Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-12-27

knew that he would be home after mid
night, i'll state that would shock her
more than ever. 1t seemed that every
thing had combined to kill her.
CHAPTER Ill.
MRS ARDoRY's sENsIBILTrIEs.
| find that the last chapter must be
given to the sensibilities of Mrs. Ar
dory.
1t was Christmas Day. Even on this
blessed day, that tender-hearted lady
could not lay aside her scnsibilities and
enjoy herself. For, just think, will you,
how many poor there are How could
tenderheartcd woman enjoy feast
when so many were hungry? 1t was
not il the good womans heart, | am
sure, to be for minute obhvious to the
sorrows of the poor.
She had also another anxiety. The
dinner hour was approaching, and she
was to have several friends. Among
others, the rector and his wife were to
dine with Mrs. Ardory on this day. All
the company, the rector's wife included,
were therc-the rector only being alb
sent, he having called to sec a sick per-
son on his way. He would come pres
entity. Mrs. Ardory was just explaining
to the clergyman's wife how awful a
thing parochial duty must be; she
never could stand the tax on her sensi-
bilities if she We're Il clergyman. But
what Mrs. Ardory was thinking about
while she was saying this was something
very different, indeed. She was think
ing that her fatherin-law had been out
all night ON Christmas spree, and that
he might come in at any moment, and
shock her sensibilities 10y his disgrace
full appearance. But, to her surprise,
the old man came sober and, what was
more curious, came in company with the
rector himself. And the rector was
showing him every attention Was the
like ever seen before?
"He didn't want to come" said the
rector with excitement, leading the old
man in. But | brought him by force.
| must tell you what he did. Found Il
poor, sick woman, with half IL dozen
children, on the street last night. The
womans husband was dead. Landlord
turned them out. Mr.. Ardory, senior,
here, went and got a truck, pushed his
way through the rude crowd that stood
about, and lifted the poor thing up off
the sidewalk, and carried her to the
truck. Then he took her to his little
old house and laid her on the bed, and
got a neighbor woman for nurse, and
went for doctor, and got supper for
the hungry children, and he's been with
them ever since, doing everything he
could for them. Only he went this
morning and shook his fist in the land
lords face, and threatened to publish
him if he didn't give the woman back
the last ten dollars he had cxactcd. He's
brave old man. You ought to be
proud of him..
"Why, indeed, we are" said the
younger Ardory, "proud as we can be
of you, father"
He can do such things, you know, )"
said Mrs. Ardory, aside, to the rector's
wife she hasn't any sensibilities'
eff you could only have heard that
poor woman tell it, cried the rector, as
they went down to dinner. eff you
could have seen her kiss Mr.. Ardory's
hand as we came away. 1t did my heart
good-more good than any Christmas
service l. ever attended.
Come, father, you must sit at the
head of the table" said the younger
Ardory.
Oh no, can't carve" stammered
the old man.
"Well enough, well enough; God
bless you r' said the rector. 81 vote
for you to preside to-day.
And then the rector said grace before
meat and the old truckman cut up the
turkey as best he could, growing red in
the face, half from diffidence and half
from modcstv, for the rector did not in
termit his praises of the old mans be-
nevolence and of his carving.
''And what do you think?" continued
the clergyman. That poor creature
told me she sent last night to the most
intimate friend she had in her better
days, and begged Il shelter for the
night, end was refused. 1t was abso-
lutely outrageous. 1t would have been
the death of the poor creature but for
Mr.. Ardory here"
The rector said this under difficulties,
| for his wife was treading on his corls
vigorously all the time. But gentlemen
never see anything and how should he
notice that this incident powerfully af-
fected the sensibilities of the lady at
| the other end of the table? But II his
eyes were not sharp, his ears, at least,
were always open to IA theological ques-
ton, and he now turned to answer a
question put to him by Miss Crabbe,
whether he thought an unregenerate
person could do things pleasing to
Christ ?
EVERY good thing II man does
everything that has a likeness to Christ's
own self sacrifice, draws him nearer tc
Christ / don't doubt that Christ is
pleased with good act, by whomsoevel
done, and loves the man that does it.
too
The old truckman, whose self-respect
had grown visibly, refused an invitation
to the "House of Lords that evening
started his truck the next week, went tt
church after that merry Christmas, ane