The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-01-23

II Va a hhOhiCht ohO Sa1Co az hiLu .
then there arose before her mental
vision a half-crazed NAH and three
starving childred. She uttered a moan
OF fagony. Then the struggling souls
cry escaped her lips.
Heavenly Father, give me
strength"
Trembling she. laid the bank-note
down, and in silence turned to go.
"Will yousee your children starve?'
he asked.
Heaven will send relief. You
have a gray-haired, honorable moth
er. OF whom you are justly proud; as
such would have my son remember
me-"
The door closed, and she stood
again in the street, freezing, starving,
hopeless. For a moment she felt as
il flying upward, then downtown.
and she knew no more.
A tall, clustering sort of man
caught her as she fell.
"Take care. my lass; it's slipp cry
here" he exclaimed.
But the dead weight. and pale.
pinched features told him she was
the victim OF no accident, but OF life's
bitter realities; and, taking her into q
shop. no waited till she revived,
Nov, miss, you're all right" he
said, when she was able to speak.
There's cab at the door; tell me
where you live, and I'll have you safe
there before the wind shifts again."
Quietly she yielded to the strangers
request, feeling, she knew not why,
that heaven had sent her a friend.
The husband was surprised when
his wife returned, but the stranger
with her soon explained the situation
OF affairs, and also learned from the
sorrowful father the story OF their
destitution. He then gave Harry
money to get fuel and provisions,
promising to stay till he returned.
While talking to Mrs. Allen. who
sat holding her infant, he took up u
small case that lay upon table, and
opening 1t disclosed a picture OF
a mother and child.
May ask from whom did you re-
ceive this?" he inquired, gazing in
tentIy at the likeness.
From my mother"
'Is she alive?"
"No, sir. I lost both parents when
1 was a child. / do not know that /
have relative living"
THAT picture was taken the day
you were a year old. twenty years
ago-your name was Nina Lee?"
"Yes; tut how come you to know
my name and age?"
II am your mothers sailor brother,
William Leslie. / have been a wan
derer for twenty years; / returned.
hoping to find my sister; but you
must fill her place. Cheer up, my
dear: / have more than enough for US
all"
There was suspicious huskiness
In the old sailors voice as he took
out his bandanna. and. vigorously
blowing his nose, complained that
the room was too warm.
Nina smiled at the little fiction. for
everything was cd and cheerless.
She laid her babe In its crib, aud put
ting her arms around William Leslie's
neck said:
"Your kind heart, uncle. makes II
warm"
He took her on his knee and
smoothed her sunny hair. saying:
poor little Niral Your old uncle
hove in sight just in time to save
you
He drew the wondering children
toward him and kissed them, while
Nina shuddered, thinking how, for q
brief moment, one hour before the
dark hours OF despair threatened tC
engulf her.
Harry Allen returned with enough
fuel and food to comfort and cheel
the dear ones, and was made happy
by hearing the glad news.
Years Of prosperity followed, an1
there came a time when Nina, snr
rounded by kind friends, once more
met Mr.. Thornton. He approached
her, and, in a low tone said:
MRS. Allen, am / forgiven?"
She glanced at him; his preseno,
recalled the darkness, saddest hou
OF her life.
"Yes.- she replied. forgiven AM
forgotten"
The Deac0n's Mistake.
A good deacon In Davenport. Iowa
saw drunken man whom he knew
driving aimlessly about the street
one dark night. The deacon kindl.
got into his sleigh and took the reins
1 n