The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-03-06
AN ANGELS VISIT.
BY WILLIAM H. BUSHNELL.

BY WILLIAM H. BUSHNELL.
1t is cold enough to freeze the heart
out of a miser and make the white bear
dance for Joy" grumbled Tom OrtOn, as
he looked out of the window upon the
snow covered streets. " How l wish l
could stay at home tonight and take
care OF you and the babies, Jenny. And
l would only for"
He thought of how much poverty was
pinching them, and would not sadden
the hearts of those he loved by mention
ing it.
"Only for what, Tom ?'' asked his
wife from the bed, where, i'll herself,
she was taking care of their two sick
children.
"OuIy that they'll be wanting me"
he replied. You know it is Christmas
eve, and we've gotten up an extra enter
tainment
" Yes, Tom, and a sorry day for us,
now that l an sick, and the children
wanting medicine and" shewouId have
said q food" f." but could not bear TO add a
Gathers weight to his load" and so
much depends upon you"
" [ know" he replied, hastily brush
ing the moisture from mis- eyes and striv
ing 10 conceal his anxiety, 90 but I am
well and strong, Jenny, and the winter
is nearly over and you'll all be well
again"
d" But if anything should happen to
you p she questioned, with a heavy sigh.
ID mt think there is much danger
he said, represslng & sob as he thought Of
how desperate would be their situation
OF the rent due, the scanty store of
provisions. the little of fuel remaining,
tie more than month of hard winter yet
before them the needs of a family that a
poor man learns by the most bitter Of
experience.
But there is, dear Tom No one Is
ever zate living the lie you 90. There
are 30 many Char c 5 for accident"
Sc D MT fear, l i take care OF myself
wont run any extra risk, and, as l
have nothing To de- in the latter part,
viii be home cary"
He stepped t. the bedside, drew the
cover more closely about his wife aud
children, kissed them, put mare coal IN
the stove, Ough every lump was as q
golden ducat to a ShylOck in his then
-iluatioD, attended to everything posi-
ole for heir com Ort, and prepared tU
ace the cold and 60 to his nightly em-
| ployment Yet an uncommon sp-ll
! seemed o chain him He fingered,
fdge5ed glanced un. asily at the cock.
/ :. Isn't it time you were of, Tom u
questioned his wife. " lou know 1t is
quite walk"
! % Yes, Jenny, but somehow I don't
| feel ike leaving you 8l"ne.'
''Ou, am used 10 staying alone"
! So she was, poor thing " And you
/ aid ven would be home early"
q Yes"
An active, sober man was he, and s
skilled performer He had been trained
TO the pro ession from chldhOOd-knew
no other, and, under ordinary circum-
stances. could easily keep his heai
above water" But the 'tenting season
had closed exceptionally early, the win
ter WAS hard, money was tight" anC
every place of amusement suffered il
consequence. To these things were
added sickness, and brave hearted as he
was he could not supprt IS shiVer o
anxiety as the future stared him in tn,
face.
He passed along the narrow street
through more TEetentiOus Ones--pssseC
the houses of milliOuaiTes, and entered
Broadway. That, at least, was brillian
and gay, as if there was nothing of pOv
erty Or human suffering in the world
as II none in the great city were famllia
with hunger, and cold, and sickness
as if there never was to be any awaken
ing from q golden dream of luxury ant
pleasure.
"Ah! thOuphtless wealth and fashion,
he murm mured, bitterly, Is he saw fur
clad forms, and pampered steeds, ant
richIv-mounted harness, and giIdet
sleighs, and costly robes dash along
chow much ye will have to answer TO
in the day of final reckoning, for neg
Iecting your poor, tOlliDg, suffering
brothers and sisters"
But no time had he to iDger--th
clock in a window told him that, and
with sigh that his wife and little one
zuOuld not have their quota of the gOOt
things of this world, he passed on.
Sudden confused cry--a wild tn
mult--the drawing away Of teams UpOl
either side, or dashing into cross street
startled him, and he knew somethin
unusual wss taking place. Then cam
: the shout of runaway! runaway" an
ne sei- that lie or property, or bOtf
were being whiTIed on to destruction.
? care you mad? Do you want to b
: kiIIea?' huTriedly asked many, as the
e ran 70 places of safety, and he rename
I standing upon the cUrb-stOne.
+ He gave no heed to the warning h
f had braved death far too often to ehrin
e f-om Itlu any event, aud most certain
e. ,zneu at such a distance. Hls yes WEI
n fixed up the ST. eet upon team of mob
| oays that were tearing along mad wit
d fright. and SURFING the sleigh from sid
n TO sid6-were running at their utmO
Il speed each striving to outdO The Othe
s, straining every HeTve-were ruunln
d away GriverIess. But had that been a
e ne would not have troubled himself, de-
$ as was his afs cLiOn for bioOded steed
e for he was not at that moment particl
q lar in sympathy with wealth It vi
1 quite another matter That cnaIned hin
A. the first outcry he had sprung
and halt climbed q lamp-p0sC, ami
Of obtained clearer vIew-One tn
Y thrilled his heart to the very cor
t, caused his breath to be more deep
II drawn and his pulse to mOmentari
cea 10 bzat.
IN trt~sleigh wss 3 young and beaut
Of e.l X msu. pale with terror, and cias
b. jog Two lovely children to her breai
orten thought of his Jenny and tbs