Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-02-01

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last he consented. he offered me a few
paltry sh filings, which was forced to
accept.
Charles medicine was purchased: but
few dimes that were left were barely
sufficient to obtain email mo6icum OF
coal for the morrow, and where was the
chicken for Charles broth to come from?
paused in the snowy street, with the
glittering winter stars above my head !,
and the brilliant windows haunting
on each side. Just then merry chime
of bells FLASHED upon the frosty air. and +,
for the frat time remembered that it was
New Years eve. ~
A pain sharp as death pierced my
heart as | stood there thinking of my
far away friends, and wondering what |
should do. A grocer's shop, brilliantly
! lighted, stood just across tho street (
flew over the slippery aag-stones and en-
tered. The grocer hurried forward, all
smiles and bows.
"Would he let me have chicken and
bottle OF wine 2" asked. with my hear
in my mouth my husband was i'll;
and -and-would he be kind enough to
trust me till next week.
His eountenance fell on the instant
| He hesitated and stammered: "He was
extremely SORROW" he said, ''but it was a
rule of his never to credit strangers.
John, John, that's her," spoke wo-
mans voice, at my elbow, at that in
slant.
turned. but the speaker had averted
her face, and l only saw great stalwart
man, with brouzed face and the kind
liest brown eyes I ever behell.
Blinded by tears, I hurried away
home to my babies. I gave Charlie his
medicine, and hushed the little hungry
mouths with scant eaough morsels of
milk and bread, and then tucked the chill
dren away in their bed. Charlie fell into
dose, and l sat down before the smoul-
deripg embers, to indulge in the sole
com fort that remained 70 me,-a hearty
cry.
But had scarcely begun when I heard
the crunch Of footsteps in the snow, and
directly after a rap at the door. l open
ed it with bounding heart. hoping that
some good mel ghbor had come with help
The tall man with bronzed face and kind
ly eyes-I knew OIL the instsns-stood
on the steps. wish huge hamper on his
brawny shoulders. He set it down at my
feet and extended his hand.
We've been hunting you these last
two days, madam" be began abruptly,
his kind eyes flashing with happiness;
land glad enough are we to find you
You did ME good turn when you kept
my boy out of prison; and the lad was in
hocent of the charge, too, Pm proud to
tell you that Brouton's found out who
stole his money: and my wife couldn't
rest. and we couldn't find you nohow, till
We CHANGED upon you at the grocer's to-
night, and Well, we thought"
And he broke down, Sta mmering and
embarrassed, and stepping back, gave
place to his wife. who stood behind him
"We thought" she said, as she raised
the cover from the hamper. we'd bring
you some little things for New Years.
You won't refuse TO take 'sm, | know
and may the good God forever bless you
for what you've done for me! Oh, mad
am" and she threw her arms about my
neck, while tears rolled down her face
II should have gone mad if they had
taken my boy from me that night; but
you saved him and me, while your own
was suffering. l never was so happy in
mg life, as when we found you tonight
Johns come home rich man, this time;
he's had better than good luck, and we're
a 10 to help you. I've brought you lit
tie of everything, and some New Years
pretties for your babies l knew you had
'em, no heart but mothers could 5ave
felt for me in my trouble, as yours did
and no" Ill help you put m by, while
j ohm looks in the sck-room, he's capt.
tai nurse, John is. But first take this
don't look at it now-slip it into your
bosom till by and by. and let's get the
things into the larder."
l did as she babe me, slipping the little
parcel into my bosom, and while the sa il
or laid off hat aud coat, and crossed over
into the room where Charlie lay, we took
out and arranged the bountful supplies
they had brought bottles of wine, and
rounds oil iesf, and golden rolls of but
ter, and tea, and white bread and cakes,
and toys and dolls that would set my ba-
bes wild with delight.
The New Years dawn was breaking,
when they left me. Charlie slept quiet
ly. his shattered arm newly bandag.d by
the sailors skillful hand, and the babies
were beginning to autter like restless
birds in their nests.
| replenished the FIRE, while the fra
grant coffee boiled, and the chicken
Drowned, | sat down. and drew the little
D. ckage from my bosom.
Twenty bills, of five dollars each, crisp
and fresh, and new-one hundred dol
lars, all my own. My gift Of mercy had
brought me glorious interest for the New
Petersom's Magazine.