The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-03-10
Ghildren's Column.
Bocco's Basket; or, the New
Years Suppliant.

ne were In earnest, and then, with NUT
tered What next, wonderl" she went
out into the cold, piercing air, and first
Unmatched and then pushed the gate wide
back. She might have shivered in real
lty as she returned to the large ld-fash-
Toned kitchen; but that she did so more
vigorously than there was any occasion
for, her master evidently thought for.
fixing his kindly though keen gray eyes
on her. he said quietly:
Thou art all of tremble, poor lassie
with but breath of the ice that's abroad
on this bleak day. What wouldst thou
do II there was not an open door for thee
at such time? Eli, lassie ?"
And nothing more was said by Mary's
kind master. But must add a few
words by way of explanation, for certainly
old Farmer Martins request appears an
eccentric one; for who in his ri ht senses
would not wish to shut out the storm
rather than open door to its cold ad-
vances? Who would not have given ex-
actly opposite orders. to his servant :
There is rough weather coming; make
fast the porch and shut it out if possible?
The simple fact was this Seth Martin
was constrained by the love of Christ in
all that he thought said, or did. He was
not one to say to starving brother or
sister, Depart in peace; be We warmed
and filled, and yet withhold the where
wlthal to be so filed and warmed. "No,
no, he would say that is but a poor
service that begins and ends with the
lips. Let the hungry feed from the table
the Lord has, in his bounty, spread for
me; and let the cold limbs of the needy
be chafed at my fire, if 1 am true to my
Lord.
And in accordance with this belief in
practical piety Cor what the Bible calls a
a0orkamg taath,) }, one of Seth's notions was
to have the door of large covered porch
set open whenever the heavens were over
cast and threatened one of those fearful
and furious storms which were of frequent
occurrence In the exposed country where
his homestead lay. The travellers who
passed that way were, indeed, few, espe-
clally during the winter months. Still.
II the porch afforded refuge to but one
benghted fellow-creature, he felt more
than repaid for this little labor of love.
The truth was, that once in early man
hood Seth had been Mortified to find a
woman frozen to death Just outside this
very porch one hand was stiffened in its
attempts to reach the knocker, and the
fingers of the other were clenched, as
though they had been numbed in the act
of trying to beat against the door
Never again shall that porch be closed
on such night as this !" had Seth then
exclaimed; and so persistently had his
never again" been observed, that all
who lived under the same roof knew what
to expect when certain ominous over
shadowing appeared in the sky. Of all
his servants, Mary, his factotum, alone
dared make any show of resistance.
On this particular afternoon, which
happened to be the first day in the new
year, Seth Martins benevolent fore
thought seemed unnecessary, for daylight
darkened into night without any passen-
ger having availed himself of the friendly
shelter. At last, Just as Mary had pre-
pared supper, and Seth was about to ask
Gods blessing on the meal, a scraping
and scratching was heard not at the
porch but at the house door
Halloo who's there?" cried Seth.
No answer; but scrape--scratch-
scrape
Who's there, I say? Speak out, can't
your? again cried Seth.
Still no reply, but renewed scrapes.
Maybe it is some one as can t speak,
whispered Mary and this was enough
for the farmer, who Immediately went to
the door, and opened it cautiously, when
IN sprang large dog, which made the
aperture wider than Seth intended, by
thrusting in basket that it carried in it's
mouth
Halloo, my fine fellow, what dost
= want here at this time of night? Hast
got New Years gift for old Seth p said
the farmer, patting the animals snow
sprinkled head; but the dog withdrew
itself with a jerk, and promptly laid
down the basket at Mary's feet and then
stood midway between her and her mas
ter, wagging it's tail, and looking from
one to the other with its great brown
eyes.
What is it, old fellow" Mary said
Vow cant speak, but you can look. can t
you; that's all. Poor doggiel /"
Thus encouraged, the dog made a half
spring at the basket, and fixing wistfnl
gaze at the eatables on the table, uttered
several short yapping banks, which in
canine language means Give me some.
please. Mr.. Martin offered it a cake
when, to his surprise, the intelligent crea-