, 1877-08-03

am very SICK. q
Nonsense! yOu're%el enough to r
to the poor.house. have brought my
man on purpose to help you there; ht
will haul you on a sled part of thC
way
'Bnt, sir-the poor-housc is five miles
off, Oh, could not live to reacl it in
this cold weather! Wait until it is warm
er-until | am stronger. Oh, | will try
to get well as soon as CAM
| tell you | won't wait another hour
no, not half an hour! If your husband
was
"Oh, for the love of Heaven, sir, y
gasped the poor woman, clasping her
hands again, "do not speak of him! He
has gone to meet his God, and he has
suffered enough"
"Poohr' uttered the unfeeling wretch
"What do you mean by that9 say your
husband brought ye down to this by his
own acts and dye s'pose I'm goin' to
support ye, when the town stands ready
to take ye9 No, no. Now, out We go
Ye can 60 now as well as ever. tell ye
the house l must have, and l will have
| it. Ye owe me for two months rent
now, and of course III never get it; but
ye won't owe me any more. I've let ye
stay here just long enough-now move !
The widow bowed her head, and burst
into tears.
soho, ye're comm that, eh9 Here,
Crow, take her up and carry her out.
Put her on to yer sled, if she can't walk
perhaps we'll get sleigh when we get
up to the house. Take her right out
It's comm to pretty pass when man
can't have his own house-and after two
whole months notice at that"
Paul Lavere had been standing all this
time by the door, where he had gone to
let the visitors in, and his frame had
been shaken by emotions such as he had
never before experienced. More than
once he had been on the point of taking
the tongs and springing at the monster,
but sense of his own weakness with
held him. But he could bear no more.
When those last words dropped from
Notworth's lips, he moved quickly to
the other door, and snatched down the
old musket He drew back the hammer,
and the sharp click arrested the land.
lords attention.
'Stand back ~ the boy cried, bringing
the piece to his shoulder, and aiming it.
clay a hand on my mother, and III
shoot you as sure as there is God in
heaven! My gunis loaded,sir. loaded It
in hopes to shoot a duck for my mother.
Don't touch her In Heavens name,
don't. I would not have your blood on
my hands; but I do not liel"
The boy was pale as ashes, but not a
nerve in his body trembled. His large
dark eyes were burning with fearful
intensity, and his lips were compressed
until the prints of the teeth within were
plainly to be seen.
Of course man with such feelings as
Notworth had displayed could be moth
ing but coward. His man Crow fell
back in moment, for he saw too plainly
the meaning of the boys face.
'Put down that gunl" gasped the
landlord.
"NOt until you have left the house,
SIR" replied Paul, in hushed tone.
"Leave US now, and / will make some
arrangement for new home; but place
your hand on my mother, aud you die"
OF course the wretch stormed, and
threatened, and swore; but he dared not
tempt the boy, who looked on him so
strangely.
"Well. Crow" he said, at length, after
be found that his coarse threats had no
effect, tive will go now, and when we
come again we'll have them with us as
will have the law in their hands"
"Oh, mother, you do not blame me''
cried Paul, springing to his parents side
after the men had gone.
"No, no, Paul." the widow returned,
gazing with pride on her noble boy, II
caunOt blame you; but | fear they viii
do something dreadful now."
"Fear not on that account, mother
When / took down your fathers gun ]
had another resolution formed in my soul
Wait, for l will try one more thing fol
aid. l will try the assembled Christian
ity Of the town."
1855 @*** 1898 ****
The Sabbath bells rang out clear upon
the frosty air, and people put on theil
best garments to go up to the house Of
God and pray. The sleigh-bells jingled
over the smooth road as the more favored
ones few by, and ever and anon a more
humble church-goer stepped out into the
deep snow to let the equipage pass. By
and.by a thin, pale face appeared in the
entry Of the church.
"Hain't you got no better clothes n
them to wear to meetin' ,boy9" the sexton
asked.
mo, sir; / have none Others"
swell, never mind. Here, I'll show
you seat" Shortly after this Mr.. David
Notworth entered the church. He wa:
habited in black, and the deacons all
bowed to him as he passed them. He die
not see the poor boy under the gallery.
1t seemed strange coincidence thai
morning that the minister should have
preached the sermon he did. He TOOK