Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-04-08
HALF A CROWN.
please, sir, will you buy my chest

shadowed by tangled curls Of faxen hair,
were appealing so pitifully to his own.
"What do | want with chestnuts ?''
.'But, please sir, buy en-" pleaded
the little one reassured by the rough
kindness Of his tone. "Nobody seems to
care for them, and-and-"
She fairly burst into tears, and Moore,
who had been on the point of brushing
carelessly past her. stopped instinctively.
-ey-t,I' -ey -
Indeed, sir, we are" sobbed the
child, 'mother sent me out. and
May little one, don't cry in such a
heartbroken way said Ralph, smooth
ing down her hair with careless gentle
ness. 81 don't want your chestnuts, but
here's half a crown for you; if that will
do you any good
He did not stop to hear the delighted
incoherent thanks the child poured out
through rainbow of smiles and tears,
out strobe on his way, muttering be-
tween his teeth THAT cut off my sup
ply of cigars for the next week. don't
care though, the brown-eyed object real
ly did cry as if she had not friend in
the world. Hang it, | wish was rich
enough to help every poor creature out
of the Slough of Despond.' .
While Ralph Moore was indulging in
these very natural reflections, the dark
eyed little damsel whom he had comfort
ed, was dashing down The street with
quick elastic footsteps, utterly regard
less of the basket of unsold nuts that
still dangled on her arm. Down an OBJ
scure lane she darted, between ruinous
rows of houses, and up narrow wooden
staircase, to room where pale neat
looking woman, with large, brown eyes
like her own, was sewing as busily as if
the breath of life depended upon every
stitch, and two little ones were content
edly playing in the sunshine that tempo
rarily supplied the place of fire.
MARY back already? Surely you
have not sold your chestnuts 50 soon ?"
ooh; mother mother. see :" ejacula-
ted The almost breathless child, "A gen
tleman gave me a whole half-crown.-
Only think, mother, whole half
crown |"
If Ralph Moore could only have seen
the rapture which his half-cr6wn gift
difused around it in the poor widows
poverty-stricken home he would have
regarded still less the temporary priya-
subjected him.
Years came and went. The little
chestnut girl passed entirely out of Ralph
Moore's memory as if those pleading
eyes had never touched the soft spot in
his heart; but May Lee never forgot the
stranger who had given her the silver
half-crown.
The crimson window curtains we're
closely drawn, to shut out the storm and
tempest of the bleak December night;
the fire was glowing cheerily in The we'll
filled CRATE, and the dinner table in a
glitter with cut glass, rare china, and
polished silver, was only waiting for the
presence of Mr.. Audley.
What is it that can detain papa 2"
said Mrs. Audley, a fair, handsome mat
ron of about thirty, as she glanced at the
dial of tiny enameled watch. six
o'clock. and he does not make his ap-
pearance.
There's man with him in his study,
mamtlia come on business" said Robert
Audley, pretty boy eleven years old.
who was reading by the fire.
"Fll call him again said Mrs. Aud
ley, stepping to the door.
But as she opened it, the brilliant
gaslight in the hall fell full upon the
face of an humble looking man in worn
and threadbare garments, who was leav-
ing the house, while her husband stood
in the doorway of his study, apparently
relieved to be rid of his visitor.
Charles" said Mrs. Audley, whose
cheek had paled and flushed, ''who is
that man and what does he want?'
His name is Moore, believe, and he
came to see if I would bestow upon him
that vacant c1erkship in the bank
''And will you ?'
II don't know, Mary; | must think
about it.
Charles, give him that situation"
"Why, my love p
;.Beeattse [ ask it of you as favor
and you have said thousand times you
would never deny me anything. >
"And | will keep my word, Mary,
said the noble hearted husband, with al
affectionate kiss.
"I'll write the fellow note this very
evening. I believe I've got his address
about ME, somewhere" :"
An hour later, when Bobbie, Franz
and Eugene were snugly tucked in bed
in the spacious nursery up stairs. Mrs
Audlev told her husband why she wa;
so much interested in the fate of a mai
whom she had not seen for twenty years
"That's right my little wife, replied
her husband, folding her fondly TO hi
breast, when the simple tale was conclu
ded. "Never forget one who was kiht
to you in the days when you needel
kindness most.
-
Ralph Moore was sitting in his poo
lodgings by his ailing wife's sick bed
when livered servant brought not
, from the rich banker, Mr.. Charles Aud
ley.
..Good news, Bertha p he exclaimed
as he read the brief words. ''We shal
not starve. Mr.. Audley promises m
the vacant situation
You have dropped something fror
the letter, Ralph" said Mrs. Moore
pointing to slip of paper on the floor
Ralph stopped to recover the estraJ
, 1t was fifty-pound note. neatly folde
, in a piece of paper on which was wrii
I ten:
in kind remembrance of half-crow
piece that kind stranger bestowed on
littla chestnut pirl over twenty veal