The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-05-18

broad back gate, and went to the kitchen
door. Farmer Keeps housekeeper-an
old woman with her yellow night-cap
and check apron tied over her linsey
wool skirt-answered her knock.
''Do you want any help, or DO you
know of anyone round here that does %
tinlidly asked the girl.
The old lady poered at her with dim
eyes.
''No," said she. ''There aint but
four on us-Farmer Keep and the two
hired men, and me. It's harvest time
just now, though, and [ reckon you'd
find place in the village
"Thank you. Bennie, here, my little
brother, is tired, for we walked from the
depot. Can you let us come in aud rest
awhile 2"
''Sartain you can. -
The sight of the clild touched the
heart OF the woman, and they went into
the large kitchen and sat down il the
flag aottomed chairs, while with a glow
ing cheek the girl cast about in her mird
the best manner in which to present her
petition for food.
Before she had decided, the master of
the house suddenly entered the kitchen,
for it was nearly dinner-time. He was
a large, muscular, broad-chested sun
burned man, with Il hard, gloomy ex-
preston on his face, where fifty years
were now beginning to write their his
tory. He stood still with surprise, gaz-
ing on the new occupants of the kitchen,
and the boy drew close to his sister, and
tie girl threw up timid, frightened
glance into the gloomy face.
''You don't know of anybody around
here that wants a little help, do We, farm
er 2" asked the woman. Heres little
giff that wants place, and as she's
walked from the depot, L told her she
might come in and rest bit before she
went up into the village to try her luck. ;"
''No," shortly answered the farmer.
"Dinner ready2' And the rich man
turned away without enc gentle or kind
look for two homeless children whom
God had brought to his door,
'Lucy, Lucy, don't stay here. I'm
afraid And the little boys lip curled
and Guivered as he turned his face from
the farmers.
s'Lucy, Lucy" how those little, tremb-
ling tones went down, down, down, into
the old man hard heart How the dead
days of his youth burst out of their
graves and rushed through his memory
at that low, broken Lucy, Lucyl" He
turned and looked at the girl :; not sour
ly, as before, but with kind and eager,
questioning interest.
''What's your name ~
"Lucy Wheeler, sir. -
He staggered back and caught hold OF
the nearest chair.
s'Ard what was your mother's?''
''Lucy Reid. She used to live at
Meadow Brook SO I came here to get
work F; she told me tc before she died.
At that moment the angels looked
down and saw the seed that had lain for
two score years in the heart Of Justin
Keep, spring up, and the flower blossom
in the wilderness.
He strobe across the kitchen to the
bewildered girl. He brushed back her
H. = 4 r, - IL
He could not be mistaken. 1t was the
one framed and hung in the darkened
room in his soul. Fhe blue eyes of Lucy
looked again in his own. At that mo-
ment the little boy pushed in between
them, and gazed wistfully in the mans
face. Farmer Keep sat down and took
the child in his arms. He tried to speak
but instead great sobs came and heaved
his strong chest. The trio in the kitch-
en- gazed at them in mute astonishment.
sLucy's children Lucy's children ~
he murmured at last, in q voice whose
tenderness was like that of 81 mother
"God has sent you to nc. For her
sake this shall be your home. For her
sake 1 will be father to you
Five years after, Cora wrote to me
eve are having fine times now, dear
Cousin Jennie, and mamma wants to
know if you do not need to renew your
cheeks among the dews of Meadow
Brook. Uncle Charlie is with us, and if
you were also, our happiness would be
complete.
''Lucy Wheeler-you remember her
has the place in my heart next to yours.
His disposition is as lovely as her face,
and that is saying great deal, for it's
sweet beauty does one good to behold it.
Farmer Keep seems to idolize her and
Bennie. He is o charming man now
he goes to church regularly every Sab
bath. He spares no pains not expense
in Lucy's education, and she will be az
accomplished woman. She is here very
often, and I have suspicious that Uncle
Charlie-but no matter, I viii not trust
this to you and paper.
''But now, Jennie, what a lesson has
all this taught me. How has it deepen
ed my faith in God and humanity.
''Now when my heart yearns over the
wretched, SHINING outcast, I remember
always that there is q flower in the will
derness.
IT is said that the Treasury Depart
-
silver coin that has accumulated inde-