Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-12-26

There was something iL the boys earn
est tone which Lizzie felt was an ample
recompense for the little sacrifice she had
made. Mr.. Dlnsmoor fulfilled his promise. !,
and walked with Willie as far as the street
in which he lived, when, feeling sure that
he could no longer mistake his way, he'll left
him.
Mr.. Dinsmoor, whom we have intro
duced to our readers, VAS a prosperous
merchant, and counted his wealth by hum
dreds of thousands. Fortunately his dis
position was liberal, and he made thepoor
sharers with him in the gifts which for
tune had so literally showered upon him.
Notwithstanding the good use which he
made of his wealth, he was fated to ex-
perience reverses resulting not from his
own mismanagement, but from general
commercial panic which all at once in
volved in ruin many whose fortunes were
large and whose credit was long establish
ed. In word, Mr.. Dinsmoor failed.
Eleven years had rolled by since the
Christmas night on which our story opens.
Lizzie had not belied the promise of her
girlhood, but had developed into radiant
ly beautiful girl. Already her hand had
been sought in marriage, but as yet she
had seen no one on whom she could look
with that affection, without which mar
riage would be mockery.
Charlie and Harry, too. Eleven years
had changed them not little. The boys
of four and six had become fine, manly
youths of fifteen and seventeen. The eld-
est had entered college. Harry. however,
who was by no means studious, had en-
tered his fathers counting
That was a sorrowful night on which
Mr.. Dinsmoor made known to his afflicted
wife the bankruptcy which was inevitable.
Still sadder, if possible, was the sale
which it enforced of the house which they
had so long occupied, the furniture which
had become endeared to them by memory
and association, and the harsh interrupt
ton, which loss of fortune put to all their
treasured schemes.
my poor boy" said Mrs. Dinsmoor,
sorrowfully, as she placed her hand ca
ressingly on the brown locks of Charlie,
the eldest Of the two boys. 1T will be
hard sacrifice for you to leave the studies
to which you are so much attached, and
enter a store, as you will be obliged to
do"
''Ah, I had not thought of that" muir
INJURED Charlie. ut will indeed be sacri-
fee, but, mother, I would not care for
that if you could only be spared the trials
to which you will be exposed from power
ty."
"Thank you for your consideration, my
child; but do not fear that shall not ac-
commodate myself to it. 1t is heavy
trial, but we must try to think that it will
ultimately eventuate in our good.'.
At the auction of Mr.. Dinsmoor's house
and furniture. the whole property, with
out exception, was knocked off to young
man, who seemed apparently of twenty
two or three years of age. He was able to
secure it at price much beneath its real
value, for times were hard and money
scarce, so that he had but few competitors.
Mr.. Dinsmoor did not hear his name, and
the pressure of sad thoughts prevented his
making the inquiry.
Possession was to be gwen in one week.
Meanwhile Mr.. Dinsmoor sought out a
small house in an obscure part of the
town, which in point of elegance and con-
yenience formed complete contrast to
the one he had formerly occupied. He
felt, however, that it would be all his
scanty salary as clerk flor he had secured
situation in that capacity would enable
him to afford.
Lizzie looked with rueful face at the
piano, as a dear friend, from whom she
, must henceforth be separated, it being
, quite too costly piece of furniture to be
retained in their reduced circumstances
Her proficiency in music, for which she
had great taste. made her regret it doubt
> ", since she might with it have added tt
the resources of the family by giving mu
sic lessons.
$ On the last evening IN which they wert
7 to remain in the old house, their sac
> thoughts were broken IN upon by ring al
: the bell.
ssCan they not even leave us to enjoy thu
t last evening in quiet p said Charles petu
t lantly.
{ Immediately afterwards there entered {
: young man, in whom Mr.. Dinsmoor rec
l ognized the purchaser of the house.
!, II need not bid you welcome said he
9 smiling family, .'since you have bette
! right here now than myself. Had beef
told three months since that this woult
!, be, would not have believed it, but w
t cannot always foresee. I shall be prepared
( to leave tomorrow"
81 shall be better satisfied if you will
remain" said the young man, bowling.
"How do you meant"
s'Simply that as this house and furnitur
are now mine to do with as like, I choos
to restore you the latter, and offer you tn
:" use of the former, rent free, as long as 20,
choose to occupy it."
i "Who then are you,' asked Mr.. Dins
9 moor, in increasing surprise. ''who can b
SO kind to utter strangers with no CLAIM
s upon your"
ssYou are mistaken. You have CLAIM
upon me- Shall tell you what it u.s.
Eleven years ago tomorrow, for to-mor
IS row is Christmas day, poor boy who ha'
t known none of the luxuries and but few
J. of the comforts of life, stood in this street
His mind was ill at ease, for he had los
2 his way. But as he walked on, he behel
a blaze of'light issuing from a window
d from yo,lr window and aroused by curios
/. ity he looked in. Around a Christina