Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-11-24

| one pale little cripple on
clutches, who had not only succeeded
In obtaining substitute, but had bor-
rowed an umbrella; which umbrella had
seen its best days, to be sure, being
minus two stays and patched with diff
ferent color, but demoralized as it was,
it did not prevent the guest it sheltered
! from beng loyIully welcomed by their
compatnots already under shelter. The
crippled boy in particular was warmly
welcomed by Mrs. Longman, whose
heart went out in sympathy to suffering
in any form. She had just been upon
the point OF proposing that the boys
should, until supper was ready, adjourn
to the attic which, like the rest of the
house, was warm and comfortable, but,
out of consideration for the lame boy.
she changed her plans and sent two of
the guests with her sons to bring down
such play things as they desired into the
parlor, in which with her usual good
sense she had nothing too fine for use.
The boys were scarcely ensconced ia the
parlor, when ring of the bell drew
them all scampering to the hall door,
where stood three boys, one of whom,
the EUening Ne,os, was spokesman.
81 hope you will excuse us, ma'am,
for not coming to the alley gate this
evening"" said he, bowling over the heads
of the boys to Mrs. Longman, who was
coming to see what this method of an
nouncement might portend, "but Buddy
here, pointing to one of his followers,
els blind, and | thought you would not
mind us coming to the front door; and /
could not find a lame boy" continued
he. apologetically, to the Longman boys,
$50 | brought the charcoal mans boy,
who Is deaf and dumb"
Mrs. Longman escorted them to the
kitchen to remove their wet wrappings
aud TO dry their shoes, and then took
them to The parlor, where the other
guests We're sitting rather silently gazing
at the pnrlor and its contents, which,
though to some persons it might have
been considered PLAIN, was to the boys
scene of unaccustomed luxury; then she
went back to the kitchen to hold council
with Bridget in regard to the all-import-
ant event of the evening supper.
"What in tho world will we get, Bird
get ?" said she. "There are eight of
them in there beside our own, which
makes ten, and there may be as many
more for all know, and it is too wet to
go out for anything"
1.-The aisiest thing in the world,
ma'am. / have been considering the
| same while you were in the parlor.
There's the chickens in the yard, that
you were fattening for Thanksgiving
nothing in the world would be suitabler
| than them"
bat that would be only one kind of
| meat Bridget. aud perhaps some of them
| do not eat chicken and, now that they
are here, l would like them all to be sat-
| lsfed
"Trust me for that, ma'am. never
saw boy yet that could not eat his
weight in chicken, only give him the
tine. / will go Immediately and tell the
fowls their presence is wanted ut party,
and the kettle is singing as though it
expected broth of time"
''And l will make n lot of biscuits,
| said Mrs. Longman, land while you
| are cooking the chickens we'll set the
| table"
San if you please, ma am, while the
flour aud other things are around, Twill
make lot of my glngercakes j; for, next
| to chicken stew with oceans Oh gravy,
there's nothing boy likes better than
hot gngercakes."
| "Oh, Bridget, you are so thoughtful
said Mrs. Longman, and somehow her
| heart began to grow lighter, and, with q
| cripple aud a mute in the next room. she
! began to realize that she had much for
which to be thankful.
! Several new additions were made to
the company in the parlor, aud by the
time the supper was smoking upon the
table the mirth was growing EAST and
! furious.
The boys were almost dazzled hy the
brilliancy Of the dining he gilt
ter of china and glass and silver ,uier
the strong gas-light. Mrs. Longman
| mad exerled herself to mako it feast
| indeed to those who so seldom ia red ex-
| cept upon the ooarsest yiands, and her
table showed no lack OF dainty pre-
served fruits, jellies and 81 the little
| bnick- knacks which she c0ull muster on
such short notice. She huew that boys
| leading the outdoor, active life OF the
majority of the guests We're not troubled
with NERVES, so coffee the richest. ard
tea the purest, graced the board, while
the perfume of the baking gingerbread
fioated through the open kitchen door,
where Bridget, in the goodness Of her
heart, was importing a choice stock OF
horses, cows and other animals for each
and all of the guests, cut from the lus-
cious gingerbread.
Mrs. Longman took quiet observation
OF the whole company while helping
them, and she observed one puzzle for
| which, in her own mind. she could find
no solution; and that was that the bllnd
boy had carefully laid his pieces Of poul-
try aside.
Here is one exception to Bridget's
rule, she said to hersef. do you not
like chicken, my boy o she inquired.
Yes, ma'am, [ love it. he replied
with emphasis. "hut-' and he hesitat-
ed; his pale face grew flushed
moment or so after he slipped from
his chair, and, with the unerring accura-
CIV with which the blind calculate dis
tances, he came to Mrs. Longman and
said, please, ma'am, may touch your
faee%
Certainly, DEAR" she replied.
Very gently and speedily the little
soft hand of the blind boy examined each
feature, and then, apparently satisfied.
he whispered, II would like to take it
to Nancy, she is SO good to me; she is
sick, and cannot get good things t. eat. "
Quick tears of sympathy flied Mrs.
Longman'5 eyes. Truly, she was receiv-
ing many lessons this evening. She was
giving, but it was being returned to her
an hundred-fo fold She kissed the boy,
and whispered in return. You are a
noble little boy to remember others; eat
all you wish; l will see that your friend
has some also"
After supper was over. the table
cleared away, and the other boys deep
in the enjoyment of games, in which he
could take but little part, Mrs. Longman
aud the blind boy had long and con.
fidential conversation. She gathered
from his earnest lips that even the poor
in purse can be rich in spirit; that the
milk of human kindness sometimes made
fertile hearts which had never known
anything but stern, unrelenting poverty.
The one he called Nancy had received
him from the bedside of his DYING
mother, and, although she had to wors
early and late to support her own help
less ones, she was to the best OF her poor
ability faithfully fulfilling her promise
The Longmans were not rich, but
Mrs. Longman sadly compared her owl
selfish life with its means of doing good
with that of the poor woman whose op
portunities were SO few, and yet whose
life was a continued sacrifice OF self fol
others. Mrs. Longman was Sabbath
school teacher, and her conscience hai
many times reproved her that she has
not gone into the hy-ways to bring