The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-06-10

illness to the boys, had made it all up in
that face of lilies and roses. The child
was perfectly beautiful. Not spot MARI
edthe soft whiteness of her baby shoulders
long shining curls hung in glittering
splendor to her pretty, dimpled shoulders,
and nothing was too good or too fair for
the fairy-hke creature.
Well, twelve years passed into the great
eternity. Skiggs has slept under the dsis-
les ever since little Angie was ten years
old. The six boys are working on in their
homely way not very ambitious, but good
and honest.
After Skiggs' death, the little waif una
Bile to bear the great loss, unwilling to
burden the poor widow, disappeared one
day. Nobody knew where he went, and
the widow was so full of trouble, 30 Anxi-
GUS to provide for her growing family, that
though he had become almost as dear to
her as her own children, she had not time
to mourn his absence, or to make inquiries
for him.
The boys were some of them out to
trades, the others made their living a cash
boys, or at work in Offices The mother
herself took in sewing. Angie was the on
ly idle creature in the house. Not abso-
lutely idle for she aided her mother to the
best Of her small ability, and Ter merry
laugh and willing hands were the cheerisst
of helpers.
The child was nearly fourteen years old,
when letter came one day, enclosing q
check
Dear Mother Skiggs," so the letter
ran, please use the enclosed for Angles
school expenses and clothing
Lovingly yours. Skiggs' Boy"
Every three months after this came the
same message and the same sum, more
than enough to defray the expenses of
Angles education and clothing, so that the
weary mother could rest awhile from her
labors and enjoy the society of her child
rem growing up so fast around her
At last Angie was nineteen, and had
brought home her diploma and certificate
of teaching. Everything promised we'll
The BOYS had begun TO work for them
selves, and had removed their mother into
| a more pretentious home.
For all these years Skiggs' boy had been
shadow TO them. Often had they won
dered where he was, and what could be
the secret of his great prosperity.
One evening they were gathered round
the tea table, talking of their benefactor,
Of Angles school aud Of their general pros
perlty, when there came ring at the door
bell. Enter handsome young man of
twenty two or twenty-three, whose fine
presence and manners suddenly awed the
little circle into silence.
"NIll you give me a piece Of bread I"
asked the stranger, III clear, musical tones;
''and please cut it thick"
20, my boy cried Nancy Skiggs, fall
ing upon his bosom, quite unmindful Of
the fine clothes. that's Just what nv dear
dead Skiggs said nineteen years ago this
very night, and to think that poor starved
critter can be you"
1T is fact, nevertheless, was the re-
! joinder and presently there was such a
hand-shaking, such tumult of inquiry,
such ordinations, laughter and general
\ Jolllty that strangers passing by might
have been pardoned for pausing outside,
! bleak though the night was and smilingly
wondering what it meant.
OF course there was a a story to tell.
Skiggs' boy had drifted here and there,
till his face actually paved his way to for
tune. He pleased the fancy of merchant
residing i'll far distant city, who forth
with employed him, and learning the par
ticulars Of his early life, and that the
Skiggs family were not in prosperous cir
cumstances, aided and abetted in this lit
tie scheme Of providing for the young girl'S
fortune. And Skiggs boy had not grown
up III idleness. After fair business edu-
cation. he had become associated as part
ner with his employer, and was looking for
ward hopefully to prosperous and happy
life.
Henceforth the Skiggs family did not
want for friends Over the venerated re-
mains Of the great hearted but humble
porter, his boy" put handsome stone Of
the purest Italian marble, and it the
stranger may read to this day -
''he that giveth to the poor, lendeth to
the Lord. '- Youths Companion.