The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-08-26

know"
But the faith of the young girl had
not been strengthened and developed
by life of discipline and trial. She
knew not how to trust in an hour so dark
rs this. All the evening she tossed rest
lessly upon her pillow. Withdrawing
the curtain which shaded the window
near her bed, and looking out, she sud
denly exclaimed
ooh, grandmother brilliant lights
are cleaning from the windows of the
great house on the hill. What does it
mean2 The house has been shut up
ever since we lived here. "
"This reminds me-" said her grand
mother, "of what Mrs. More told me
to-day. She said that wealthy gen
tleman had purchased the house, and
was moving in"
Alice gazed few minutes longer at
the bright light cleaning from the win
dows, then, sinking back on her pillow
with sigh, she said:
Chow cheerful it looks over there
how different their home from ours 70
Her aged parent read what was pass.
ing h her thoughts, and said
"Alice, my child, do not envy the in
mates of yonder mansion. Our sor-
rows, trust, are preparing us for a
brighter home than that. There is no
mansion on earth, however pleasant or
richly furnished it may be, into which
sin, suffering, and death have not free
entrance. But into the home towards
which we are iourneying, neither weep
ing nor wailing can ever enter. How
glorious will be the light of that place,
which has no need of the sun. nsither of
the moon to Tighten it, for the glory of
God is the light thereof"
Another day wore away, and the
widows little stock of provisions was
quite exhausted. AS evening drew on
she sat by the bedside of the invalid,
endeavoring to sustain her by the repe-
| tition of those sure promises on Which
her own soul rested.
The gray twilight was fast deepening
into the dark shades of night, and OBJ
iects were becoming indistinct, when
the widow perceived the figure of man
approaching her dwelling. She fastened
to light her last candle, and had barely
time to do so before gentle rap sum-
moned her to the door. The door being
opened, gentleman, apparently about
sixty, entered the apartment, and &C.
cepted the widows courteous invitation
to be seated.
"I hope you will not consider this
call as an intrusion" he said. 81 have
now become neighbor of yours. Yes
terday L moved into the house yonder
on the hill-perhaps you will think 1 lay
claim to the privilege of making neigh
borly call at an early day. But to this
claim believe i may add another, that
of former acquaintance.
Indeed" said the widow, in tone
of voice indicating some surprise, while
ut the same time she closely scanned the
countenance of her visitor, to see if she
could discover any familiar lineament
there.
"You do not recognize me2"
81 do not"
"Do you remember young mechanic
by the name of Mark Coleman, who was
settled near you when you lived in
B--?"
"Oh, yes l remember Mark Cole
man very well.
"Well, am Mark Coleman"
"Is it possible And you have come
to reside in the large house yonder."
81 have. You are surprised, but you
cannot possibly be more so than was
this morning, when asking one of my
new neighbors who resided here was
informed that it was Mrs. Ives, the
widow of the late General Ives.
Mr.. Coleman sat for half an hour con
versing of the past and tho present.
His manner was very kind and respect
full. When rising to leave he said
Now, Mrs. Ives, have one request
to make you. If L should consider it
duty, and also great privilege, to re-
turn some of the kindnesses of former
years, beg you will not feel oppressed
with the slightest weight of obligation
on that account, but will regard it as
no more than what is Justly due"
AS Mrs. Ives lighted Mr.. Coleman
through the little hall leading TO the
outer door, he pointed to basket,
which unperceived by her he had de-
posted there on entering.
"Hearing you had an invalid grand
laughter" he said, "although it is my
iirSt visit, have ventured to bring
along some delicacies which may tempt
her appetite.
Mrs. Ives took the basket to the bed
side of Alice, and displaying it contents,
said
"See here F.! my child, we only asked
for bread, and our Heavenly Father has
given usluxuries which might tempt the
appetite of an epicure. Shall we not
trust him for the future 2"
Since the time that Mrs. Ives and Mr..
Coleman were formerly neighborS, Mrs.
Ives had passed through long season
of bereavement and losses. Death had
deprived her of her beloved husband,
and not one of the dear circle of her
children remained to her. Losses and
misfortunes had also stripped them of
their once handsome property. All that
was now left to her was one grandchild,
confirmed invalid, and the
dilapidated dwelling which sheltered
them. This had once been mortgaged
to her husband, and now remained in
her possession, because those who had
claims upon the estate had not thought
it worth looking after.
After the night of Mr.. Coleman's S first
visit, the wants of Mrs. Ives and her
granddaughter were abuudantly supplied
by linn. Several weeks passed away,
and winter drew near.
81 fear," said Alice to her grand
mother one night, THAT you will never
get through the cold weather, in this
uncomfortable dwelling"
"What distrusting again, Alice,
when we have been SO wonderfully pro-
vided for !"
81 know Mr.. Coleman is very kind,
and makes us as comfortable as we can
he made here but Won are AGED and in