River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-11-06

little boys by her side. The resem-
blance between them would have tod
you at once that they were brother and
sister; but his life could not have COW
cred more than a third of hers.
The little fellows eyes We're full of
tears. and the bright curls that crept
out from under his his hat were damp
with moisture.
A few minutes later she opened the
broad back gate and went to the kitchen
door. Farmer Keeps housekeeper-an
old woman, with yellow nightcap and
check apron tied over her linsey wool
skirt-answered the knock.
DO you want any help, or do you
know any one around here who does p
timidly asked the girl.
The old lady peered at her with dim
eyes.
NO." said she. "There ain't but four
on us-Farmer Keep and the two hired
men, and me. It's harvest time just
now, though, and | recon you'd find a
place in the village"
"Thank you. Bonnie here. my little
brother, is tired, for he walked from the
depot. Can you let us come in and rest
awhile?"
"Sartin you can"
The sight of the child tou ched the
heart of the woman, and they went into
large kitchen, and sat down in the
flag bottomed chairs, while with glow
ing cheek the girl cast about in her
mind for the best manner in which to
present her petition for food.
Before she had decided, the master
of the house suddenly entered the
kitchen, for it was nearly dinner time.
He was a large, muscular, broad
chested, sun-burn.d man, with hard,
gloomy expression on his face, where
fifty years were now beginning to write
their history.
He stood still with surprise, gazing on
the new occupants of the kitchen; and
the boy drew close to his sister and the
girl threw up timid, frightened glance
in the gloomy face.
You don't know of anybody round
here that wants little help, do we far
mer" asked the woman. Here's a
little girl that wants place and she's
might come in and rest bit before she
went up into the village to try her lack"
NO." shortly answered the farmer.
DINNER ready?' and the rich man
turned away without one gentle word or
kind look for the homeless whom God
has brought to his door.
Lucy, Lucy, don stay here; I'm
afraid" And the little boys lip curled
and quivered as he turned his face from
the farmers.
Lucy, Lucy" how those little trem-
bling tones went down, down, down into
the mans heartl How the dead days
of his youth burst out of their graves
and rushed through his memory at the
low broken, Lucy, LUCY" He turned
and looked at the girl; not sourly, as
before, but with kind and eager ques-
tioning interest.
What's your name?"
Lucy Wheeler, sir"
He staggered back and caught hold
OF the nearest chair.
"And what was your mother's?"
'Lucy Reid. She used to live at
Meadow Brook. So / came here to get
work. She told me to before she died"
AT that moment the angels looked
down and saw the seed that had lain
for two score years in the heart of Jo-
seph Keep spring up and the flower
blossom in the wilderness.
He strobe across the kitchen TO the
bewildered girl. He brushed back her
bonnet and turned her face to the light.
He could not be mistaken. 1t was the
one framed and hung in the darkened
room in his soul. The blue eyes of
I ,,o,, Iaol-oG ouo;,, 0u,,,
moment the little boy pushed in be-
tween them and gazed wistfully in the
mans face. Farmer Keep sat down and
took the child in his arms. He tried to
speak, but instead great sobs came and
heaved his strong chest. The trio in
the kitchen gazed at him in mute as
constituent.
'Lucv's children, Lucy's children !"
he murmured at last, IN a voice whose
was like that of a mother.
"God sent you to me. For her sake
this shall be your home. For her sake
| will be father to YOU"
Five years after Cora wrote to me:
"We are having fine times now, dear
cousin Jennie, and mamma wants to
know if you do not need to renew your
rosy cheeks among the dews of Meadow
Brook. Uncle Charlie is with us, and
if you were also, our happiness would
be complete.
Lucy Wheeler-you remember her
has the place in my heart next to
yours. Her disposition is as lovely as
her face, and that is saying a great deal,
for its sweet beauty does one good to
behold it. Farmer Keep seems to
idolize her and Bennle. He is a charm
ing man now; he goes to church every
He spares no pains or ex-
pense in Lucy's education, and she will
be an accomplished woman. She is
here very often, and have suspicious
that Uncle Charle-but no matter,
will not trust this to pen and paper.
But now, Jennie, what lesson mas
all this taught mel How has it deepen
ened my faith in God and humanity.
Now my heart yearns over the
wretched SHINING outcast, remember
always that there is a flower in the will
derness.