The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-04-04
THE OLD CHALK PIT.
A TALE OF SOUTH DOWN.

ated in one of the eastern counties of
England, is not place of general resort.
Here and there a cottage or two may
be found, making pleasing variety in
a landscape rich in natures lOveliness /;
but as our narrative has only to do with
that part of South Down in the immedi-
ate vicinity of the chalk pits, we will
briefly introduce the reader to Adam
Rawley and his wife, an old couple oc-
cupying one of the little dwellings near
to this locality
Adam spent most of his DAYS in cart
ing away mud and rubbish from the
roadside, and at other times he would
work i'll pits, earning enough to keep
himself and wife in comfortable circum-
stances.
These old people lived on from day to
day, from season to season, without
change in their mode of life. They were
quiet and orderly, causing neither trouble
nor annoyance to their neighbors but
for all this they were no favorites.
The fact is, Deborah Rawley and her
husband lived only to please themselves.
Possessed of every comfOrt-for, be
sides the bread-winner's earnings, they
had little income of eight shillings a
week coming in regulaTly-and. engross-
ed in their own concerns. they never
troubled themselves about being neigh
borly thus much of the sunshine of life
was unknown to them through the un-
approachableness of their own charac-
teTS.
They were certainlya striking contrast
to the rest of the inhabitants of Lime
Cottage. as the collection of little dwell
ings was called-among whom there was
a feeling of friendliness, and many help
full deeds made life's day brighter to
many Of them.
But the Rawleys were strangers to acts
of kindness, and so long as no misfortune
happened to themselves they never
thought of relieving the ills of other
folks.
Mrs. Higgins, theirneXt door neighbOr,
whose husband was down with brain fe-
yer, and required constant watching dav
andnight, had three of her1ittle children
laid up at the same time with inflamma-
tion of the lungs yet, in her domestic
difficulties, she never yentured on asking
aid from Mrs. Rawley but Mrs. Keen.
a busy matron, with half dozen little
ones of her own, and engaged nearly ey-
cry hour of the day in ministering to
their wants, proffered the necessary help
even before it was solicited.
The whole community, with the ex-
ception of old Deborah and her husband.
We'd with one another in helping poor
Mrs. Higgins through her trouble
Not even a kind inquiry as to how the
invalidS were progressing passed the old
couples lips; and as to few of the
new-laid eggs. that Mrs. Rawley's hens
supplied her with so plentifully. finding
their way into their sick neighbor' 5
house, such a thing was never thought
of. Sooner than give them away they
were allowed to ornament the shelves in
the little parlOr till they became too bad
to be eaten by any one.
/ The faculty for performing kindnesses
certainly did not belong to these people.
All their lives they had closed their
hearts to works of benevolence. and now,
in their declining years. no gentle
promptings from earth or from heaven
seemed to arouse them to deeds of love-
Once only an angels whisper reached
Adam Rawley, making him for a mo-
ment seemed troubled and uneasy but
the bright spark which. had he allowed
it to kindle. would have filled his rugged
countenance with sunshine, was quench-
ed as he muttered:
what is it to us if they do want new
laid eggs ? Let them keep fowls of their
own and they'll get some"
So the communication which he had
overheard Mrs. Higgins make to friend
concerning the requirements of her sick
family was blOtted from his mind. as he
convinced himself that it was not need
full to bother himself with other people 5
troubles
Nevertheless. he repeated what he had
overheard to his wife. and as woman'S
powerful. Mrs. Rawley's reply. had it
been in favor of charitable action.
might have done much towards its ac-
compliShment, instead of which her YER
dict, Let them get eggs for themselves
if they want them" strengthened her
husband in his opinion that the matter
was no concern of theirs.
So. while others, with far scantier
means, deprived themselves of even little
necessaries in order TO relieve the pres
sing wants of Mrs. Figgins's household,
this old couple. VINO, III comparison.
could have given of their abundance.
shut their eyes and ears 90 their neigh
bors' necessities, though more than one
of the invaIids might have been making
rapid progress towards 'convalcscence
but for the lack Of proper nourishment.
The Rawleys were not III ignorance a5
to the feeling of disfavor with which
their fellow cottageTs regarded them
but what cared they ?
Possessed of all they required. able to
wait on themselves. endowed with good
health, they solicited favors of no one.
and with blinded eyes. and well-nigh un-
thankful hearts. they lived for them
selves only
One afternoon Adam Rawley had just
paraken of very comfortable tea,
which his wife had prepared for him
Poor Mrs. Figgins's pale. anxious face.