Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-30
Clean-WaShed.


ow seat by the warm freside, the rich glow
deepening on her fair cheek, and a sud
den excitement leaping into the dark gray
eyes.
" Nonsense, DEAR" answered the mother,
after moments silence. sit was your
imagination. Ny little girl is fanciful to-
night" and she bent to stroke back the
ahicky- clustering ourls from the low, white
brow, as she pressed fond, fervent kiss
upon it.
1t was pretty picture on which the FIRE
light danced and fickered-the warm, luxu-
rious room, with the tall, elegant woman in
its midst, and the little, dainti1y dressed
child by her side.
Without, the wind swept by, hurting
great masses of snow on its wings, and
flashing through the bare, leadess
branches of the trees.
The child shuddered as she listened to its
Jao&n.
~ am quite sure heard it, mamma.
Suppose any one were out on such night.
1t would be dreadful. Let me open the
door moment-just moment"
And, without waiting for the refusal
trembling on her mothers lips, she darted
forward and threw open the great outside
door
In another instant, the bell sent sharp
peal through the house, for on the very
threshold lay PROSTATE body, already half
buried In the shrouding snow.
Five minutes later, and the lad had been
carried to a sofa, and restoratives and stimu-
Iants passed down his throat.
= viii he live, mamma? Do you think
lie VIII live? ?"
But, In answer to her question, the lids
slowly lifted themselves, and the great black
eyes rested wonderingly on the child's face,
bending so anxiously over him.
Had the death he thought SO near indeed
OYertaken him, and was this heaven he had
reached? He feared to waken from his
dream, and find himself again homeless and
starving and cold.
With long-drawn sigh, he closed his
eyes, only to find the fascination of the
present overcome him, and impel him to
again gaze upon his marvellous surround
ings.
But his wonder only deepened when the
reality was brought home to him-when he
discovered that it was life, not death, and
earth, not heaven, and that he was not to be
driven out again into the cold and bitter
night.
Through It's long, silent hours he lay mo-
tionless in this warm resting place, pictur-
ing, in the darkness, the child's face, until
it became stereotyped both on heart and
brain.
The next day he told his story. He was a
poor lad, orphaned and friendless.
They discharged me from my last
place" he said, because carried book
about with me, and the boss said it would
teach me to dream instead of work l was
only trying to learn something in my idle
minutes, though couldn't find much time,
and l didn't take my employers. How
ever, he was hard man, and I had to 90
[ started West. The little money I had
gave out. The storm overlook me.
struggled on as best [ could, until [ grew
faint and sick. Somewhere In the distance
L saw Light. struggled toward it. You
know the rest. Now am strong and well
again, the storm is over, and L can only
thank you in q few poor words for your gen.
erous kindness, and go my way"
Papa will be home this afternoon" an
swered the child "He is the owner of all
the mills about here. If you would like,
will ask him to give you place; and there
is school at night for the hands, SO you
can study, too"
eff 1 would hke!n
It was all he said, but little Helen Haw-
thorDe needed no other words. She knew
that great lump in his throat had choked
his further utterance, and that he had turned
away ashamed, to hide the tears.
The next week saw her promise fulfilled,
and Alex Vernon stood once more a man
among men. He found place in the night
school, too. Nor did his young patroness
forget him. In some way she discovered
the books he needed, and lent them to him
until he grew to associate her with every
good thing Of his new life. One morning
she sent for him.
II am going to Europe with mamma
Alex" said, "to be gone for a great many
years. When I come back, hope to find
you q man-perhaps papa's overseer.
wanted to tell you that if you wished any
books from the library 1 would leave this
key with you, and you might come up and
get them"
The sunlight was streaming full on her
face and the gold of her hair, as she spoke,
but to the boy, listening, a dark mist seemed
10 roll between them. She was going away
for years-she who had saved him from
death, or worse than death.
The next minute she felt just little hurt,
as, without a single word of thanks, he
abruptly took the key and hastened from her
presence