Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-12-06

AoO AADAStOk,D . 0WI Vk110e
A portly, comfortable sort Of 3 man IL
. chOc0late-b brown overc0at opened th,
gate Of fPars0n Rowe's cottage one sharp
cold morning when heavy snow laJ
upon the ground.
1t was Squire Glover, one Of the "pil
lars Of the church, !" and he was cominl
to consult bis pastor concerning SOM
church matter. Just as he was abou
rapping at the door 1t opened, and VIII
lie Rowe came out.
Just walk right in, squire, and sii
down, !" says Willie. 'sPa'll bein direct.
i ~"
! Away he ran, and the squire stepped
In, and sat down In the little paflor,
i waiting the appearance Of his pastor.
i Presently he heard steps aud voioaa ii
the adjoining reom. and then . child'a
voice said:
"Pa, just look at my shoe. It's all
II think 1t is, Laura" answered the
parsons tones. "Let me eee-perhaps
I-no, 1t is too worn to be mended again" !"
"Well, pa, please. I'd like to have Z
tnew pair. Won't You get 'em for me p
AS soon IA pa can, he surely will,
daughter" said the father in sad tones,
| Be good and wait = little, Laura"
II have waited ever SO long, said
Laura, ''and Wiliie's shoes are worse
than mine, and he hasn't got any nit
items, either"
Laura" interrupted voice which
the squire knew was Mrs Rowe's, run
and feed your chickens, and don't worry
papa nown
Tho child ran ont aud Shn .,>-,<,,,
never dreaming who was in the next
room, hearing every word through the
crack of the door, said:
Fbey can't worry me more thst am
worried, Mary. don't say much, but
feel all our needs, not for myself, but
for you and the children. 1t made my
heart ache. . little while ago, to hear
Willie ask II we could never have meat
for breakfast any more. and know that
there wasn't q pound Of meat in the
house."
"Nor any sugar. either, and hardly
any -four, and not q dime in the purse,
John, bul for all that we won't starve."
said the little woman's CHEEKY voice.
Have you Lost your faith, John 2"
mo, Mary, hope not" came the an
swer. But 1t does seem hard, when my
salary is 80 email it can't be paid 80 we
could have . few comforts at least
Sometimes think must give up here,
and try somewh here else. !"
.Oh, no, no, John /" pleaded the wife.
| mot yet, nyway. We've got such q
pleasant home here, aud our people are
so kind, don't give up yet Let's try
on little longer, and may be help will
ceme
We'll. 1 don't know from whence,
Mary I'm sorry TO say go, but I've lost
heart lately, till I'm really not fit to
preach If the Lord don't help ue, and
that sOOD. don't kbow who will !'-
! Then there was sound of u m8p's ris-
ing aud Squire Glover, feeling as if he
didn't want TO see his pastor Just now,
up and slipped out before Parson Rowe
came In
Aud when the good squire got safely
out of the gate his face was red, and he
was pulling for breath.
"Well! we'll! God bless my soul !"
he painted, as he trotted on. Here's
pretty state Of things! No meat, no
money. no shoes-why, God bless my
soul! This must be looked after. Shall
be. too! I'll see the deacons, aud If they
won't, will, out of my own pocket, too,
God bless my soul! That brave little
| woman shall have some helpto keep up
her husbands heart, or I'll know the
reasOn!"
Racing along, flushed and excited, he
met Deacon Jones. He had the deacon
by The buttonhole In minute, and af-
ter short consultation they both went
off to Deacon Robinson's.
And that afternoon there was much
stir In Glenville, little groups constant
ly meeting and consulting In every
| of Vnhi1n hn
day seemed to close in dark and cheer
less In the parsons little cottage
A fresh snow fell that night and serv-
ed to make:.noiseless the sleds which
drove softly up to the minister's cottage
with the very first faint streak of dawn.
The inmates of the little dwelling were
all sleeping sOuudIy. but one awake and
listening might have heard muff1ed foot
steps, whispers and cautious showing
and pushing of heavy articles. These,
however, soon ceased, and all was quiet
until the day broke clearly and the viii
layers arose.
The weary parson and his t1ue-heart-
ed little wife md lain awake late the
night before, for heavy hearts make
sleepless eyes, and they slept a little
later than usual this morning.
But at last they were all up and dress
ed The simple breakfast, consisting of
coffee, warm biscuits and butter, was
nearly ready when Willie and Laura
took . notion to run to the front door
and see how deep the snow was on the
front porch.
Through the little parlor they trotted,
Willie first, and Laura following, to the
BILE. they pulled open.
And the next minute the cottage rung
with their hasfy shouts
"Pa! pa! mamma! mamma! do come
here! Come quicki Run here to the
porch, quick, both Of you'll"
Greatly surprised, and slightly fright
ened, not knowing what had happened
to the children, the good parson and bis
wife rushed to the front door, up setting
the cat aud the coffee-pot In their haste
to reach 1t.
What sight met their eyes! No
wonder the children shouted! The
SHOW had been carefully swept from the
front porch. whicn Wa set out with .
tempting array Of various articles -
Right before the door stood a-barrel of
-four, on top of the barrel were laid two
juicy hams. aud asti ide the hams sat .
great, fat turkey, all dressed ready for
cooking, at which Willie and Laura set
up great shout.
An open barrel beyond was running
over with plump red apples, and q sec-
ond barrel full Of big, comfortable look
ing potatoes and row of crisp cabbage
heads kept guard all around the barrel.
Then there was q box, packed with
papers of sugar, coffee. tea and rice, q
sack OF dried peaches and several cans
of fruit. And another box. when open
ed, displayed two new pairs of shoes,
just the right size for Willie and Laura
sundry rolls Of flannel, muslin and
calico, warm stockings and mittens, and
several small articles, not forgetting q
well filled basket of nuts and candies,
which proved that somebody knew
what children love. and which set Laura
and Willie to dancing, like little Indi-
ans.
In the bottom Of the box was q thick,
warm gray shawl, with Mrs Rowe's
name pinned In 1t. And when the shawl
was unfolded, there dropped out an en-
velope directed to Parson Rowe, inside
of which they found the amount of the
delinquent salary In good, new green
backs, and q card uDOn which was writ.