The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-01-27


took me because my own people were
gone. Her son had all she lelt; it WASH
much; and she told him to be good tc
me. But soon saw that was burden
and couldn't bear to stay. So 1 went
away to take care Of myself l liked it at
first, bat this winter times are so hard
What do you do, miss?" asked Whit
tington, with added respect; because in
her shabby dress and altered face he read
the story OF struggle Lefty was toe
proud to tell.
II sew" she answered, briefly, smooth
ing out her wet shawl with hand so thin
and small it was pathetic to see, when one
remembered that nothing but needle in
those slender fingers kept want and sin at
bay.
The kindly fellow seemed to feel that
as his eve went from his own strong right
arm to the sledge hammer he often swung,
the instinct of protection so keen in manly
men made him long to stand between poor
Lefty and the hard world he knew so well.
The magnetism Of sympathy irresistibly
attracted iron to steel. while little needle
felt assured big hammer would be able to
beat down many OF the obstacles which
now seemed insurmountable, if she only
dared to ask for aid. But help came with
out the asking.
"Been after work, you say2 Why, we
could give you heaps Of it, if YOU don't
mind its being coarse and plain This
sort Of thing, you know" touching his
red shirt with y business-lke air. Our
men use 'em altogether and like 'em
strong in the seams Some amt, and
buttons fly off just looking at EN- That
makes a fellow mad and swearing comes
easy
But Lefty shook her head. though she
| couldn't help smiling at his sober way OF
explaining the case and its sad conse-
| quences.
I've tried that work, and it doesn't
| pay. Six cents for shirt. and some
times only four. isn't enough to earn
ones board and clothes and fire, even if
one made half 4 dozen day. You can't
| get them for that, and somebody grows
| rich while we starve"
Hanged If | ever buy another See
! here, You make me enough for a year,
and We'll have a fair bargain between US
That is il you can't do better and don't
mind" he added, suddenly abating his
warmth and looking almost bashtul over
the well meant proposal.
I'D love to 10 it. Only you mustn't
pay too much" said Lefty, glad of any
thing to keep her hands and thoughts
busy, for lie was very bare and cold Just
| then.
''All right. III see to it directly, and
nobody be the wiser" returned her new
employer, privately resolving to order
bale Of red flannel on the morrow and
pay fabulous prices for the work of the
little friend who had once kept him from
! worse than starvation.
| 1t was not much to offer, and red tian-
| mel was not a romantic subject OF conyer-
! sation; but something in the prompt re
| lef and the hearty goodwill of the man
went to l-etty's heart, already full to over
flowing with many cares and troubles
! She tried to thank him; but could only
| cover up her face and sob 1t was so
sweet and comfortable to find any one
| who cared enough 1or her to lit her out
| OF the Slough OF despair, which WAS to
her us dangerous mood as the desperate
| one he had known. There We're hands
enough to beckon the winsome creature
| to the wrong side OF the quagmire, where
she felt that this was the right side, and
the hand an honest one. though rough
and grImy with hard work. 81 the tears
were clad and grateful tears and she let
them flow, melting the fatal frost that
had chilled her hope and faith in God
and man.
5ut tile causcr OF them could not bear
the sight. for the contrast between this
torlorn girl and the blthe blooming Let
ty ot that memorable day was piteous
Manl!ke. he tried to express his sympa-
thy in deed, as we'll as words, and, hast
| lily filling Il tin cup from the coffee can,
pressed it upon her with tatherly stroke
of the bent head and a soothing:
Nov, my dear, just take sip OF this,
ana don't cry any more. Wen straighten
things out. So cheer up, and let me lend
a hand any where, anyhow"
Bat hunger and fear, WEAKNESS and
cold had been too much for poor Lefty.
and iii the act of lifting up her wet face
to thank him, the light lett her eyes, and
she would have slipped to the ground, if
he had not caught her.
In minute She was herself again, lying
on the old rug, with snow upon her fore
head and some one tanning her with a
newspaper.
Il thought was going to die" she
whispered, looking about her in a dazed
sort of way.
'Not a bit of it You're going to sleep.
That's what you want. and old Sally's 60
ing to sit by YOU while you do it. Its a
hardish pillow, but I've put my handker-
chief over it, and, being Monday, it's
spick- and-span clean"
Lefty smiled as she turned her cheek to
the faded silk handkerchief laid over the
rolled up coat under her head, for Pussy
was nesting close beside her, as if her
presence was both Il comfort and defence.
Yet the girls eyes filled even while she
smiled, for, when most desolate, a friend
had been laised up to her; and though the
face bending over her was dark and shag-
gy, there was no fear in her own. as she
said, halt appealingly. half contidingly:
81 don't believe l could 60 if | tried,
I'm so worn out. But you'll take care OF
me, and in the morning show me the way
home ~
please God | will he answered, as
solemnly as if taking an oath. adding as
he stepped back to the stool she had LETT
IL Shall stay here and read my paper.
Nothing shall scare you; so make yourself
comfortable and drop off with an easy
mind
Sitting there, he saw her lay her hands
together, as ii she said some little prayer;
then, turning her face from the light, she
fell asleep, lulled by the drowsy purr of
the humble friend to whom she clung
even in her dreams. He only looked Il
minute, for something that was neither
the simmer Of freight nor the glitter of
snow dust made the quiet group dance
mistily before his eyes, and, forgetting his
paper, he fell to drying Letty's hat
1t was both comical and pleasant to see
how tenderly he touched the battered
thing, with what interest he surveyed it.
perched on his big hand, and how careful
ly he smoothed out the ribbons, evidently
much bewlldered as to which was the front
and which the back. Giving up the puz-
zle, he hung it on the handle of the great
hammer, and, leaning his chin on his
hand, begun to build castles in the air and
watch the red embers as if he saw in them