Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-06-28
VOL. M.
IT.

Il
After the excitement of the Gift was
over, MIR. Flowers declared, with loud
yawn, his intention of retiring for the
night. cts of no use waiting up for
Phllander and Joe and the girls" said
he. They'll be at that husking bee
half the night the parties designated
being Mr.. and Mrs. Flowers "hlred
folks. "
Many of the matrons of the neigh
borhood shook their heads over MRS.
Flowers keepin' taOo girls: - but Mr..
Flowers stoutly held that he wouldn't
have his wife killing herself over such
a lot of butter and cheese as was made
on their farm, for nobody's notions
| But the expectant owner of a four
hundred-dollar set of fufs was in no fit
state of mind for slumber; so while
Mr.. Flowers took himself off to bed,
Mrs. Flowers remained seated in front
of the fire, staring into it, and meditat-
ing upon her unlooked-for amount of
property. At first her thoughts ran
riot among fur coverings and their var
1ous shapes. She was tolerably well
posted In these things. She s1lost =
ed for one or two affair, eae btsrden of
whose song was fs--@+on and its belong
ing, and every article appertaining to
furs was always persued with longing
interest After time, however, little
stabs of conscience made themselves
felt, aud with much reluctance, she be-
| gan to view matters in different light
&C You know" murmured that inward
monitor, whose quiet but searching
voice SO often troubles us you know
that love of dress has been your beset-
ting sin from childhood up. Some
times, acknowledge, you have striven
well against it but never have you had
so noble an opportunity as this.
Avail yourself of it; make the sacri-
flee you ought to make. What busi-
ness have you with such articles of
luxury Z"
But, y argued the cage. spirit of the
flesh, " surely in this case i am right in
following out my wishes It will be a
cold winter furs are Uery warm, and
am growing old. Besides, my husband
wishes it. Shall I wound his feelings
No indeed !" And the dame for the
moment felt strong in conscious vir-
tue.
Little, however, would conscience lis
VOL " eii1o IodooHInS-- Die ScOfH0Q IL.
g Cold replied she sternly seThere
are less expensive ways Of keeping
warm. Something short of furs at
four hundred dollars can do it. What
you say about your husband is mere
excuse If he sees you truly content
he will be satisfied
"But pleaded keen Desire, FFI have
for years so wished for just these things. |
I can't give them up. Why should
not have them? There is no one suf-
fering near me that should thus deny
myself the gift my husband makes me. .
A shutting step at the door, follow
ed by a knock, interrupted the disturb
ed thinker
s'Come in" she cried, rising from
her chair.
The door opened. and distant neigh
bor entered, an ill-favored, ungain-
ly man, noted for his harsh temper and
his penurious soul Mrs Flowers
greeted him with surprise; but he soon
explained his errand Something was
aniss with his horses gear, and, seeing
light, he had come to borrow a Ian
tern.
"Im on my way to the poor house, p
L
came home, at sundown, what should
I find but worthless brat my wife had
taken in, and she was actually hoping
I'd let her keep it. Keep it, indeed
The little rat was with a company of
tramps the constable is after. So [
guess they were glad to drop it on the
road. My wife, like fool, believes
the child's gabble, and says they left
her because they couldn't make her lie
and steal She'd do it as fast
as the rest, I'll venture to say.
Her tale is, that she's no father nor
mother. nor any one, and them tramps
picked her up. I don't believe word |
of it. So when [ came home-though |
I'd been to the mill, and it was late-I
says, says I, She don't sleep in my
house single night, I'll have her
where she belongs before daylight, as
sure as my names Peter Turner So
as soon as [ done my chores, [ hitched
up and started with her Then the
pcsky harness broke and, altogether,
I've had more than my share of trouble
with her.
"Theres the lantern hanging on
that nail, F" said Mrs. Flowers, shortly.
L" III be back in minute, +" he gruff1y
answered and after lighting it, open
ed the door. He drew back VITA
muttered oath. " What did YOU follow
me here for? he growled
A little child stood on the threshold |
Her wan, wild-eyed face surrounded by
pale golden locks, falling on her enact /
atey shoulders, might have moved
heart to pity. Peter Turner's was too
small to contain so expansive an emo
ton; but Mrs. Flowers reioiced in
larger organ of circulation.
"Come in, child, - she cried, in her
cordial voice, advancing and stretching
out her hand. Then, turning to Peter:
You can leave her here till you bring
back the lantern"
He made surly response, and dis
apeared. The dame drew the child to
the fire; the little, trembling thing
gazed at her earnestly as she crouched
before it, and spread her blue hands
to the generous blaze. Want had
stamped its mark upon her; but,
though it had dimmed her ewes and
followed her infant cheeks, it had fail
ed to destroy the impress she bore of
pure soul.
there not a suffering creature near you
noa02 VIII you tell ne again there is
no need to sacrifice your besetting sin?''
Mingling with her voice came those
sweet aud gracious words spoken
eighteen hundred years ogo, and which
still breath their accents through this
sln-troubled world as clearly as when
| first uttered: Inasmuch as We did
it unto the least of these, We did it I'M
| to me !"
| The childless woman and the
motherless child looked into each
| others faces, each with longing ques-
tioning gaze.
''You are not afraid of me, child,
are you?" she asked, laying her hand
gently on the little ones shoulder.
No, " replied the child, mot of
] YOuiN and she Touched with timid fin