The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-12-16

nance Of an angel.
There was very little that l could say.
managed TO dispose of the tobacco, however,
and wiped my mouth very carefully, all Of
which 1 felt certain she saw and mentally
commented upon.
"Have you mother, little bOy2" she next
asked in the same sweet voice.
"No ma'am," 1 answered, and | felt my
throat filing up, and l knew must swallow
very fast to keep from sObbing.
"YOu have father, then, suppose?
she kept on.
"NO ma'am, no father.
Brothers and sisters ?'
Neither ma'am.
"Then the little boy is all alone in the
wOrldg'
Alone, ma 'am.
How long has your mother been dead:
and the dear woman looked away from my
face, and waited until could speak.
Two years, answered.
md you loved her ?" came next.
Dearly" was all I could say.
She was silent moment, and then said
so sweetly-oh, 1 shall never forget it;
And what do you think your dear moth
er would say-hOw do you think she would
feel-to know thBt her little boy was guilty
of such a disgusting habit as this p pointing
to NY cheek, where the tell-tale quid haC
vainly tried to stand its ground. Il mus
leave now" she continued, but here is M
card, and if you come to me almost 40.
evening shall be glad to see you, and per
haps We can be of service to each other.
She gave me her little glOved hand, and t
nv dying day I shall nsser forged ths sense
toa Of thassesmspS, could NOS bear &
part WITH ber Sithous hsr felt that e8ui,
do nothing; with her, I could grow to a man.
estate-a man in the true sense of the word
From that moment tobacco never passed my
lips
As soon as l could summon courage
called upon that lady. Well do 1 remember
how my heart beat as waited in the elegant
parlor for her to come down anG how avk
ward 1 felt as followed my guide to hel
private sitting room. Here she got at every
point Of my life, and before babe her good
bye is was arranged that 1 should spend two
evenings Of each week at her house, and study
on these occasions Just what she thought best
No lover ever looked forward to the meeting
with the mistress of his heart any more ar
IDENTIFY than I did to these meetings with my
friend
grew more careful of my personal ap-
pearance, careful of my conversation, and
strove in every way to be worthy of this no
be friendship. Two years passed in this de-
Hghtful manner-two years that made me.
Ny friend not only attended to my studies,
striving al the while to SOW the right kind Of
spiritual seed, but she procured me a si,ua-
ton with a particular friend of hers, where |
remain to this day. Nobody but God knows
what I owe this woman. During the last
three months of those two years noticed
that she grew constantly pale and thin; she
never was betrayed into speaking of herself.
Sometimes when / would ask her if she felt
worse than usual, she would reply:
"0b, no am only little tired-that
is al.
One evening she kept ne BY Der sofa much
longer ,han her custom, while she arranged
lessons and laid out work enough, it seemed
Co me, for months.
Why SO much tonight I inquired,
conscious that my heart ached, and vaguely
suspectigg the cause.
Because, dear, she answered, 81 do
not want you to come for the next week, aud
I am anxious that you should have sufficient
work to anticipate, as well as to keep you
busy. think l can trust you to be a good
boy, John %
q think you can, ma 'an, answered, al
most sobbing.
"If should see your mother, ny boy,
before long, what shall say to her for you:'
Then l knew all, and my grief knew no
bounds. It is no use to 20 on. She died
two days after; and when hear folks say
ing, There's a woman at the bottom of it, :"
feel Ike telling the whole world what a
woman did for me.-Amsriean Citizen.