Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-01-26

Twenty-Five Cents.

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nuts?'
'Chestnuts No. returned Ralph
Moore, looking carelessly down On the
upturned face, whose large brown eyes,
Swallowed by tangled curls of faxcn hair,
were appealing SO pitifully to his own.
what do | want with chestnuts 2
But, please, sir buy pleaded the
little one, treasured by the rough kind
ness of his tone. Nobody seems to care
for them, and-and-'
She fairly burst into tears, and Moore
who had been on tie point of brushin e
carelessly past here, stopped instinetively.
Are you very much in want of the
money!
Indeed, sir, we arc, sobbed the child 4;
mother sent me out, and
'Nay, little one, don't cry in such q
heart-broken way said Ralph, smoothing
down her hair with a careless gentleness.
/ don't want your chestnuts, but here's a
quarter for you, if that will do you any
good
He did not stop to hear the delighted
iucoherent thanks the child poured on,
through rainbow of smiles and tears,
but strobe on lis way, muttering between
his teeth /:
That cut off nay supply of cigars for
the next twenty-four hours. don care,
though the brown-eyed object really d id
cry as if she hadn't friend in the world.
Having it l wish | was rich enough to
help every poor creature oat of the slough
of desrond.'
While Ralph Moore was indulging in
these very natural reflections, the dark
yed little damsel whom he had comforted
was dashing down the street, with quick
elastic footsteps, utterly regardless of the
basket of unsold 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 room where a. pale, neat-looking
woman, with large brown eyes like her
own, was sewing as busily as if the breath
of life depended upon every stitch. and
two little ones we're conter teddy playing
in the shunshine that temporarily suppl
ed the place of fire.
Mary back already ?Surely you have
not sold your chestnuts SO soon 2
oh =! mother, mother, she CALCULATED
the almost breathless child "a gentleman
gave me a whole quarter. Only think
mother whole quarter
If Ralph Moore could have only seen
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 chest
nut girl passed as entirely out of Ralph
Moore's memory as if pleading eyes had
never touched the soft spot in bis heart !;
but Mary Lee never forgot the stranger
who had given her the silver piece.
The crimson window curtains were
closely drawn to shut out the storm and
tempest of the bleak December night; the
fire was glowing cheefily in the we'll filled
crate, and the dinner table, in a glitter
with cut glass, rare china, and polished
silver, was only waiting for the presence
of MIR. Audley.
What can it be that detains papa 7?
said Mrs. Audley, fair, handsome
matron of about thirty, as she glanced at
the dial of tiny enamcled watch. Six
o'clock, and he does not make his appear
ance'
There's man with him in the study.
mamma-come on business said Robert
Audley, pretty boy, eleven years old,
who was reading by the fire.
'Pll 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
and thread-bare garments, who was leav-
ing the house, while her husband stood
in the doorway of his Study, apparently
relieved to be rid of his visitor.
Charles, said Mrs. Audley, whose
cheek had paled and flushed. who is that
man, and what does he want?'
'His name is Moore, l believe, and he
came to see if would bestow upon him
that vacant messengership in the bank
And will you?'
1 don't know, Mary, I must think
about it,
Charles, give him the sitlation.'