Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-11-26

one person 10 give you a helping hand
just till l am through this one year at
SCHOOL, l could pay back the money, u
you could only borrow one hundred dol
lars to help you over this year."
And iii be teacher in three years,
MOTHER" said Mary. "Oh, how / wish
/ could stop your hard work at once.
Now think, mother, isn't there any one,
as John saysP"
James Waring listened breathlessly; !;
he longed 10 hear his name Surely she
knew he could lend her that much. But
the widow, after a moments silence,
only shook her head "No, children,
we've no rich friends, and I'd only lose
work if l should try to get money from
customers"
"There's that Mr.. Waring," said
Mary, to the listeners great delight.
"Hel" exclaimed mother and son, the
first in utter astonishment, the second in
scorn.
"Well-isn't he richP" asked Mary,
doubtfully.
al rather think sol" responded John,
"but he's mean"
"John, my son, Mr.. Waring pays us
promptly-you should. not speak So"
"He knows nothing about poverty or
the need Of money, that is all, -" said the
widow quietly.
Again James seemed seeking the cot
tage, and again that voice pleaded "Not
yet, not yet!n This time he was led to
the basement Of the house where his
own rooms were. Once in while he
had gone down those lower stairs, so
the scene was not altogether unfamiliar
He had seen before that thin figure ly-
ing on the lounge, had noted the air Of
refinement in the cosy sitting-room; but
now he heard them talk, unaware of
his presence.
"Marion, if could but get South, 1
believe I'd grow strong The Doctor
said it might set me up. But therel l
must be weak fool to talk of it to you |
1t can't be done-we haven't relation
to help us. DO you know what dream
about, Marion, when you are up stairs
doing the work in the lodgers' roomsP
the work that you should never do if
l were well and strong"
"No, dear; tell me your fancies, if
they are pleasant ones"
az dream, wife, that instead of the
people who have our rooms-the Hoff-
mans, who as Germans care nothing
for us, and those four young clerks in
the upper story who can barely pay
their way, and that money-loving War
ing-you had a warm-hearted, whole
souled man, who would take note of
your lovely, unselfish life, and would
give me, for your sake, dearest, one
more chance of life."
The brave wife's eyes were filled with
/ fnopg hut lnn ,,N lot [.
flow. "Who knows what may happenPn
she answered, gayly. "You little know
what such day as tomorrow
Thanksgiving Day-may bring forth.
Now stop dreaming, and wen have
game of chess, and then I'll sing. Re-
member, if you went South, 1 could not
go, too, and so it might be worse than
staying"
"Not yet--let him see one more lost
opportunity, lest he still refuse" plead
ed the voice, and he was drawn down
narrow street, and led up to the attic of
a tenement house.
"Did you ask him, Benz" a woman
was saying. "Did you tell him we can't
get on, with six mouths to feed and six
little bodies to clotheP"
"Ask himl To be sure did, and got
just the answer l expected. There are
plenty of men would be glad of your sit
uation, so, if the wages don't suit you, 1
can fill your place. "
Yes, those were his own words. James
Waring remembered that the porter
had come to him that very day and
asked for an increase of salary, but sure
ly he had not mentioned his six children
Or could it be he did notpay attention
to his pleadingP
"Well, Ben, there'll be one less
mouth to feed soon, and the poor child
eats little enough now" Then Waring
saw them 90 to crib in the corner, and
saw a child all wasted and worn tossing
wearily from side to side.
"It's enough to drive man to drink,
when you think what the firm take in
each day." muttered the poor father,
almost crazed as he looked on his dying
child.
Waring, impatient to recall his cold
refusal, made mighty effort to speak,
and awoke in the gray dawn of the No
Yember day. His dreams had been too
vivid to be shaken off at once, but he
tried his best to call them "mere fan
cies." On first waking he half resolved
to call on Ben, and see if the reality
were any thing like the dream, but by
the time he had bathed and dressed, his
old habits had conquered him, and he
remembered, with smile at his own
momentary superstition, that he did not
know Ben's address. Mrs. Downs
brought up his breakfast, and her face
recalled the dream to his mind. By way
of experiment, he said, How is Mr.
Downs to-dayP"
"Not much stronger, thank you, sir,
The Doctor recommends Southern
| trip"
Mr.. Waring felt his cheek flush, but
hiding behind his newspaper he gave an
absent-minded "Ah-better go!n which
effectually silenced Mrs. Downs. But it
did not silence his conscience. 1t
seemed as if, after the lapse of years,
that voice of God in his heart must be
heard-was it in answer to his mothers
prayersP
"You've tried your fathers grasping,
money-getting ways for years, and what
real happiness have they given youP
Why not for one day, at least, initiate
your motherP She certainly was the
happier of the two"
Perhaps a walk will make me more
like myself-I'll look after Thornton's
rent. I'll be bound the cottage sha'n't