Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-07-07
SELECTED STORY.
THE GIRL CRIPPLE;
Or, How IL Dream Came True
BY MARY A. DENNIsON


as be pushed the shutters impatiently back.
leaves -.'i
..Pity, pity" cried childish voice
Mrs. Winfield, the minister's wife, stood
at the door, in cool, white wrapper. hold
ing back beautiful eager child.
''Shall she come in George. are you
through!" 9ffa5 e< q
Eyes; come here, Rosebud, and kiss
away papa's headache
Tell papa he must walk out aud let
the wind kiss it away" said the clergyman
wife. as7 - ai9asT tsl
The little thing repeated her mother
words in baby language. ~ i'
..'You should 60 out, George Mrs. Win
field reiterated, ego to the running brooks
and stones, or some Of your Pensioners,
and let them talk to you. You know that
always does you good and there's Bes-
Sic ~
"Oh, little Bassie had almost for
gotten the child haven't been there for
a week and the good little tailor, he will
think we have neglected him. One more
hug. pet, and pick up the rose leaves .
goodbye wife y and leaving kiss on two
pair Of lips, be put on his hat and went out.
THOMAS CLEARY, TAILOR.
That was what the bit of sign said ov>r
the bit Of shop door. Everything was
on small scale there-Thomas, his CHEEKY
wife. and the brown shanty by courtesy
called cottage.
The clergyman entered, not without stoop-
ing.
"Well, Thomas. stitching away yet;
suppose you get tired sometimes, this hot
weather" Ea. tti2 At
As he spoke, he laid his hat upon the
white pine table, and set down near the
tailor whose legs we're crossed under him.
The window was open, Tor it was fine day
From wee pot of heliotrope faint sweet
breath ef Terfumed air stole now and then
into the room. The shop was charmingly
clean the walls, though cracked, were
neatly whitewashed. Beyond, in the par.
lor and bedroom combined. could be seen
a square of rag carpet and few pine chairs
Thomas looked up with smile
Eyes sir !; I'm stitching yet; little
| WeaflSOIne, UuI IL piIbBs viz o1oou anu
pays Bessie's doctors bill. It's not like
the gardening I did when lad; but then
the Lord makes me thankful. He gives
me plenty to do"
''What your side aches the tailor had
made a sudden motion Of pain.
"Well, there's bit of an ache there,
sometimes said Thomas, his face clearing
up, and the happy smile beaming again.
''It's sharp, uncanny stitch. too, but il
only STAYS for minute, and 80 I'd ought
to be thankful I would't like to have il
long at time though" IL
"No, Thomas, I don't like you to feel il
at all; said the minister with serious face.
Chow is Bessie, this morning :" u
"The darling is weak, sir, very weak 3
the doctor said yesterday l must get her
bottle OF the best wine. That costs ex.
ira, so work at odd times to get it. l did
some whitewashing yesterday, got up just
at daylight, and had the work done and the
money in my hand by the time sat down
to the coat. Three morning S work like
that will soon bring money enough for the
wine It mayn't be long we'll keep her
and she shall have what she needs, please
God, if havc to work my fingers to the
bone"
"You shan't do that, Thomas; see here
one Of your kind friends and mine gave MT
money for just such purpose there il
enough for the medicine don't get up ::
daylight, to. morrow, Thomas The mans
lip quivered as his pastor put the money or
his knee
Ppm not above taking such help al
that be said, Hitting bis tear??ffilied eye
from his pastors gentle face to the heavens
that smiled benignly down. God bless
you" z.TEss.
Does the doctor give any hope of Bes
sic p asked the minister after pause.
''Not while she stays in this close cit.
air, sir, though it's nice sort Of place
compared with some. He says could we taxi
her intp the copptry. sir, 'twppla save her
But here's the work, sir, and here, ! sup
pose, is the duty. That was what he sale
yesterday nothing but the country air.
| felt bad over it last night SO did Mary
her heart is bound up in the child. !
thought what bit Of country air would d.
for her. and we SO poor We couldn't affor'
that little. don't complain, sir it onl..
come, to me like Wife and I prayed owe
it, and it seemed almost as if tho dear Lor'
: answered us in dream"
"In dream, Thomas p
All, sir, the sweetest dream that morta
ever had. I think it made me a hap
,;on ,.,op. 6o ;rdoad OH Tharn wa