Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-04-20
NIGHT AND MORNING.


the scanty fire, and opening the door looked
out upon the night. She stood moment,
then, with shudder, closed the door and re-
turned to her husbands side.
''Heayen pity those who are exposed to the
storm this night" she said ferventy.
amen" responded her husband, in a
deep solemn voice. Though we are very
poor, Margaret, there are many even poorer
than ourselves" The man raised his dark Sc
rious eyes devotedly upward, and the fair
youthful head Of his pale wife leaned down
to his shoulders.
"Yes, William, trembe to think of the
future. The rent due, our stay here only as
an act of mercy on our landlords part-oh,
Willie
The feeble voice broke down in tears.
Take no thought of the morrow, what We
shall eat or what we shall drink, Margaret
If it hadn't been for misfortune, and he
glanced at the mutilated and bandaged arm
which hung powerless at his side, 1--WE might
have been enjoying the fruits and comforts of
my labor; but it is all for the best l sup
pose
A knock was heard at the door just closed
but moment before by Margaret Edgarton.
who can it be on such a night?" and
Mrs. Edgarton started up hastily to admit
the visitor.
He was an old weather beaten man of
some three score of years, stability dressed,
and carrying in his hand lean, meagre bum
de
In reply to her kind invitation, he followed
Mrs. Edgarton into the house, and took a
seat by the smouldering fire. After few
commonplace remarks the stranger said:
| Its rough night, friends, and the travel
ing is none the best-can you let me stay all
night here? A man has just told me that it
was good four miles to village.
Mr.. Edgarton looked at his wife, and in
her sympathzing face read her consent
Eyes. my good man, he replied. immedi-
ately, ''you can stay if you will, but I'm
afraid you will find Accommodations none Of
the best. We are very poor and destitute,
but such as we have we offer you freely
| ''COuld you give me something to eat?
have travelled far to-day, and have not tasted
food since yesternight! Food cannot be got
now -a-days without money!"
The eyes of Mrs. Edgarton filed with tears
! as she thought of the quartern loaf Of bread
their earthly all-which she had reserved
| for breakfast.
Heaven will take care of us she sad
| thoughtfully, and rising she placed tine scanty
| store on the table.
The stranger ate the bread without CON-
! ment, and when he had finished he seemed
wonderfully invigorated, and conversed quite
intelligently with MIR. Edgarton.
"YOu have bad arm there, sir; may ask
how it happened?"
certainly; an unlucky fall from high
building has crippled me for life
''You were at work on a building? A me-
chanic, eh?'
"a bricklayer. The staging on the new
warehouse where l was at work gave way
and was precipitated some twenty feet"
''Ihe warehouse of Mr. Morgan!"
1.-The same, sir. 1t was a bad accident
for me, but have tried hard to be reconcied"
''Well, this is a hard life for us all. But
if I'm to stay with you tonight, may as well
retire. It's getting towards eleven.
The poor but clean bed appropriated to the
stranger guest was made more comfortable
by additional clothing taken from the couch
of the poor couple; and the man in apparent
thankfuiness, bid them good night and re-
tired.
They, too, leaning on the Everlasting Arm,
took no thought Of the morrow, though it
was to see them homeless and without food.
Verify the faith that can sustain the soul in
the most trying moments is no delusion.
Morning came, and to the great surprise of
MIR. and Mrs. Edgarton their guest was miss
ing. Gone, and when or how they could not
imagine, but gone he certainly was. They
wondered over the circumstances, but in the
trouble and anxiety of their utter destitutior,
the strange man was dismissed from their
thoughts, to make room for their own imme-
diate affairs.
Ten o'clock was the time given them by the
landlord for the removal, and with heavy
hearts they prepared to go FORTH Through
the kindness of a neighbor they had been
allowed the use of building for the storage
of their little furniture, and room in the
house until Mr. Edgartons s health should be
sufficiently re-established to admit of his per-
forming some light labor.
Nine o'clock pealed from the bell in the
neighboring town church. But one short
hour of home light remained for them.
Fifteen minutes later there came knock at
the door of Mr.. Edgarton's house.
Mrs. Edgarton sprang to open it, and we'll
dressed man put large package in her hand
and turned hastily away
The package was addressed in bold, mas
culine hand:
''Mr. William Edgarton.'
William tore it open, and dropped out two
papers, one being an official, the other a
private seal. He examined the former, and
found it to be deed conveying to him and
his heirs certain piece of land, with large
and handsome house thereon, and the ap-
purtenances.
Transfixed with surprise, he broke the
seal of the letter, and hundred pound note
met his eyes, accompanied by these brief
words:
Last night you freely gave all to poor
and destitute wayfarer, who now begs you to
accept the accompanying deed and money