Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-04-27
The Darkest Hour.

from door to door this morning, Offering to show
el snow, hoping 10 earn enough to get you and |
the children something to cat |
The speaker was n poor but industrious man, |
who had married. as many do, a very young and |
beautiful girl, without stopping to think that Il
long lie lay before them. lt was b lTd winter, |
and the young wife, who had seen but twenty-one
years, was the mother OF three children, the
youngest beng infant only three months old.
She mad been disappointed. What woman who
had been married hastily, and At too early an
age, has not? But she mad good and brave
heart, and learned in time that the future OF her
husband, aud the dear little ones depended much
upon herself.
"Don't despair, Harry" she replied, answering
the words at the commencement of this sketch.
at is our darkest hour, and help must be very
near"
She held her babe up to her face to hide from
| hsr husband her starting tears. At that moment
| her little three year old son said
"Mamma, Use 50 hungry
Hush, Freddie said his sister, who was two
years older than her brother, "mamlnas got NO
bread"
| Though but baby, the little grl knew the
1 bitterness OF want
~ can't bear this any longer" said the half
crazed father, taking something from drawer,
and rushing toward the door.
| "lIauy, are you mad shlleked his wife,
Ispringing before him."
"Get out Of my wayl" he exclaimed, tiercey
endeavoring to push her from him. "See-you
have hurt the baby"
"IIarry will not let you out"
lie turned his white, frenzed iace toward her.
| Papa" she said, pleadingly pointing to the
frightened ehiIdrsn, "would you leave them faith
erless: ~
| What can | dos' be moaned, sinking into a
chair.
Take badly and stay here whilo 20 and get
bread
| She put her infant in his arms, while lie sat
still, unable TO act or think. Then she put on
her bonnet and shawl, and, kissing the two eager
little faces that watched her movements, told
them to be good children and she would gel
| them something nice.
She hurried away to the business part o.
the city, and entering large building
knock ed timldly at All office door. 1t wa,
opened by man whose appearance anC
l everything about him bore tne impress o
wealth and culture.
r "This is indeed surprise. Mrs. Allen
h a most agreeable one,' ne said leading he
e to scat. "To what fortunate circumstaBc q
= DO owe tins visitr For II must be some
thing very important that has called yol
r. out this bitter cold day"
| She felt the covert sarcasm, but nerve,
herself to speak.
Necessity, Mr.. Thornton; my husbsn
has had no work for months. ami my chi
a dren are sufierng,-gi mo some cupyin
a to do to earn them Bread
II He had known her from her childhosd
shrank under the lash OF sdversity. Ii
- had ventured once, to ridicule the ma
Z whom she married, hut with an impsriou
J gesture which he had not ex pected, she re
piled;
"He Is my husband
"An idle husband and hungry babiei
Q. Mrs. Allen-that's bad" he said, snswerin
her appeal.
An angry retort arose to her lips, but sh
lie conquered her pride and said.
= "Give me work, and sufficient to provid
u for their present wants."
A. ais it true that you are In so much neeG
Is NiHa?"
'el His kind tone, and the once familiar nam
cs dispelled all her reserve.
Y "They are starving! To save them cam
to you"
Ii lie unlocked a drawer and put hill i
a. her hand, saying
g "Spend that and you shall have more.
= She raised her fearful eyes to his he
ii lips moved-but she could not speak hear
u felt gratitude.
l. He stood at her side stopped down an
whispered one word.
"Mne?'
For a moment she gsZed at him-the
- there arose before her mental vision a hat
icrazed man and three slar'ing childre
She uttered moan of agony. Then Il
fstruggling souls cry escaped her lips.
ool "Heavenly Father give me strength"
sol Trembling, she laid the money down, ar
75 in silence turned to GO.
50 "Will you see your children Starye?" he as
90 ed.
oe "Heayen will send relief. You have q gra
50 haired, honorable mother. of whom you n
10 Justly proud,-as such, l would have my ST
~ remember me-"
~ The door closed, and she stood again in d
Is street, freezing, starving and hopeless. +
a moment she felt as if flying upward til,
- down-down, and she knew no more.
IN A tall, clustering sort of man caught h
as she fell.
. Take care my lass it's sltppery here"
- lexclaimed,
But the dead weight, and pale pinched fe
lures, told him she was the victim of no &C
dent, but of life's bitter realities, and, Ia
u ing her into store, he waited till she rcvi
V cd.
nd snow miss, yoa'rc ali right" he said, VIII
IA she was able 10 speak. There's carriage
Did the door, tell me, where you live and I'll ha
his you safe there before the wind shifts again
,a Quietly she yielded to the strangers requ,
bic feeling she knew not why that God had Sc
or her a friend.
nd Her husband was surprised whea his wi
returned, but the gentleman with her so'