Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1871-12-08
5eIettc0 4flisteIlnnp.
Cast thy Bread Upon the Waters.


"Please sir, will yon buy M chcstnuis2'
"Chestnuls No., returned Ralph Moore,
looking carelessly down on the upturned fare,
whose large, brown eyes Swallowed by tangled
curls Of faxen hair were appealing so pilifully
TO his own. "What do want Of chesmts ?''
'But please sir buy en-, pleaded the little
one, re-assured by the rough kindness Of his
tone. Nobody seems 10 care for them--and'
/ She fairly burst into tears, and Moore, who
had been on the point Of brushing carelcssly
past her, stopped inslinctively.
'tAre YOU much in want Of the money p
! "Indced, sir, we are" sobbcd the child
| mother send me out, and -
'Nay, little one, don't cry in such heart
broken way, snd Ralph smoothing down
! her hair with careless gcntleness, 81 don |
want your chesnuts, but here's half n crow n
/ for you, if that will do you any good"
/ He did not stop to hear the delighted inco-
heient thanks the child poured out through II
rainbow Of smiles and tears, but strobe on his
way mutteribg letween his teeth THAT cuts
OFF my supply of cigars for the next week !
don care though the brown-eyed object
really did cry as if she hadn'i friend in the
world. Hang il ! wish | was rich enough to
help every poor creature out OF The slough Of
despond.p a.
While Ralph Moore was indulging in these
damsel wbom he had comiortcd was dashing
down the street with quick, elastic footsteps,
utterly regardless Of the bnsket Of unsold nuts
that still dangled on her arm.
Down an obscure lane she dartcd between
rows of ruined honses, and up a narrow wood
en- staircase 10 n room where tt pale, neat look
ing woman, with lnrge brown eyes like her
own was sewing as bnsily as il the breath Of
her life depended upon every stitch and TWO
"a. a.
shine that temporarily supplied the place Of
fire.
"Mnry back already? Surely you have
not sold your chesnuts SO soon p
80 ! mother, mother, gee ~ calculated the
almost breahless child "a gentleman gave
me half crown. Only think, mother, half a
crown"
If Ralph Moore could only have seen the
rapture his hali-crown gift diflnsed around il
in the poor widows poverly-stricken home,
he would have regarded still less The Temporal
ry prvation Of cigars to which bis generosity
had subjected him.
Years came and went. The little chestnut
girl passed as entirely out Of Ralph Moore S
memory az if her pleading eyes bad never
touched the soft place in his heart but Mary
Lee never forgot he stranger who had given
her the silver half crown.
The crimson window curtains were closely
drawn to Shut ont the storm and tempest of
The bleak December night the fire was glow
ing cheerily in the wel-filled CRATE, and din-
ner table, in Il glitter with cut glass rare
china and polished silver, Was only waiting
for he presence Of Mr.. Audlcy.
What can it be that dciains Papa y said
Mrs Andey, fair, handsome mairon Of
about thirty, as she glanced at the dial of a
tiny enameed watch. Six O'Clock and he docs I
not make his appearance
"Tbcre's man with him in the study" I
mamma, come on business, said Robert Aud
ley, a pretty boy. eleven years old, who was
reading 10y the FIRE.
"i'ii call him again. said Mrs Audiey, !
stepping TO the door
Bot as she opened IT, the brilliant gas-lieht /
in the hal fell foil on the face Of an humble I
looking man. in worn and threadhare gar
lltnis, who was leaving the honse, while her .
husband stood in the doorway Of bis siady,
apparently relieved 10 be rid Of bis visitor.
"Charles, said lrs. Audley. whose cheek I
mad paled aud flushed, ''who is that man. and
gbat does be want p
"His name Is Moore, believe. and he came
o see II would bestow upon him that vacant
.ierkship 10 the bank -
And will you ~