The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-03-18
UP TWO FLIGHTS OF STAIRS.

UP TWO FLIGHTS OF STAIRS.
With both elbows on the table, anG
running both hands nervously up auc
down through his hair, there sat MIR
John Claverhouse.
Suddenly there was a gentle tap a
his oiiice-door; but Mr.. John Claver
house did not hear it. How could he
He was buried in himself, trying t.
solve problem, while he twitchec
his hair. as if to straighten out tn.
thoughts that thronged his brain.
Hes in there. l know he is" said /.
little. funny-looking old woman. "Ant
I'm going to make him answer THU
knock" With this, she applied hel
knuckles vigorously to the door, ant
in an instant came the response:
"Oh! oh! Whoever you are, d.
come in: and don't stand there, batter
ing my door DOWN.
Aunt Prilly (for it was no other thar
the woman known all over town al
Aunt Prilly) walked in. Mr.. Claver
house asked her to be seated, and even
pushed a chair toward her; but Aunt
Prilly, who had the keenest pair of lit.
tie brown eyes in her head that ever a
woman had. perceived at once that
Mr.. John Claverhouse was not in his
best mood. which was very unfortunate,
she thought, for she had come on 9
begging errand: land begging err
rand she said to herself, - stands nc
chance at all when a man isn't in his
best mood Down she dropped into
the offered chair-a little, weird old
woman; SO very small that people
sometimes said there couldn't be a
smaller woman. But she had heart
large enough for two such women, and
in all kinds of weather she was out on
some errand for the poor.
This is what l call an easy-chair
Mr.. john" she said, as she leaned
back, with smile. But she searched
his face in vain for responsive look
"A beautiful day, Mr.. john" she
added. 1.-The sun has been shining the
whole blessed time. Hasn't gone under
Il cloud for a minute"
''Sun! Sun been shining?' answered
MIR. John Claverhouse. making an eff
fort to be pleasant, while he could not
conceal that he was very much out OF
humor. "Who knew that the sun hat
been shining? A poor fellow like me
can't see the sun in such days as these
Banks breaking! Stock companies
going up so high you can't see 'em! Al
kinds of investments coming to moth
ing! tell you what it is. Aunt Prilly
if things 60 on much longer as they
have lately, the door of the almshous,
will open some day, and MIR. John Cla
verhouse will walk in
THANK YOU, Mr.. John, for letting
me know that my time for getting holl
OF some of that money of yours il
short" replied Aunt Prilly, shaking he
funny little head and twinkling he
funny little brown eyes. "rm glad
happened in this afternoon, to catch i
while its flying. want all can get o
it for my poor people in Water street
How much would you like to give me
Mr.. John?'
My good woman!' exclaimed Mr.
John. in short, twitching voice, ''don'
ask me for anything now. Neve
did see such times. The bottom is fall
ing out of everything. You dom t know
how much money I've lost lately. Why
if there isn't turn in my affairs prett,
soon, I'm ruined man. I'm sorry
Aunt Prilly; but 1 haven't a cent TO
you to-day. Not cent"
'Ah! now, Mr.. john" said Aun
Prilly. lowering her voice to a very ten
der tone. Il want you to lay up treas
ure in Heaven; and you can't do it i
you turn your back on the Lords poor
They are his poor. Mr.. John-Hi
poor; and l want you to help then
along in this world, SO that when tn,
Lord of the poor comes in the clouds o
Heaven He will say to you: MY be
loved John, inasmuch as you did it unit,
one of the least of these my brethren
you did it unto me- And it will be
happy day for you, Mr.. John, when tn
Lord blesses you for blessing his poor
You used to be a generous little fellow,
continued Aunt Prilly. Il remembe
exactly how you looked, running rount
the streets, giving away everything yo,
had to any poor body that needed it
But when you grew up you made money
All! Mr.. John, you made money; an
money don't always open the hear
wide, the Lord knows"
Mr.. John Claverhouse was a money
grinder, and the world said truly whel
itsaid that he was "a hard-fisted man.
But the tender voice of tender woman
was always little disturbing to him
and Aunt Prilly's voice was special,
tender that bright, sunny spring after
noon.
"What bother these women are
sometimes, he thought to himself
"They do so stir up a man."
But, determined to shake off Aun
Prilly for that time. if never again, h
came down severely upon what h
called her ''pets."
"You make too much of these people
Aunt Prilly," he said. "You pet an
coddle them, and teach them to live o.
charity, when they ought to do more t.
help themselves. You know, as well a
l do, that they are q miserable crew
Water street is the worst street il
town. You can't find any worthy DOC
there; but you spend on them ali tn,
money you can get"
If you won't give me any money
answered Aunt Prilly, quietly, Evil
You do something else for me, Mr.
John?''
Eyes, yes; anything to please YOU
Anything but money. What is itp''
will you go out tonight in tn
moonlight (you have no wife and chill
dren to keep you at hcmc), and e
through Water street, and up tw
flights OF stairs, where the poorest o
the poor live, and--'
"Yes, yes. WILL" interrupted Mi
John. ~ like to air my brain ut night
after working it all day over my mono,
troubles. And Ill take run up th
two flights of stairs. And I'll do some
thing moro for you. Aunt Prilly." addo,
John Claverhouse, now actually smilnl