National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-03-29
Half q Crown.

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shadowed by tangled curls Of iaxen hair
were appealing so pitifuly to his own.
"What do want with chestnuts y
"But, please, sir, buy 'en, pleaded the
little one, reassured by the rough kindness
of his tone. Nobody seems to care for
them, snd-and-"
She fairly ourst into tears, and Moore,
who had been on tne point of brushing
carelessly past her, stopped instinctively.
"Are you very much in want of money!
Indeed, sir, We are" sobbed the child,
mother sent me out, and"
Nay little one, don't cry In such n
heartbroken way" said Ralph smoothing
down her hair with careless genteness,
81 don't want your chestnuts, but here 5
half crown for you; if that will do you
any good.n
He did not stop to hear the delighted
incoherent thanks the child poured out
through a rainbow Of smiles and tears
but strobe on his way, muttering between
his teeth That cut off my supply of ci-
gars for the next week. don't care
though, the brown-eyed object really did
cry rs ifshe had not friend in the world.
Hang it wish was rich enough to help
every poor creature out of the S ugh Of
Despond.
While Ralph Moore was ind, ing in
these very natural reflections, I dark
eyed little damsel whom he hat omfor-
ted, was dashing down the ST. with
quick, elastic footsteps, utterlyr ,ardless
of the basket of unsold nuts tiat still
dangled on her arm. Down an obscure
lane she darted, between ruinous rows of
houses, and up narrow wooden staircase,
to room where pale neat looking wo-
man, 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 contentedly playing IN |
the sunshine that temporarily supplied the
place of fire.
Mary! back already Surely you have
not sold your chestnuts so soon?
"Oh, mother mother, seel" calculated
the almost breathless child, "a gentleman
gave me whole half-crown. Only think,
mother, a whole half-crownl"
If Ralph Moore could only have seen
the rapture which his half.crown gift diff.
fused around it in the poor widows power
y y-stricken home, he would have regarded
'till less the temporary privation of cigars
% which his generosity had subjected him.
Years came and went. The little chest
nut girl passed entirely out of Ralph {
doore's memory as if those pleading
yes had never touched the soft spot in
lis heart; but May Lee never forgot the
tranger who had given her the silver
alf. crown.
The crimson window curtains were a
losely drawn, to shut ont the storm and Il
,mpest of the bleak December night o
le fire was glowing cheerily in the well D
lied crate, and the dinner table in gilt q
n with cut glass, rare china, and pol W
he'd silver was only waiting for the
resence of Mr.. Audley.
Il" What is it that can detan papa?" said q
udley, fair, handsome matron of about n
lirty as she glanced at the dial of tiny Ia
lameled watch. "Six O'Clock, and he s,
oes not make his appearance. o.
There's man with him in his study,
ANNA, come on business" said Robert 81
udley, a pretty boy eleven years old, e,
no was reading by the fire. cc
"Ill call him again." said Mrs. Audley m
,pping to the door. tn
But as she opened it. the brilliant gas fa
hit in tho hall fell full upon the face of tb
humble-looking man in worn and h,
readbare garments, who was leaving the 81,
use, while her husband stood in the DIR
orway of his study, apparently relieved nj
be rid Of his visitor. be
Charles" said Mrs. Audley, whose wi
eek had paed and flushed, "who is that On
IN and what does he want2 7" dr
y His name is Moore, | believe, and he tn
ne to see if | would bestow upon him ste
1t vacant clerkship in the bank" sta
" And will you2 2" ha
Il don't know, Mary; must think go
out it," eaj
Charles, give him that situation" pc
Why, my love2" hu
you have said thousand times you gre
wa never deny me anything" reg
And | will keep my word, Mary"
the noble hearted husband, with an
ctionate kiss the
I'll write the fellow a note this very tina
ming. ! believe Pve got his address Wi
ut me, somewhere to
N hour later when Bobbie, Frank and it r
rene were snugly tuckedin bed in the old
cious nursery up stairs, Mrs. Audley wei
her husband why she was so much pri'
rested in the fate OF man whom she phf
not seen for twenty years. urc
That's right, my little wife" replied on
husband, folding her fondly to his the
lst, when the simple tale was conclu ami
. Never forget one who was kind to to
in the days when you needed kind the
most" Thi
sou
alph Moore was sitting in his poor lodg- teat
by his ailing wife's sick bed, when a 4 m
ed servant brought note from the go
banker, Mr. Charles Audley. the
Good news, Bertha !" he exclaimed,
e read the brief words. ave shall J.
starve. Mr.. Audley promises me the 4
mt situation" wor
fou have dropped something from the resi-
r, Ralph, said Mrs. Moore, pointing watt
slip OF paper on the floor. only
llph stopped to recover the estray. dive
rs fitty-pound note, neatly folded in so ii
re of paper on which was written: the
N kind remembrance Of half crown he h
that kind stranger bestowed on be az
chestnut girl over twenty years ago" infol
lph Moore had thrown his morscl of the ,
! upon the waters, and, after many be h
it had returned TO him. Gto6
I'll
Z You SQUARE WITH THE WORLD sian
farmer discusses the question, and Britt
"a person in debt is a slave 10 cam
-editors. No man is truly happy so diffic