Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-10-15
And before he could finish speakine

AuIy G1dt uo COulu LOU to1 tuo LuOIu0uh
of her exit. "That's way to be off
after such a gift," muttered Donald.
"Wel, we'll, it's great thing to be
charitable, SO the priest says, and if
giving three feet of good board isn't
charity, what would be-to an unknown
woman, too? All! I'm afraid I'm get
ting childish" And Donald McDee
scraped his fire together, and went to
bed, when he dreamed of beggar women
who carried away his treasury, and
awoke with fearful screams for help,
which no one heard.
AS time passed on, the old man be-
came even more penurious, II that was
possible. The consciousness of one
weakness steeled his heart against all
other beggars, and no one ever received
SO much as a pin from his avaricious
hands.
Three years from the day on which
he had first received the fair womans
visit, Donald was crouched once more
in the corner, and counting his glitter
ing hoard. It had increased with time,
and as he counted it he muttered:
"Well, well, that board was worth pen
ny-a whole penny, at the least. Not
that I begrudge it, for it's great thing
to be charitable, but a penny is penny,
nevertheless"
Just as he spoke another knock came
upon the door-such rap as the woman
herself had given three years before.
II hope it's not herself again" NUT
tered Donald, as he scrambled to the
latch, and, lifting it, admitted the very
being of whom he was thinking. The
miser started back in amazement, and
stood speechless, as, passing to the
same seat, she sat again before the fire,
and said: Donald McDee, I've come
to beg you for shilling."
More shillings," muttered the old
man. "What craythur ye are. I
gave ye board-a good board-three
years ago, and yez back for something
else after all. I've no shillings. I'm
as poor as magpie." ..
donald, Donald, if you won't give
money, give something for the sake of
your soul. There's bit of rope-may
I take that?"
"That piece of rope?" shrieked Don
aid. mo, no. I was offered sixpence
for it, and only KEEP it bekase Dennis
O'Rourke said he'd give me sevenpence
next Monday. That rope I! Och,
niver!" FILL. Ii
Donald, you're an old man." said
the woman, and what is that rope to
you, with all your money? Give it to
poor woman, and take blessing in
stead of it, as you hope for heaven"
"There, co." screamed the miser.
" I'm going mad. Take the rope, and
never darken my doors again. Seven
pence-sevenpence! I've thrown away
sevenpence!" and he fell upon the floor
in fit as he uttered the last words.
Donald McDee never recovered from
the anguish which his own generosity
had brought him, but sank slowly, day
by day, until at last he lay upon his
pillow and counted the money, as he
hid it beneath the straw mattress, re-
peating, at every summing up of his
possessions And eightpence gone for
a board and a rope that gave to
woman I didn't know at ALL"
He gasped these words one day when
his breath came thickly to his lips, and
everything was growing dim about him,
and shuddered with alright as he de-
serted woman standing at his bedside,
listening to them. It was the beggar
to whom he had given the board and
the rope. -
Donald McDee," she said, Give come
for the last time. Give me something
for charity's anything that is
worth penny; only give, give, as you
hope for mercy"
"I'm poor, I haven't thing" gasped
Donald, clutching handful Of money
beneath the blanket. Go away. Go"
Not without some small gift, plead
ed the woman. "a penny is something
to a beggar. Give"
Donald rose in his bed, and with
trembling fingers he pointed to brass
key hanging on nail in the wall.
"Take it," he said; "it's good brass
key, worth twopence, and, mind We,
niver say [ wasn't charitable. Eight
pence for the board and the rope, and
now twopence for key, makes ten
pence-tenpence from a poor ould man
that may starve yet"
donald, the board, and the key, and
o11O IOpO JOu o1d11 SS0 NuOu you uuOSG
need them. FAREWELL" And in an in
slant she was gone.
"Tenpence!" whispered the miser.
well, well, I'll try to save it in light,
for I'm very poor man." And, turn
ing with a groan, he blew out the candle
end which guttered on the table, and
died gasping in the dark.
X
Donald McDee's spirit found itself
standing on the margin of black river,
awful to look upon, it was so wide and
deep. Beyond lay green mountain,
and at the summit something glittered
with splendid light purer than the
blaze of the precious stones. Donald
turned, and saw a white-winged angel
close beside him.
"Dost thou know what light that is
yonder?" said the presence.
II do not" answered Donald, with
awe.
"That is the gate to heaven" said the
angel.
"Mav Oh there 9" asked the roicor