The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-01-21
"GOG VII PrOUide."
BY KATHARINE sTANLY.

"Don't cry" said piping little voice. ''You
know what mamma told us the night she died.
God will provide she said amt bit bum
cry indeed, indeed amt.
1t was Saturday night-a wild, bitter uight-
The wind ratified at the loose easement and roar
ed down the freless chimney. The two orphans
had eaten nothing all day, and there was not
cent in the house. From earliest dawn, the
eldest had been sewing at bit of pece-work for
clothing store, in hope to complete it before
night: but now, when dusk had come. and the
the task still unfinished, her brave heart had
given away and letting the waisicoat fall into
her lap, she had 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 bis
Master, in an obscure country district. His wife
had soon followed him to the grave, broken
hearted, leaving the orphan offspring alone and
friendless, in the great city to which she had
come, in hopes to earn living by giving lessons
in music. For while Nellie had fought brave
Iy to keep the wolf from the door. But as her
needle was her ouly 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 had come, very often the
sisters had gore sopperless to bed To-day they
had eaten nothing The last crust, the last pen
down Even at seventeen, 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 vehe-
meutly.
81 know know! !" she said, 81 have been
weak and wicked. Yes, darling God will pro
vide
"And don't you remember" said Annie,
nesting to her sisters heart 'that verse in the
Bible, about never seeing the righteous forsaken,
or their seed begging bread Mother used to give
it TO me TO learn by heart"
She was interrupted BY loud, imperative
knocking at the door.
''Hark What was that ?'' she cried, in
frightened whisper.
Nellie started to her feet, but still held the
caild. 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 | had forgot. But
| haven't penny. What shall we do She will
turn us out i'll The street"
"0h not tonight, not tonight ~ cried
Aunie, convulsivey clutching her sister "Just
listen to the storm"
The danger reused Nellie, as danger always
rouses the brave. Her eyes kindled. Her frail
form seemed TO grow taller.
''She won't dare to do it. She cannot be so
cruel" she said. Yet she hardly believed her
own words "But must go aud open the door,"
She put Annie down as she spoke. The child
followed clinging 10 her skirts
The knocking by this time, had become almost
furious Nellie unboted the door, and stood
there, with fast beating heart, but outwardly
calm. Brave, noble girl !
1t was, as she had expected, the landlady.--
But, to her surprise, no angry couutenance met
N.iI1a o. fno Hnr of
apparently pleasura5Ie excitement.
"Oh Miss "a she cried, raising her hands, as
if in admiration, ''such carriage as is at the
door-with a footman as we'll" She spoke in
short, grasping sentences evidently out of breath
with her haste. "They are asking for you, Miss
Nellie Thorndike and her sister
There's such a grand old lady in the carriage.
With such beautiful white hair. Such dress %
And her hands went mp again. "They are
coming up stairs themselves to see you, Pve just
run ahead. i"
At this point the landlady's exclamations
were cut short by tall footmau, who uncere-
moniously pushed her aside, making way for the
most wonderful vision, in the shape Of an old
lady, that Nellie had never conceived of, much
less heheld So stately and grand, and yet so
sweet et-looking withal and dressed so magni6-
Gently If she had been fairy god-mother she
could not have overpowered poor Nellie more.
at is 1t is y cried this appariton, as soon
as she saw Nellie ''You have my dear brothers
eyes, and your mothers sweet mouth. Oh, my
darlings that you should have come to this !"
As she spoke, she looked around the bare,
wntry, room, and then clasping the orphans in
her arms sobbed aloud,
~ am your aunt, my dears" she resumed, di-
rectly "Your fathers only sister. Have you
never heard him talk of sister Annie One Of
you is named after me. 1t is you, is it you dar-
ling :? and she kissed first Annie, and then Nell
lie, holding them by turns, at arns length, and
passionately regarding them. "a widow, a
childess widow now,' living these many years
away off in China, till lost my dear husband,
when | came home to find all traces of you gone.
We have searched everywhere for you. But it
was not till to-day that came on your track
Thank God ! | haze found you at last You
must come and live with me, to take the place of
those have lost The carriage is at the door.
What happy, happy day!'
That night, as Annie nestled to her sisters
arms, after the orphans had gone TO bed, in the
grand mansion to which their aunt carried them,
she whispered, 'Wasnt right, Nellie dear p
Didn't mother tell the truth God will provide"
Nellie murmured, amid happy, thankful tears,
clasping Annie closer to her heart eyes, dar-
ling, God will provide. Petersoa's Magazine.