The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-04-09

piled the mother
So she is NICE" returned the child,
"but then she is so queer. Oh, she isn't
like the rest of the girls. She said the
oldest thing to-day. almost laughed out;
but I'm glad didn't. Three of us, Katie
Lille Bonfcld and ] were walking round
the square at recess time, when uncle Hi
ram 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 started away
for the candy-shop in an instant; but Katie
stood still with her share of the money in
her hand. "Come along ~ 1 cried. She
didn't move, but looked strange and seri-
Gus. "Arcn't you going to buy some
candy with it?' l asked. Then she shook
her head gravely and put the dime in her
pocket, saying q don't think she meant me
to hear her words)-" It's for fathers hon
orr and leaving us, went back to the
school-room. What did she mean by that,
mother? Oh, she is so queer p
cher mother is very poor, you know"
replied Mrs. Sterling, laying up Katie's re-
mark to be pondered over.
F" She must be strange" said Flora, ." for
she's worn the same frock to school for
most three months.''
Mr.. Sterling, who did not let single
word of this conversation escape him, was
far from feeling as comfortable under the
prospect of getting back the money he had
loaned Mr.. Granger, as he had felt an hour
before. He understood the meaning of
Katie's remark, "It's for fathers honor"
the truth flashed at once through his mind.
There was anotherperiod of three months,
and then Mrs Granger called again on Mr..
Sterling and gave him twenty-five dollars
more The pale, thin face made stronger
impression upon him. 1t troubled him to
lift the money in her small fingers, in which
the blue veins shone through the transpar-
ent skin, as she counted it out. He wished
she had sent the money instead of calling. 1t
was on his lips to remark, "Do not trouble
or pinch yourself to pay faster than is con-
venient, Mrs. Granger" but cupidty whis-
pered that she might take advantage of his
kindness so he kept silent.
"No, dear, it's for fathers honor.
cannot spend the m oney."
Mr.. Sterling was passing fruit shop,
where two children were looking in at the
window, when the sentence struck upon
his ears.
I" An apple won't cost but penny, Ka-
tie; and l want one SO badly" answered
the younger of the two children, 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,
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 little child pleading for an
apple which cost only cent; but the pen
ny must be saved to make good the dead
fathers honor. Who held that honor in
pledge? Who took the sum total of those
pennies, saved in the self-denial of little
children, and added them to his already
brimming Golfers A feeling of shame burst
upon the cheek of Mr.. Sterling.
"Here little onesp'' he called, as the two
children went slowly away from the fruit
shop window. He was touched with the
sober look on their young faces as they
turned at his invitation.
"Come, repeated Mr.. Sterling, speaking
very kindly. The children then followed
him into the shop, and he filled their 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 more and again Mr.. Ster-
ling had a visit from the pale young widow.
This time she had only twenty dollars. It
was all she had been able to save, she said:
but she made no excuse and uttered no
complaint. Mr.. Sterling took the money
and counted it over in hesitating way,
The touch thereof was pleasant to his fin
gers for he loved the money. But the Wis
ion OF sober child faces was before his eyes,
and the sound of pleading child voices in
his ears.
through over-taxing toll and the de-
NAL OF herself and little ones, the poor
widow had gathered this small sum, and
was now paying it into his hands, to make
good the honorable contract of her dead
husband. He hesitated, ruffling in half
absent way the edges of the little pile Of