American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-08-05

3 busy. Not that he was troubled, TO
3 the pleasure that came with ministerin.
2 to his stricken neighbor had gone to,
deep, and filled his heart too largely |,
J leave room for trouble. He was think
: ing out of himself-a rare experienc,
fer Farmer Brill thinking of some d
: his neighbors, and how ne might sew
them at little cost to hle boarded sub
stance, II ..tas too early in the new
'taie, upon which he had really enter
ed, to count much cost against himself
The farmer rose or tho nc;1G morning
: feeling lire q rev man. The rest ant
cerfort of mind which had come as tn,
reward of kindness to John Gardner
still remained. Goodwill to Others
is rarely satisfied with single service
1t was so in this case. The family o,
his sick and helpless neighbor had Other
needs than that of food. He had seer
the half-clad children, and the WI; wife 4
worn and scantv c!o;hing, and the pie
tpre RETAINED with him.
"Can't you send Mrs. Gardner IN
old dress or twoP" said Mr.. Brill to hi.
wife, as they sat at the broakfast-table
"She needs them badly. If you'll
make up a bundle of things for her and
the children, III hitch up and take
them over You'll know what then
WANT
Mrs. Brill was not the woman to say
"No" to a suggestion like this. She
soon had bundle of clothing ready for
her husband, and off he went again on
an errand of mercy, with glee and
warmth in his bosom that sent q
feeling of delight along every nerve
How cordial were all the greetings he
gave to passing neighbors! He for
got old grudges and coldnesses, and
drew up his horse more than once to
have a chat with the individuals whom
he had passed the day before with only
an Indifferent nod.
He sat for an hour with John Gard
nef, talking about old times-both had
grown up in the neighborhood-
learned mary things he might have
learned before that interested him deep
ly about the life of the poor man, and
that aroused his sympethies.
"Bon't get down-hearted, were his
parting words, at the close of his visit.
swell see that you're taken care of
until the doctor drives out your old mall
ady."
The grateful looks and tones in which
the man expressed his thdnkfulness
lived with the farmer as pleasant menu
cries long afterward.
''Thomas," said Mr.. Brill to his hired
man, on returning home, stake a BUSH
ell basket out into the orchard and fill
it with the largest and soundest apples
that have fallen from the trees.''
eyes, sir. And what shall do with
them?,
"Bring them here, and I'll tell you"
"Here they are, sir,', said the hired
man, ten minutes afterward.
"very well. Now carry them down
to Widow Sloan, and give her my COM
pliments, and say to her that if she
wishes to pare and dry a lot for winter
she can have as many as she wants.
Thomas opened his eyes little wider
than usual, and with &c Thank zee, sir,''
as if he were the one who had received
a favor, swung the basket to
his shoulder, and went off with a
springy step, in marked contrast with
his ordinary slow, heavy movement.
The unexpected promptness and
cheerfulness with which his hired man
seconded his thoughtful kindness to-
ward the widow was another element
of satisfaction. Thomas was apt to be
a little cross at times, and especially
when called upon for some unusual
service; and Mr.. Brill had looked for a
cloudy face and a sullen manner when
he gave kis order. He gazed after the
man as he went hurrying away, won
dering at his changed demeanor. He
was still sitting in the porch when
Thomas returned.
well, Thomas, and what did Mrs
Sloan sayP''
"Oh, sir, 1 can't tell you how sur
prised and happy she was; and she told
me to thank you thousand times''
evil she pare and dry them for
winter?"
"Indeed and she will, sir She sat
right down and went to work while 1
was there, and says she'll have 'em all
out on the shed drying tomorrow
morning. 1t was real kind and thought
full in you, sir. It's such pity to have
things go to waste, when SO many would
be glad to get them.''
Master and man wero buster than
usual in the summer and autumn days
that followed, not alone in gathering
and storing of their abundance,
but in gathering and dispensing
as well. Nothing was per-
mitted, as in other years, to go to waste.
The bushels and bushels of apples which
had once rotted under the trees; the
over-supply of turnips and other root
crops, which had lain unused
in cellar or store-house, were all
distributed to the poor; and there
was plenty through the winter in
many a humble home, where in former
seasons pinching need had been felt.
There was heartincss about him
never seen before. His old grudges
against some of his neighbors died out.
He would stop men in the road for
pleasant chat, whom for years he had
passed with q distant nod. The farmer
had found n new n1easure the iOv of |