, without
knocking and was thus in their midst before
they knew him to be anywhere near. Now
Charity, the youngest of the sisterly trio, had
that very day purchased Il pair of new gaiter
boots. and at that very moment when he
darkened the doorway, was exhibiting them
for the opinion of her mother and sisters
Sc there she stood in the middle of the room,
her dress raised Just far enough to show the
trim boots, little strip OF snowy stocking
and, above all, the t'antest suspicion Of dimity
rut1ling. Down went the dress however,
when She suddenly saw her trio Of spectators
changed to n quartette, and up, up to the
very Verge of her brown hair, mounted the
rosy bushes; but the burst OF laughter from
her mother and sisters at her discontinue,
ronsed her to composure.
"rl like to know your opinion on my new
boots, DR.. Norton,' said the little pussy,
saucily, walking up to him, determined to
one dainty foot.
''IIun, WE'LL" said the doctor, with as
much gravity as though he were pronounc-
ING on u ease Of malignant typhus, "let us
see, Cloth, but that's no objection if you'll
always remember Your rubhers in the damp
Heel rather too high. II | We're n cobbler
I'd take of IN half inch of that, but perhaps
You'll stand ii if you've been used to that
sort of thing Don't pinch anywhere, do
they? Consumption soled? No, rs | live,
good, honest, half inch solrs, think they'll
do Miss Charity.'
'What is your consultation fee - said
Charity, @ravely pulling out \ neat porte
monte.
Five dollars in so important a case rs
this" replied the doctcr, subsiding into Il
cozV rocking chair. shut don't pay me the
money IN take this chair for a few
evenN SO Charity went for the water.
When she came in with il he was Just making
known his errand.
1--WE been to see old Mrs. Wells. She is
very low, won't last much longer, but the
family are all worn ont, and lagreed to send
a watcher for tonight. 50 called TO see if
one of you ladies wouldn't 60"
II can't, I'm sure said Mrs. Abbott,
promptly, Il hayn't been able to watch for
years, but one of the girls can go
81 should not like to go into such place,
said Faith, ''thcv are SO poor, and everything
seems so disagreeablc there" and her hand
some face expressed such lofty disdain that
for u moment Dr. Norton felt quite ashamed
that he had ever made such q suggestion to
one so gracefully fastdious.
Il should be really afraid to CO. and
Hope raised her soft blue eyes, timidly to
him. "What if the poor creature should die
in the night Hope Abbott looked just
what she was, Il gentle, conilding girl, and
we must pardon our Young hero, if the
thought did pass through his head, what a
pleasure it would he to cherish and protect
| one SO ltN ely lll HIS NV
'I'l 60" said Charity, quietly, ''lm moi
afraid and if the place Is ,isagreeabe can
endure it for one night. Even if the poor
creature should die, can tell the family
Yes, certainly" said the outer DIR. Norton,
while the inner man was saying ''most sensl-
BILE of the three sisters Behold true Chair
| ty" "lm very glad to have found a
suitable watcher for The night, and also much
obliged to YOU, Miss Charity,' he said, as he
took his leave n few moments after. ''Thc
family will tell you all about the medicines
and drinks, and l shall be over myself in the
morning, unless hear of her death previous
| ly Keep up good courage, and take care OF
yourself. Good day" And with wave OF
the hand to the whole family, he whrled
away in cloud of dust, the noble, pre-
possessing young docter, whom halft girls
were breaking their hearts for but who. us
they Indignantly averred, seemed TO have
not the least bit of a heart to give to anybody
except his patients to whom he made himself
very dear, no matter who they We're, nor how
old and repulsive. His breakncck pace,
however. subsidized into Il slow walk as he
rode up the hill beyond, and it was then that
! his reflections gave rise to the scriptural
quotation which heads this story
That evening" ust nj sunset, Charity Alb
bott went lesurcly down the meadow path,
across lots from her pretty home to the hum
Bile cottage of the Wells family,
The grass waved and surged about her in
the evening breeze, a sea of billowy green,
gemmed with tall nodding butercups. The
delicious breath from the crimson clover on
the hillside came waited to her like purest in
censc, and 4 little further on, a faint, delicate
| odor from the lowlands told of strawberries
ripening to lucious sweetness down among
the rank grass and weeds The bobolinks
nodded their saucy black caps at her as they
followed along in friendly proximity, trill-
ING forth meanwhile their unintelligible jar
gon, rich and clear in its slvery sweetness.
Thus attended, she trayersed slowly the mead
ow path, drinking in at every step the beau
ties of earth and sky and cloud Down the
little hill which hid her home from view,
then through huge gate which opened y
little way with its creaking sweep, to let
through her agile form, then around the cor
ner of field of early rye, already standing
stout and tall, and she entered a little pine
grove. The breeze was whispering and
signing in the waving branches, making a
sweet, pensivc music which chimed in
pleasantly with her thoughts SO attuned TO
natures harmony, and she fingered in the
charming grove a little, pleased with every