Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-02-11

rlcn as Sne was, at least comparatively,
she was always wanting more.
And now he was coming Berry
screamed with delight.
=" shall tell Everlelgh, she said, al
most instantly, and little spitefully, 81
dare say he'll speak now"
g 1t doesn't at all matter whether he
| speaks or not, my daughter said my aunt,
loftily, when your uncle arrives-and we
may look for him any day next week-you
will feel my dear. that your position in life
is doubly secured. Even Mr. Everleigh
would hardly be match for you So now
you and Maggie go on with your work.
I'm glad our charity fair comes off to night !;
we shall be busy hereafter preparing for
your uncle. What pity he couldn't be
here for Thanksgiving.
Having said this, my aunt sat down to
write out invitations and directions for
the charity fair. A devout church mem
Der, and something of philanthropist,
| was aunt.
"Mamma mamma, say called Jack,
Berenice's hopeful brother, lad of some
dozen summers old, thrusting his curly
head III at the door, Have you got anv
stale victuals, or old clothes, or anything
| to give away? p
IL,
| threw back the point-lace lappets of her
breakfast-cap, with an air of annoyance.
Jack was such torment
Why Jack?" demanded Berenice.
+" Cause there's beggar out here. He
looks awful hungry, and amt got no over
coat. | say, mamma. can l give him that
| cold turkey in the larder? p
Mamma leaped to her feet
sfNn T want fhaf t11rly ox, N mo 1ro oorJ
wiches for the fair; don't dare to touch it.
Send the beggar away you know l won't
have tramps about the place. Send him
away, this minute and go straight up to
the library, and write out your Latin exer-
cises."
Jack turned from the door, cloud on
his sunny face Looking from the win
dow, saw an old man, insufficiently clad.
Our big dog Carlo was snarling at his
heels. The beggar was so close to the win
dow that he must have heard every word
my aunt said /; and he looked crestfallen
enough in consequence.
6 1t doesn't seem quite consistent" re-
marked, for once letting my indignation
get the better of my love of peace, "to have
the house about ones ears getting ready
for charity fair, and starving beggar
I" A thieving tramp" cried my aunt,
hotly. "Keep silent, Meg, and don't in
terfere. It's none of your business, any
how"
| was prudent enough to make no reply,
but my blood boiled, nevertheless. Had |
remained longer, l should have lost my self
control, fear; so l got up directly, and,
saying that | had promised to go home soon,
left my aunt's.
Our cottage was at the edge of the wood,
just outside of the great gates but the av-
enue was half mile long, and before
reached the gates, had almost overtaken
the beggar. He seemed not only old, but
feeble, and walked with difficulty he was
probably deaf also, as he did not seem to
hear my footsteps. Just outside the gates,
he met my little sister, Kitty, who was re-
turning from the wood, where she had been
to pick up sticks for our fire.
My DEAR" said the old man, addressing
her, ''can you tell me where I can get a
bit of supper and nights lodgiug2 I am
old and poor, and haven't the money to go
to tavern. You look as if you had kind
heart. God bless it I've just been turned
away from the big house here but per-
haps you are not so hard hearted as the
mistress there"
Kitty's honest little face showed the pity
that she felt But she was only child,
and shrank from responsibility.
' don't know, sir, )" she said, diff1dent-
ly. 81 think mamma will give you some
thing to eat and maybe we can find bed
for you, that is if sister Margaret and l
sleep on the settee for you see our house
is small. But oh, here comes sister her
self, she cried, asshe discovered me, "and
she'll tell you all about it.
| My heart was still hot with indignation
at the brutality with which my aunt and
Berenice had treated the old man, and I
FASTENED to reply warmly.
eyes, 1 will undertake that YOU shall
have supper and bed although neither
may be as good as what they could have
given you up at the great house. But what
little we have you shall share. Stay, let
me carry your pack for you" He had a
small one strapped on his back. "Indeed,
indeed, lam filter to do it than you.''
"Thank you," he said, slowly, taking
long look at my face, and then scrutinizing
that of Kitty's. You seem, both of you, as
if you were good children and the offer to
take my pack proves as much But I'll
carry it myself, still. Little one," and he
turned to Kitty, "what have you got those
sticks for ?''
''For mothers fire, please" she said,
| dropping a little courtesy. I've Just been
getting them in the woods"
my aunt" l interposed "who lives
in the great house here, kindly allows us
to pick up loose bits from under the trees
We are poor, as sister says, and so every
little helps
"And you are duly thankful, sup
pose2" said the old man, sarcastically.
Beggars must not be choosers, you know,
as heard just now myself"
| blushed scarlet with shame for my
aunt. "Indeed, indeed" | cried, "you
must not judge Aunt Mary too harshly, for
| see, from what you say, that you over
heard her. She must have been out of sorts
this morning"
"And | suppose that voice that answered
her, and which think | recognize" he
int rrupted, looking at me keenly again,
belonged to some one who was not out of
sorts, eh ~
Before could answer heard the quick