Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-09-13
THE REWARD FOR A GOOD DEED.

of the cornfeld by the wayside the gras
that bent over the footpath was heav
with evening moisture; yet these tw
wanderers clung together. homeless AM
alone, in the falling shadows of th
night.
"Cheer up. my child, We have no
very far to 60. Come closer; let m
brush the dew from your curls. Nov
take my hand"
But the child hung back, sobbing wit!
WEAKNESS and exhaustion, and the pale
young mother. bending over her in tn
vain attempt to soothe the hysterical ex
citement, did not hear the rumble Of ad
vancing wheels until they passed close t'
her, and a rough hearty voice exclaimed
"What ails the little girl: Is sh'
sick :"
Mary Ellsworth had never seen Farm.
er Raynesford before, yet the moment he
eyes rested upon his wrinkled. sunburn
face, with shaggy brows oyershadowins
his kind eyes, she felt that he was 1
friend. and made answer promptly
Not sick, sir, but very tired. We've
walked long way"
| "Got much further 10 20 = asked the
farmer, tickling his horses ear with tn,
end OF the whip.
ITO Brockton."
THAT is four miles off, and the little
girl is pretty nigh used up aready.'
IL know it, said The woman, with Q
sigh. But I've no money to hire lodg
ing nearer. In Brockton | hope to Oh
tain work in the factory"
~ won't hear to no such thing" said
the old man, energetically. "Why, that
child can't 90 twenty rods further
Here, get in long with me. You won't
be none the worse for bit of supper and
a good nights rest. know Hannah'l
scold," he mut,ered. as he lifted the little
girl to his side and extended his hand tc
the mother "but | can't see folks per
ishing by the wayside, and never offer to
help EN-. | don't care if she seolds the
roof Of the house Off
1t was an oddly-shaped old farmhouse,
gray with the storms of nearly half a
century, with broad dcorstone, over
hung by giant lilac bushes, and kitchen
where, even in the bloomy month of June,
a great fire roared up the wide-throated
chimney, and shining rows of tins wink
ed and glit,ered a, every leap cf the
flames. Such neat kitchen it was
Mrs. Ellsworth's heart involuntarily
warmed at the genial sight.
Mr. Raynesford jumped out of the
wagon, threw the lines oyer post. and
went in TO conciliate his domestic des-
pot.
Look here, Hannah" said he TO the
tall. angular looking female, who emerg-
ed from the pantry near BY, at the sound
Of his voice, her face nearly or quite a
sour as the saucer Of pickles she was car
rying. "jest set couple Of more plates
on the table. will you; have brought
home woman and little gal that
found on the road piece below tired cen
Almost to death. They were calculatin
TO walk TO Brockton, but thought II
wouldn't hurt US TO keep EN- over night.
"Tm astonishcd at you, job Raynes-
ford" said his better half, in tone Of
indignant remons,rance. "We might
just as well as hang ou, tavern sign al
once. and done with it, YOU are alway:
bringin' home some poor, miserable crea-
ture or other. and"
There, there, Hannah, interrupted
Mr.. Rayncsford, I'm always wilin' tC
hear you when you're anyways reasona
bic, but i. goes clear ag'in my grain tc
see poor folks a.sufierin and never stretcl
out helpin' hand. 'Tain't Scriptur'
nor faint human natur.
"well. go on your own gait, JOB Ray
nesford,' responded his wife, tartly
''only mark my words, if you don't enC
your days in the poorhouse 'twont be
through no fault o'yourn.' She shut the
pantry door with bang that made al
the jelly-cups and milk pans rattle, while
Job. with an odd grimace, went out to
help his guests to alight.
Don't mind my old woman" sait
he, apologe,ically. as Mrs. Ellsworth
sprang to the ground ; "she's kint
o'sharp spoken, but she means well, afte
all. We amt all jest the same notions
you know"
eff all the world were like you, sir
said the young widow, with tears in he
eyes, "there would be less want and suf
fering, by far "
Farmer Raynesford pretended not L
hear-he was busy helping little Mar!
out.
''Set on them blackberries, Hannah,
said he, toward the close Of the evenin:
meal the little gals so tired she can't ca
nothin' solid"
81 was calculatin' to keep the black
berries for the donation party tomorrow,
said Mrs. Raynesford, rising with rathe
an unwilling air.
Nonsense" quoth the farmer, with 1
broad laugh. I'm having donation
party of my own tonight! Here, littl'
one, see if these berries don't put som'
color into your cheeks"
All the evening little Mary sat by tn
hearth with her hands in her mothers
and her large. blue eyes fixed earnestl.
on the farmers face.
"What are you thinking about, dear
asked Mrs. Ellsworth, once.
She drew long sigh and whispered
"Oh, mamma, he is so kind to us"
The tons of the far-off eastern wood