Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-02-03

While Ralph Moore was indulging in
these very natural reflections, the dark
eyed little damsel whom be had comfort
ad was dashing down the street. with
quick, elastic footsteps, utterly regardless
of the basket of unaold nuts that still
dangled on her arm. Down an obscure
lane she darted, between tall and ruinous
rows of houses, and up narrow wooden
staircase, to p room where pale, neat
looking woman, with large brown eyes
like her own, was sewing as busiy as if
the breath of life depended upon every
stitch, and two little ones were contented
ly playing in the sunshine that temporRri-
ly supplied the place of fire.
'Mary! back already ? Surely you have
not sold your chestnuts so soon ?"
'Oh mother, mother, see !" calculated
the almost breathless. child; ga gentleman
gave me whole quarter. Only think,
mother; whole quarter -
If Ralph Moore could have only eeen the
rapture which his tiny gift diffused around
| it in the poor widows poverty-stricken
home, he would have urged still less the
| temporary privation of cigars to which his
generosity had subjected him.
! Years came and went. The little ches-
nut girl passed as entirely out of Ralph
Moore's memory as if pleading eyes had
| never ne hDOG III LIS u0dEtJ DuL
Mary Lee never forgot the stranger who
had given her the silver piece.
The crimson window curtains were close
Iy drawn to shut out the storm and tenn
pest of the bleak December night; the fire
was glowing cheerfulIy in tho well-flled
CRATE, and the dinner table, in a glitter
with cut glass, rare china, and polished
silver. WIS only waiting the presence OF
Mr.. Audley.
III - ,
said Mrs. Audley, fair, handsome matror
of about thirty, as she glanced at the dia
of a tiny enameled watch. Six o'clock
and he does not make his appearance"
There's n nan with him in the study
mamma-come on business" said Robert
Audley, pretty boy, eleven years old,
who was reading by the fire.
"Ill call him again" said Mrs. Audley
stepping to the door. But as she opened
it the brilliant gas-light fell full on the face
of an humble-looking man, in worn ano
thread bare garments, who was leaving th'
house, while her husband stood In tht
doorway of his study, apparently relieved
to be rid of his visitor.
"Charles,' said Mrs. Audley, who's
cheek had paled and flushed, "who i
that man, and what does he want p
His name is Moore, believe, and h
came to see if would bestow upon hir
that vacant mOSS0nScfSulD III bu0 Uduhs
I "And will you ?"
. & don't know, Mary, l must thin
5 about it,
> " Charles give him the situation"
!. "Why, my love %
because l ask it of you as favor, an
q you have said thousand times you woul
o never deny me anything"
J., "And I will keep my word, Mary" sal
g the lover husband, with an affectiona
d kiss. "I1l write the fellow note tn
d very evening. [ believe I've got his a.
h dress about me somewhere"
a An hour later, when Bobbie, Frank, an
= Eugenie were snugly tucked in bed, in tt
spacious nursery upstairs, Mr.. AUDI
tOld her husband why she Was SO lnteTes
ed III the fate of man WLom she had II
q seen for twenty years.
b "That's right, my little wife, replif
r her husband, folding her iondly 10 b
y breast when the simple tale was concluc
g ed "never forget one who was kind
Il You in the days when you needed kindne
8 most.
: Ralph Moore was sitting in his POI
lodgings beside his ailing wife's sick be-
. when liveried servant brought no
y from the rich and prosperous bank dire
. tor, Charles Audley.
y fGood news, Bertha !" he exclaimed
8 as he read the brief words. ''We shs
u not starve. Mr.. Audley promises me tt
, vacant situation"
s'You have dropped something from tt
IS note, Ralph" said Mrs. Moore, pointin
3 to slip of paper on the floor.
Moore stopped to recover the estray.
: was fifty-dollar bill, neatly folded in
o piece of paper, on which was written:
81 grateful remembrance of silv'
quarter that a kind stranger bestowed {
q little chestnut girl over twenty yea
ago"
:, Ralph Moore had thrown his mOrsel
q bread upon the waters, and after MAI
!! DAYS it had returned to him.