The Van Buren press., 1871-03-21

with slightly curling lip. "Tve heard
of such things before--they sound well.
People will say of Mrs. Granger, what
noble woman? What fine sense of
honor she has, But shall never see
the $500 was foolish enough to lend
her husband"
Very much to Mr. Stcrling's surprise,
not little to his pleasure, he discovered
about three months afterwards that he
was mistaken in his estimate OF Mrs.
Granger. The pale, sad, fragile little
woman brought him the sum Of S2o. lie
did not see the tears in her eyes as he
displayed her husbands note with its
dear, familiar writing, aRd made thereon
with considerable formality, an endorse
ment Of the sum paid. She would have
given many drops of her hearts blooc
to have been able to clutch that docu
ment from Mr. Sterlings hands. His
possession Of it seemed like blot on the
dear lost ones memory.
katie Granger is the queerest little
girl ever knew" said Flora Temple to
her mother on the evening Of the very
day on which her first payment was made
Mr. Sterling heard the remark, and let
ting h,s eyes drop from the newspaper he
was reading, turned his ears to listen.
81 think her very nice little girl,
replied the mother.
80 she is nice" returned the child
:" but then she is so queer
"What do you mean by queer
"Oh, she ism like the rest OF us girls
She said the oldest things to day al
mos laughed out, but I'm glad ! didn't
Three Of us, Katie, Lille Bongeld and /,
were walking round the square at recess
time, when Uncle Hiram came along and
taking out three bright ten cent pieces,
he said, " here's dime for each Of you
girls to buy sugar plums" Lille and |
screamed out, and were starting away for
the candy shop in an instant; but Katie
stood still with her share OF money in
her hand. Come along cried. She
didn't move but looked strange and Sc
rious. Amt you going to buy candy
with itY' / asked. Then she shook her
head gravely and put the dime in her
pocket, saying / don't think she meant
me to hear the words, It's for fathers
honor" and leaving us went back into
the school room What did she mean
by that, mother? Oh she is so strange y
"Her mother is very poor you know y
replied Mrs. Sterling, laying up Katie's
singular remark TO bc pondered over
"She must be-" said Flora, /" for ka
tie has worn the same frock to school
every day for almost three months"
Mr. Sterling. who did not let a single
word OF this conversation escape him,
was far from feeling as uncomfortable un.
der the prospect Of getting back the
money he had loaned Mr.. Granger, as he
had felt an hour before. He understood
the meaning Of Kate's remark -" It's for
fathers honor; - the truth flashed at once
through his mind.
There was another period. of three
months and Mrs. Granger called again
upon Mr. Sterling and gave him twenty
five dollars more The pale, thin face
made strong impression on him. 1t
troubled him to take the money from her
small fingers, in which the blue veins
shone through the transparent skin, as it
was counted out. He wished that she
hvd sent the money instead of calling
1t was on his lips to remark, DO not
trouble or pinch yourself faster than is
convenient, Mrs. Granger" but cupidity
whispered that she might take advantage
of his considcrate kindness and so he
kept silent
"No, dear, it's for fathers honor, !
can spend it,"
Mr.. Sterling was passing fruit shop,
where two children were looking in at
the window when this sentence struck his
ears:
An apple won't cost but q penny,
Katie; and | want one SO badly" an
swered the younger ofthe two children, a
little girl not five years Of age
"Come away, Maggie" said the other,
drawing her sister back from the window
Don't look at them any more-don't
think about them"
"But | can't help thinking about them,
sister Katie" pleaded the child.
1t was more than Mr. Sterling could
stand Every want Of his own children
was supplied He bought fruit by the
barrel And here was a little child plead.
ing for an apple, which cost only one
cent but the apple was denied because
the penny must be saved to make good
the dead fathers honor. Who held that
honor IN pledge? Who took the sum
total Of these pennies, saved by the self
denial Of little children, and added them
to his already brmming Golfers? A feel
ing Of shame burned the cheeks of Mr..
Sterling.
"Here, little ones" he called, AS the
two children went slowly away from the
fruit shop window. lie was touched
with the sober look on their sweet young
faces as they turned at his invitation,
"Come in, and I'll get you some ap-
ples,' he said.
Katie held back, but Maggie drew ont
her hand, eager to accept the offer, for
she was longing for the fruit.
Come" repeated Mr. Sterling, speak
ing very kindly.
The children then followed him into
the shop, and he filled the aprons with
apples and oranges. Their thankful eyes
and happy faces were in his memory all
day This was his reward and it was
sweet.
Three months after, and again Mr.
Sterling had visit from the pale young
widow. This time she had only twenty