The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1875-03-04

ould you let me have a chicken and
a bottle OF wine?" I asked with INV
heart in my mouth. "My husband was
i'll, and-and- would he be good enoncb
to trust me till next week."
His countenance fell on the instant
He hesitated, and stammered, che was
extremely sorry he said, "but it was a
rule of his never to credit strangers"
"John, John, that is her." spoke wo-
mans voice at my elbow at that moment
| turned, but the speaker had averted
her gaze, and l only saw great, stalwart
man, with bronzed face, and the kind
hest brown eyes | ever beheld.
Blinded with tears, / hurried away
home to Charley and the babies. 1 gave
Charley his medicine, and hushed the lit
tie hungry mouths with scant morsel of
bread and milk, and then tucked them in
their bed. Charley fell into doze, and
sat down before the smouldering embers,
to indulge in the sole comfort that remain
ed me, good cry.
But l had scarcely begun when heard
the crunch of footsteps in the snow, and
directly afterwards rap at the door. /
opened it with bounding heart, hoping
that some good neighbor had come with
help. The tall man with the bronzed face
and kindly eyes-I knew him on the in
stant-stood on the steps with huge
hamper on his brawny shoulder He sat
it down at my feet and extended his
hand.
We have been hunting you for the last
two days. madam" he began abruptly, his
eyes flashing with happiness, and glad to
we are to find you. You did me good
turn when you kept my boy out of prison !;
and the lad was innocent of the charge,
too; | am proud to tell you that. Bron-
ton found out who stole the money and
my wife couldn't rest, and we couldn't
find you no where till we chanced upon
you at the grocers tonight, and-well we
thought"
And he broke down, stammering and
embarrassed, and stepping back, gave the
placo to his wife, who stood behind him.
ave thought" she said, as he raised
the cover from the hamper, 1--WE would
bring you few little things for New
Years. You won't refuse to take EN-
know-and may the good God forever
bless you for what you have done for me-
Oh, madam!" and she threw her arms
about my neck, while the tears rained
down her face, 81 would have gone mad
if they had taken my boy away from me
that night, but you saved him and me
while your own was suffering. I never
was SO happy in my life as when | found
you tonight John has come home a
rich man, this time; he has had good
luck, and we are able to help you. I've
brought a little cf everything, end some
New Years pretties for the babies. ]
knew you had some; no heart but moth
ers could have felt for me in my trouble
as yours did; and now I'll help you tc
put 'em away, while John looks in the
sick room; he is a capital nurse, John is
But first take this-dont look at it now
slip it into your bosom till by-and-by, and
let us get the things on the larder."
| l did as she bade me, slipped tn,
little parcel into my bosom, and while tn,
sailor laid off hat and coat and crossed
over into the room where Charley lay, w
took out and arranged the bounteou
store they had brought-bottles of wine
chicken, rounds of beef, rolls of butter
tea, bread, cakes, toys and dolls, tina
would set my babies wild with delight.
| The New Years dawn was breakin,
when they left me. Charley slept quietly
his shattered arm newly bandaged by tn,
sailors skillful hand and the babies wer,
beginning to stir and futter like restless
birdlings in their nest.
|. | replenished the fire, and while tn,
fragrant coffee boiled, and the chicken
Drowned, / sat down and drew the little
parcel from my BOSOM
| Twenty bills, of FIVE dollars each, cris,
and fresh and new-one hundred dollars
all my own. My little gift of mercy ha,
brought me a glorious interest for tn
New Year.-Emma Garrison Jones.