The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-02-07
S U N D AZ R q A D I NG
GOOD WILL PROVIDE"
ny CATHERINE STANLEY.

mamma told us the night she died.
God will provide she said
1t was Saturday night--a wild, bitter
winter night. The wind ratified at the
loose easement, and roared down the fire.
less chimney. The two orphans had eat
en- nothing all day, and there was not q
cent in the house. From earliest dawn
the eldest had been sewing at bit of
piece-work for clothing store, in
hopes to complete it before night; but
now, when dusk had come, and the task
was still unfinished, her brave heart had
given way, and letting the waistcoat fall
into her lap, she burst into despairing
tears.
Nellie Thorndike and her little six
year-old sister, Annie, were the children
Of clergyman, who had worn himself
out in the service of his Master, in an
obscure country district. His wife had
soon followed him to the grave, broken
hearted, leaving their orphan offspring
alone and fricndless in the great city to
which she had come in hopes to earn a
living by giving lessons in music. For a
while Nellie had fought bravely to keep
the wolf from the door. But as her
needle was her only resource, the battle
had gone steadily against her First,
one comfort had to be given up, and then
another; no fire had been kept, though
winter and very often the sisters had gone
supporless to bed. To-day they had eat
en- nothing. No wonder that Nellie had
broken down! Even at seventeen, when
when hope is still high, there can be
such thing as despair.
But she rallied at her little sisters
words, Hastily brushing the tears from
her eyes, she took the child in her arms,
and kissed her yehemently.
@ know, l know" she said / have
been weak and very wicked. Yes, dar-
ling God will provide"
"And don't you remember" said An
ME, nesting to her sisters heart, that
verse in the Bible, about never seeing the
righteous forsakon, or their seed begging
bread? Mother used to give it to me to
learn by heart"
Z" She was interrupted by a loud, i'm
peratiye knocking at the door.
Hark What was that?" she cried,
in frightened whisper.
Nellie started to her feet, but still held
the child. She was pale and trembled,
and had wild look, as of one hunted to
death
at is the landlady," she said 81
promised to pay the rent tonight; and l
had forgot. But l haven't a penny
What shall we do? She will turn us out
into the streets"
ooh, not tonight !" cried Annie, con-
vulsiyoly clutching her sister. "Just
listen to the storm"
The danger reused Nellie, as danger al
ways rouses the brave. Her eyes kim
died Her frail form seemed to grow tai
Ter.
"Sho won't dare to do it. She can
not be so cruel, she said. Yet she hard
ly believed her own words. "But l must
go and open the door"
She put down Annie as she spoke
The child followed, clinging to her skirt
The knocking about this time had become
more furious. Nellie unboted the door,
and stood there with fast-beating heart,
but outwardly calm. Brave, noble girl !
1t was as she expected, the landlady.-
But, to her surprise, no angry counte-
nance met.Nellie's gaze. The new COM
er was in furry of apparently pleasure
bic excitement.
"Oh, Miss !" she cried, raising her
hands as if in admiration, " such a car
riagc MS is at the door-with a footman
as well, Miss" She spoke in short gasp
ing sentences, evidently out Of breath
with her haste.
"They are asking for you, Miss. Miss
Nellie Thorndike and her sister There's
such grand old lady in the carriage
With such beautiful white hair Such a
Dress - And the hands went up again
"They'ro coming up stairs themselves to
you. I've just run ahead"
AT this point, the landlady's oxclama-
tions were cut short by a tall footman un-
tremendously pushing her aside, making
way for the most wonderful vision in the
shape of an old lady, that Nellie had ev-
er conceived of, much less beheld So
stately and grand, and yet 50 sweet-look-
ing withal, and dressed so magnfcently !
If she had been fairy godmother she
could not have empowered poor Nellie
more "a
cit is it is !" cried this apparition,
as she saw Nellie " You have my dear
brothers eyes, and your mothers sweet
mouth. Oh! my darliugs that you
should have come to this !"
AS she spoke she looked around the
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