The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-09-27

aid, with smile that was as genial as a
sunbeam, shut the minister would have
is come, and he and his wife drove
around for us. y
The minister assembled the platform
ust then, and after tenderly yet impress |
,iyely invoking the divine blessing, he |
looked down benighly upon the faces up
turned to his, and with touching into |
nation of voice asked "Who is my neigh |
bor?' He then went on to tell how
Auntie Lee answered that question in
regard to himself.
When first became acquainted with
Mr.. and Mrs. Elijah Lee," he said, 81
was finishing my theological studies here
in the village with DIR. Mills, and they
had just married and settled down in
their little house yonder, which they had
inherited. One day was sent for to
preach on trial in the adjoining town of
Luxboro'. My only coat was worn
threadbare, extensively patched, and I
had no way of procuring another. Feel
ing sorely grieved and dispirited,
started out for walk, and for the sake
of telling my trouble to some fellow crea-
ture, and with no thought of receiving
any aid in the premises, turned into
Mrs. Lees house, and read to her the in
vitation had from Luxboro and frankly
told her why I could not go at present.
Leave it to the Lord, !" said the good wo-
man, and forthwith she proceeded to take
my measure with piece of tape. Go
home, she continued, write your SER
mon and come here again on Saturday
morning. / obeyed. / subsequently
found that the woman had actually taken
piece of cloth that she had laid by in
the house for cloak for herself, and,
tailoress as she was by trade, had cut
and made me coat from it. preached
my first sermon in it, and shortly re-
ceived and accepted my first call.
"Oh, DEAR" whispered Auntie Lee
| from her seat by my side, "he's paid me
for that coat every New Years since, and
| it wasn't much for me to do after all;
| Major Sanford, the richest man in the
town, was the next to take the stand.
The old people smiled and nodded THEN
heads, but the young folks looked al
each other and wondered what he could
be indebted to Auntie Lee for.
when was boy" the Major began.
''I was bound out IN H to very
4 very bad master, from whom / deter
mined to run away. I availed myself
of an opportunity to escape one Satur-
day afternoon, when was sent to the
pasture to salt the cattle. came straight
over the mountain to this place.
wanted to get out of the State as soon as
possible, so came directly to the bridge
down there at the river, which is, yor
know, the New Hampshire boundary
Just after had stepped upon Vermon
soil, I overlook on the road Mr.. and Mrs
Lee, young people then. They had {
basket and spade, and had been digging
up wild flowers to transplant in their gar
den. Although an entire stranger, the,
accosted me kindly. Noticing that l hat
been crying, Mrs. Lee asked me m,
trouble. Before / knew it had blurtet
out the whole story, and had been in
vited by her to go home with them ant
stay over Sunday. / was, of course, onl,
too grateful to accept the invitation
After supper we set ont the plants
and then Mr.. Lee took M
with him down to the hill t
the bank of the brook, as we called
then, and into his little machine shop.
evinced my fondness for tools, and con
fided to him an invention that had in
crude form long had possession of m
Il
saw the utility of my invention at
glance. The subject was not mentione
on the morrow, which was quiet, rest
full day to me. Mrs. Lee loaned me
clean linen suit belonging to her hus
band. and went to church with them
The next day Mr.. Lee went over to H
and made terms with my master, becaus
,, Mrs. Lee said she could not allow me
| Co. Il
me into his employment and gave me
corner in his shop, where could, at od'
moments, work at my model. My in
vention proved success, and made M
fortune. as you all know. am thankful
my dear friends, that am able to repai
the damage done to the dear little home
stead and to rebuild my old friend
shop" and Major Sanford sat down
wiping his eyes with his handkerchief
while his delighted audience applaude
vociferously.
ssDear heart p said Auntie Lee to me
''what was he talking about? He's pai
us over and over, and he's tried and trie
to make Elijah go into partnership wit
him, but he would not, and won't Il
him"
Then quickly followed one-minut
speeches by the score.
'aThey kept me three months when
was sick and homeless" said one. g
made their house my home for week
when was out of work, said another
Ten homeless working girls were maj
, ried in their parlor, and went out int
the world with their blessing. Thel
was great number of touching littl
speeches from those who had receive
flowers and delicacies in illness, an
warm garments in time of need.
! And so from them all flowed contribr
tons of money, the greatest part {
which was safely placed in bank for til
benefit of the Lees when old age an
failing strength should overtake them.
s.Dear mer' said Mrs. Evans to Aunt
,, Lee, you've been lendin' to the Lore
and he pays the best interest after all.
never could understand before; but
now"
."There are some of us so poor that W
cannot give such as We have. A smil
or kind word even will come back I
us in kind" said Auntie Lee, and we a
brushed away the tears that we could nc
suppress while these touching speeche
, were being made, and we went to .ou
homes.