The daily gazette., 1879-12-23
RAIN FROM HEATEN.
A STORY FOR CHILDREN.

cukidHu, huuTeSbinS tilc ConRreRaClOn Oh
what is there called Dissenter's chapel,
on the outskirts of large town. The |
people who listened to him were mostly |
poor workman and workwomen, but his |
account Of the orphan asylum, and Of |
IT'S little inmates, touched their hearts.
There was quite a considerable collec- |
tion made. Even the smallest child
seemed to have had halfpenny given 1t |
tor the poor box, which was passed
around, aud only one gave nothing, and
that was pretty girl Of twelve, who had
shed tears at the tale of poverty, and
seemed particularly touched to bear Of
a little lame child who had evinced q
disposition to do good to others despite
her iDfirmity.
This girls face had been 80 bright
and earnest that the old clergyman had
noticed 1t particularly, and now, Is he
watched her, he saw tears stealing
through her fingers, Soon she arose
and stole softly out of the church-for
all this happened after service was over
ard the blessing uttered-and the cler-
gyman scarcely expected to see the lit
tie round, sunburnt face again.
However, that very afternoon, when
he had had his tea and was walking
slowly along little green lane near the
home Of the friends to whom he was
paying visit, be saw q small compact
figure in pink calico, crowned with .
round straw hat exactly like q boys,
dncking short courtesies to him from q
little distance, and recognized the girl
whom he had noticed at the chapel, and
nodded reassuringly to her. On this
| .ln l..
| him.
If yo' please, sir, yo' be T. gentleman
as spoke T. us to-day, yander," she said,
softly, blushing and casting down her
eyes. "And II yo' please, Pm fain T.
speak T. yo'. Iput naught int poor box
to-day, sir. 1t might be yo' noticed 1t,
sir, and thought did not care for T. poor
little children; but did, SIR"
"You are only child yourself, nay
DEAR" said the gentleman; "children are
are not expected to have money to give.
You have the heart to give 1t and that is
great thing; and when you are older
you will be able to do more as you
please"
eyes, sir" replied the child; "and it's
not as ia ther would grudge me the PEN
ny for the plate; but he's been mortal
bad lately with fever, and has just got
about. But, sir, this is what l wanted
to say to yo'; heerd yo' tell, as you'd
bide ava a year and COON back again
then and tell us about what you'd seen
and heare; and wanted to ask yo' If
mightn't give what bit Of money might
have? 1t couldn't be much to the poor
children, to the poor little things, when
yo' cams again. That is what wanted
T. say, SIR"
"Indeed you may, lassie," said the old
man. "And you eau pray for them il
you can 90 nothing else. l wish rich
old men and women had your kindly
heart, my girl"
Ihen the child said softly:
"Please, sir, I'd like to know wher
you come, If I chanced not to be at thu
chapel, and any one would bring mt
word. My name is Maggie-Maggie
Zollivir, SIR"
Then she dropped her little, bobbing
courtesy, and went away.
The clergyman left the place and re
manned away, as he said he would, I
year. When he returned he spent hi
first Sabbath morning in the old chapel
and there, ON the first bench, with
proud, happy look in her eyes,sat a littl'
girl, with round, brown face and smootl
, cropped, black hair, who clutched fold
ed paper tight in her hand.
For moment the old gentleman look
ed at her without recognition. Ther
he recalled Maggie Zolliver, grown a
only girl of II can grow in year
The plate was passed about and she pu
q few pennies into 1t, but when the res
were gone she fingered, and came softly
up to the reading desk.
"Please, sir" she said, "I've stoppe,
to gi' it to yo' fer fear 'twould be lost
the plate. It's for the little poor chill
dren; and please might some OF be uset
for the little lame girl yo' spoke Of
feeled as If / knowed her, when yo' toll
us about her knittin' the stockings an,
ALL"
Meanwhile the clergyman had open
ed the paper and found within it banl
of England note for one pound-fiv
dollars of our currency.
"Why, Maggie, this is great deal TO
one little girl to give," said he. "How
did you get it? From some rich person
Q suppose" ]"
"No, l worked for IT," replied Maggie
| ''duu JlC Lulu oCuJ HlC WOAhs AIoS
summer there came dry time an,
there was no water at the laundry il
the town where they wash the clothe
for the gentle folk, and we have a deel
cistern, and the water there is cool an,
fresh always. And besides, I'd caugh
a deal in barrels and hodgsheads, for tn
same thing had happened the year be
fore, and I'd taken heed ont. And
went to the man that hires the washer
and asked him if might fetch wateI
= and lie promised me l could and sait
he'd give me penny pail. 1t was
bit of walk, but Pm strong, and tn
dry time lasted long while, and
emptied the cistern and the hogsheads
sir, and kept going to and fro all day
. and when twas over and the wet spel
come, had my pound earnt, and bad
him give met in a nice clean note, fo
twas for the clergy gentleman and thi
is it, sir, if yo' please"
IL think more of 1t than If rich ma
b, had given me hundred pOunds!" crie'
the clergyman. "And II shall writ
down here, "A pound frem little Maggi
Zolliver,' and your name will be read I
s the poor little children in the Home
America"
But Maggie dropped her courtes
again.
s "Please, sir, DON'T" said she.
didn't dot for to be telled aboot. l
feel shame and then twas God gave n
the means to earn the money, and
,.o,os wrono IN sav twas ma cave II