Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-06-20


ana went home with the woman. She
'iVed 10 small room. on the top floor OF
an old rickety house at the North End :;
and as he went up the stairs, the gentle
man was in mortal fear of tumbling
down. and spilling both himself and the
apples. At last, however, he reached the
loom. setting down the basket. sat him.
sell down to rest his tired legs and
shoulders. TWAS narrow, mean apart
ment, and so low that when he stood up
right, bis head almost touched the ceiling
Two Young children. q boy and girl.
who were spreading the table for the
evening meal. and thin. emaciated wo-
man, with sunken eyes and pallid lea
lures, who was lying on bed in the
corner were its occupants. The hoor
was bare. the furniture plain and
poor, and every thing indicated that its
tenants lived on the very verge OF
starvaIioni but on all their faces was
cheerful look that showed that they i'm
bibed OF that divine elixir which gives TO
the most wretched comfort and content
ment, Curious to get at the secret OF
their happiness. The stranger asked he
Old woman about her history.
Twenty years before, she said, her two
sons and her husband had died, leaving
her destitute and alone with one remain
lag chi.d-a Little daughter. Too weak
to work and unwilling TO beg she then
resorted to street vending, and. bytwelye
hours OF daily toll. managed TO support
herself and bring up her daughter. At
twenty the latter married worthless
fellow, who broke her heart and then
cast her penniless upon the world with
young son, the little boy who was then
setting the table. The old woman took
them in. and about this time also adopted
the little girl. who was then tho orphan
child OF poor neighbor.
And you were able TO support them
all by vending apples ?" asked the gentle
mar.
mo. sir" she answered. ~ tried to
but couldn't. Ny darser was sick, and
couldn't do nothing, and we soon got into
debt twenty dollars. Then. as if TO make
bad worse. | was taken down with rheu-
malics. WAS down with them fort
night; and when | got up, couldn't get
round like could afore so, not KNOWN
what to do. went with my basket onto q
bench, nigh the Frog Pond. Folks came
20 me amazin' that day, and at night
had two dollars clean profit. Then saw
the Lords hand; he knowed couldn't
make livin' going round, so he gave
me the rheumatics to show me it was
best to open p stand on the Common"
And since then have you made both
ends meet"
"Yes, sir; since then I've been pros
pered wonderful. I've paid of the debt,
and now when want TO can lay in a
stock OF ten dollars, and that, you know.
brings apples cheaper"
But have you no tear tor winter
mo. sir. It's two months of; can
make thirty dollars afore it comes, and
that, with what sewing and washing l
can do, will take US round TO warm"
And how old are you?" asked the
gentleman. looking at her iurrowed lace
and white hairs, which seemed TO say
century.
"Seventy next Christmas. But yei
wouldn't think it TO look al me. feel
almost as peart as when l was thirty"
And at your age, and in such poverty.
can you always look hopefully at the
tuture?"
"Yes, sir. The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want. He msketh me to lie
down in green pastures. lie leadeIh ne
beside still waters
Tne stranger looked at her with rev.
erent wonder. He had heard those words
before, but now they had TO him new
sound and new meaning. All at once
it dawned upon him that 1.-The poor are
blessed" because of their faith; which.
OF itself is the Kingdom OF Heaven"
Drawing u roll OF bank notes from his
pocket, he handed one ot them to the old
woman. She took il, held il up curionsly
10 the candle, and then said. with
smile that made her ugly features aosc-
lutely handsome;
s.It,s more money than ever saw at
once afore 'twould take US clean through
the winter. Ye is good gentleman.
and thank ye; but We can get along
and while we can | don't like TO take
money from nobody"
This was said in gentle way, as II she
feared TO wound his feelings. lie made
no reply, but putting the note back in his
pocket rose and bade her "good evening"
when he reached the door. he turned,
and SAYING: 81 forgot the children"
look both of them up in his arms, and
kissed them. Then he went down the
long stairs, and walked slowly homeward,
He had CROPPED in the dark for thirty
years, and this old woman had given him
bis first living revelation.
After that be kept his eye upon her.
Every morning and evening he passed
he, stand on the Common, and he never
-, . ...;.~ an ohaarfnl unrd