Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-11-06


land and hundreds to the bank; but for
all that he is man soured toward all
his race, man who was never known
to give little child smile or beggar
a crust of bread.
Il have sometimes thought his heart
was like a desert, without tree to
shade or stream to gladden. it. And vet
it bore bri sht blossom once; and, be-
lieve me children, for it is the word OF
an old woman who has seen and k,t,w :
much of the ways of man, it is always
so. The heart may be a grcat \ II
ness, but in some of its byways there
has grown flower"
Cora and looked at each other and
at Uncle Charlie. Just then Aunt
Mary came in. She had been out, and
had not heard of Grandma Deans WIS.,
it.
But Cora stole up to her uncle, and
winding her arms about his neck, whis.
pered:
81 shall believe it always, Uncle Char.
lie, now [ have heard the story of Farm.
er Keep, that there is blossom in the
wilderness of every heart"
1t was sultry day in August, in the
Summer, [ passed at Meadow Brook
The wind, low and slumberous as the
hush of mothers voice at nightfall
crept Up among the corn, and down
among the rye and wheat fields, thai
lay like broad green folds about the
dwelling of Farmer Keep.
There was no poem Of flowers about
the front yard; no graceful harmonizine
touch of creeping vine or waving cur
tains about the old red HON estead; anc
yet it had quiet, substantial, matter
offact physiognomy, that somehow
made home feeling about your heart
think it must have been this uncon
scious feeling which decided the course
of the girl who stood at the point where
the road diverged and gazed wistfully
about her that afternoon.
She seemed very tired, and her coarse
straw bonnet and calico dress were GOV
cred with dust. If you had looked ir
her face you would not have forgotten
it. 1t could not have seen more thar
fifteen summers. 1t was very pale, anC
sweet, sad beauty, made you think o.
nothing but summer flowers drencheC
with summer rains.
Her eyes were of that deep moist blue
that rolls out from under the edge o.
April clouds, and her lips, which were
ripe and full, had that touch of sorrow
fulness about them which tells you al
ways that the heart beneath is full O
i tears.
The girls hand clasped tightly the
little boys by her side. The resem
blance between them would have tolC
you at once that they were brother anC
sister; but his life could not have GOV
cred more than a third Of hers.
The little fellows eyes were full O
tears, and the bright curls that crep
out from under his his hat were damp
with moisture.
A few minutes later she opened the
broad back gate and went to the kitchen
door. Farmer Keeps housekeeper-ar
old woman, with yellow nightcap ant
check apron tied over her linsey woo
skirt-answered the knock.
''Do you want any help, or do yol
know any one around here who does p
timidly asked the girl
The old lady peered at her with din
eyes.
NO." said she. "There amt but foul
on us-Farmer Keep and the two hirec
men, and me. It's harvest time jus
now, though, and l recon you'd find {
place in the village"
"Thank you. Bonnie here. my little
brother, is tired, for he walked from the
depot. Can you let us come in and res
awhileS"
"Sartin you cam"
The sight of the child touched the
heart of the woman, and they went into
a large kitchen, and sat down in the
flag bottomed chairs, while with glow
ing cheek the girl cast about in he1
mind for the best manner in which tc
present her petition for food.
Before she had decided, the master
of the house suddenly entered the
kitchen, for it was nearly dinner time
He was q large, muscular, broad
chested, sun-burned man, with hard
gloomy expression on his face, where
fifty years were now beginning to write
their history.
He stood still with surprise, gazing or
the new occupants of the kitchen; anc
the boy drew close to his sister and the
girl threw up a timid, frightened glance
In the gloomy face.
You don't know of anybody round
here that wants little help, do We far
mer" asked the woman. Here's 6
little girl that wants place and she's
walked from the depot. | told her she
might come IN and rest bit before she
went up into the village to try her lack.
No" shortly answered the farmer
DINNER ready?" and the rich mar
turned away without one gentle word O,
kind look for the homeless whom Goo
has brought to his door.
Lucy, Lucy, don stay here; Tn
afraid" And the little boys lip curlet
and quivered as he turned his face from
the farmers.
Lucy, Lucy" how those little trem
bling tones went down, down, down int
the mans heart How the dead day
of his youth burst out of their grave.
and rushed through his memory at tht
low broken, Lucy, Lucyl" He turned
and looked at the girl; not sourlv, a.
before, but with kind and eager ques
tioning interest.
| What's your name?"
Lucy Wheeler, SIR"
He staggered back and caught holc
or the nearest chair.
"And what was your mother's?"
Lucy Reid. She used to live al
Meadow Brook. So [ came here to gel
work. She told me to before she died.
At that moment the angels looked
down and saw the seed that had lain
for two score years in the heart of 10.
seph Keep spring up and the flower
| blossom In the uildarnass