Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-11-26

" 4 nero n tndJ nTs NhTlnRt Suiu
Mary, TO the listeners great delight.
"IIei" exclaimed mother and son, the
first in uttar astonishincnt, the second in
scorn.
woll-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 ~
she 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 yeti" 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, il could but get South, 1
believe I'd grow strong! The Doctor
said it might set me up. Bat there! !
must be o weak fool to talk of it 10 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' rooms
the work that you should never do If
l were well and strong"
"No, dear; tell me your fancies, if
they are pleasant ones"
"I dream, wife, that instead of the
people who have our rcoms-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-lovipg War
ing-you had warm hearted, whole
souled man, who would take note of
your lovely, unselfsh life, and would
give me, for your sake, dearest, one
more chance of life."
The brave wife's eyes were filed with
tears, but she would not let them over
flow. "Who knows what may happenP"
she answered, gayly. "You little know
what such q day as tomorrow
Thanksgiving Day-may bring forth.
Now stop dreaming, and We'll have a
game of chess, and then Ill sing. Re-
member, if you went South, l could not
go, too, and so it might be worse than
staying
mot yet--let him see one more lost
opportunity, lest he still refuse" plead
ed the voice, and he was drawn down q
narrow street, and led up to the attic of
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 j 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 not pay 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 go to a crib in the corner, and
saw 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 a mighty effort to speak,
and awoke in the gray dawn of the No
vember 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, Z" How is MIR.
Downs to-dayp"
"Not much stronger, thank you, sir,
The Doctor recommends a Southern
trip"
Mr.. Waring felt his cheek flush, but
hiding behind his newspaper he gave an
absent-minded "Ah-better go!" which
effectually silenced Mrs. Downs. But it
did not silence his conscience. II
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 father's grasping,
money-getting ways for years, and what
real happiness have they given youl
Why not for one day, ut least, initiate
your motherp She certainly was the
happier of the two"
Perhaps walk will make me more
like myself--I'll look after Thornton's
rent. I'll be bound the cottage sham
escape me to-day, as it did in my
Dreams" and Waring started out, bu
the wind seemed to echo, "Throw away
this chance! Throw away this chance!' .
| The cottage was in the suburbs and a
the further end of the town, and by the
time Waring had reached it he felt quite
restored to himself-"had gotten ovel
all that nervousness" He rang thu
bell, and was ushered into the little par
lor by INDEPENDENTLY the wife of tn,
tenant. There was no sickness here, a
any rate, for three little fellows clus
tered around the lady's skirts, peepin.
| VIM phyS cAi5ho OJoo Nv ehSih 'ioicoi.
"Did you wish to see my husband
sirp'
"Papa's gone OUT" said the little six
year-old fellow, before Mr.. Warins
could reply.
"Boys, you must run into the dining
room," said Mrs. Archer, as if for til,
fist time aware of the children's pres
ence.
"I did wish to see your husband
madam, but my business can be trans
acted with you, no doubt. My friend, Mr.
Thornton, has asked me to collect tn,
rent for this cottage; it seems that tn,
agent has been rather remiss in press
ing the matter"
The lady's face paled, her hand
were pressed tightly together in her lap
but her steadfast eyes met Mr.. Waring'
unflinchingly.
"Sir, you are total stranger TO me