The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1877-05-31
Bread Upon The water.


Bread Upon the Water.
Behind Squire Hilton's house was
patch ofcleared and well-kept wood.
land, known to all the neighborbood
as "The Groye.n Whenever the Sun
day-schools desired a picnic, the
Squire was waited upon, and, as a
matter of course, consented to its be-
ing used. At other times any one
had the privilege of walking there,
and the children came in the spring
to gather wild flowers, or in the aut-
umn to gather nuts. Therefore, the
boy, who sat upon the rough, wooden
bench fitted between two trees, with
his hand, was not trespassing.
He was tall gaunt boy, with his
sixteenth birthday close before him.
His clothes were threadbare, but he
had q decent look. He was past the
age a 3 which boys generally indulge
tfh Tears, out he was crying. Indeed
he had come to that place for the ex-
press purpose of indulging his feel
ings unobserved. His hope of soli-
tude proved vain one, however,
Engrossed in his grief, he had not
heard the sound Of footsteps, when
looking up, he saw standing before
hima girl of fifteen, Squire Hilton's
only diughtcr, born when his days
were on the very verge of winter
herself the perfect embodiment of
spring. :,
She was a happy creature, who had
never known care, who never thought
it possible that she could wish for
anything she might not have
Knowing herself rich and beautiful
but without pride or vanity, loving
her father and mother intensely, and
with n good will for world in which
she us yet knew not that there vas
any harm. A girl who, in virtue of
aristocratic position in that New
England village, was as much under
espionage rs any French girl ever
was, Yet, with this advantage, she
had no idea she was guarded, or that
there was anything not to Ike known
by her, or one she might not know
Therefore, knowing know reason why
she should not address any one, and
knowingthe boy by name, she said,
softly:
Why, Edward Burr! what is the
matter? Oh, l know; | heard of it;
your father is dead. am very. sor-
ry."
'"Its not very manly to cry, Miss
Hilton" said the boy, standing up,
and composing his features :
well as he could, "but l could not
help it; he was all | had, and it was
so sudden. | didn't mean any one
shoul see me though"
"Boys andinen must have feelings
rs well as girls and, Momen,n said
Phcmie Hilton. al should break my
heart if dear papa should die; and
you havn't any mother, have you?"
81 have nobody" said the boy, "and
hate the place. couldn't work
here now since I've seen father cut
down by that horrible machine. |
am going to the city, to New York,
Miss Hilton; I'm going to walk there
Do you know how long it will take?"
GLOW long!" cried Pheme, "why,
you can never walk there; it takes
days by the cars and boatt; and why
do you 90 to New York%
II must" said the boy, 81 can
make my fortune there; father al
ways said So"
"Yes, my father says New York is
the place to make money" said Phe-
mie, "but you must have some mon
ey to begin with. Have you any?"
twenty-five cents" said the boy.
"Then you'd starve to death where
you had no friends" said the young
| girl, with an air of great wisdom and
experience. But papa knows every
thing. Come home with me and ask
his advice; he'll tell you what to do
1T is my papa"
"But l havn'tany business to both
er him about myself" said the boy,
"I don't think he'll like it. He'll
think me toward"
"I'll tell him l made you come
You needn't be afraid of papa; he's
as kind us kind can be. Come, now.
"Much against his will, Edward
Burr followed Miss Hilton through
the woods and across the lawn that
encircled the Squire's mansion
More against his will he entered the
broad hall and sturdy door.
"If the Squire kicks me out, | de-
serve it," he said. And with his
hat in hand he stood gazing in great
confusion at the white-headed old
gentleman, who, to his simple mind,
represented the wealth and aristoc-
racy of the land. A king could not
have awed his humblest subject more,
though Edward knew nothing of
kings and would have declared, if
questioned, that every man was
equal.
The Squire looked up;his wife laid
down the embroidery at which she
was at work. The unwilling visitor
feared that he was expected to say
/ ....-. d. Al -. ,,,,1 l,a l,n1 80 ,Ino ,ybnI