Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-02-17
future days with good deeds, caught


was about to leave the room. "Stop, |
will go myself and see the little girl"
He passed out of the room, and went
into the warm kitchen. A little girl
stood warming her red hands before
the fire.
Good evening" said Kenneth. "You
have come for your pay for the sew
ing?'
ayes, sir" said the child, timidly.
"We need it, or / would not have come
out this bitterly cold night. My sister
Annie is not able to work now, and we
have no coal, and not much TO eat"
"Wait moment" said he, as he
went out of the kitchen.
Soon he returned in oyercoat, hat
and gloves.
81 am going home with you," he said
to the little girls questioning look. lie
took the child's hand and they passed
out into the street.
The child ran along by his side
scarcely able to keep up with his rapid
stridCs,and at last he noticed her effort,
and lifted her in his arms. 1t was a
good mile to the little chccress home,
but they We're soon there, and climbed
the stairs and soon stood before the
pale, shivering young lady, who sat by
the window wrapped in tnttered
blanket.
81 have heard of such sights as this
said Kenneth; "but | never could
think them real. Why, you are freez-
ing to death here. and there's no time
for words. | will he back in mo-
ment."
lie ran down the stairs, and the little
girl, Mary, had hardly had time to en-
plain who he was before he was back
again. In his own hands he brought
a dozen punches OF kindIing wood, and
all of these he placed in the little stove
and set them a!ire. He moved the
young lady away from the window TO
the stove, and was so filled with sur
prise that any should he so wretchedly
poor that he did not even notice the
grateful smile that lowered about the
quiycring lips, and did not even hear
the low "thank YOU which she ut
tered.
\ man shortly after tumblcd in u
barrel of coal, and very soon the room
was warm and the frost began to melt
| from the windows
Kenneth Winnard went again into
the street, and when he returned he had
with him Il basket of eatables.
"There," he said, taking Il long
breath, "yOu will he AT least partially
comfortable for the night, and | will
come in again tomorrow.
lie was hurrying from the room
when little Mary caught his hand and
kissed it.
"Dear sir" she said, eve will bless
you forever and ever"
With these heartfelt words sounding
like sweet music in ms ears, he went
back to his sunptuOus home. They
were still chatting pleasantly in the
parlor, but he did not join them.
The next day he went again to little
Mary's home, and was greatly pleased
to see the young lady look much brighter
than on the night before. With great
earnestness she thanked him for his
kindness, and related to him little of
her life history, which was the old sto-
ry of wretchedncss and poverty taking
the place of anlucncc. She had sup
ported herself and her little sister for
more than Il year by her needle, but her
health failed her, and then she saw no
way left for her to live.
Kenneth Winnard was much touch
ed by her simply-told history, and ev-
cry day found him for a half-hour ol
more in the little room, which now be-
gan to look cheerful and cosy. lie
found many more who were in need of
help, and he visited them, and many
hearts blessed him, and many lips her
| aided his good deeds,
Claudia soon tired of her new lovers
soft words, and the calm. handsome
face of Kenneth haunted her, sleeping
and waking. She heard of his noble
deeds, aud her new lover seemed insip-
id by the side of him, and so she Drift.
: ed away from him and treated him
, with GOODNESS and often with con.
, tempt.
{ The winter passed away, and the
glad, new spring came to send fresl
= hopes and vigor into the hearts of the
: poor. Poor Annie Day and her little
f sister Mary were now living in com
e parative comfort. Annie had regain
e ed her health, and was again working
r with her needle for their support; bu
+ she had found one friend, and lif,
r seemed brighter and fairer to her, anC
e she worked with new gladness in he
= heart
: Kenneth Winnard loved her. Hi
!. acquaintance with her sweet disposi
e ton and cheerful spirit had won hi
d admiration and affection and he smil
d ed as he thought of the love lie ha,
d once felt for Claudia Drummond, an,
It compared it to the tender, quiet airec
ton which he gave TO gentle An nj
n Day. He did not declare his love, fo
d he had promised himself Wien he at
IS tached the diamond ring to his watcl
d chain, that never would he place i I W
on finger again until he had prove
70 the faithfulness of her whom he LOVED
e if ever he should love again. l. wa
If rich and Annie Day was poor. Woul
L she not be glad to marry him, eve
|. without affection? He tried to inven
some plan by whichIhe could learn
III she truly loved h m, and while h
$. thought and pondered in vain, Prov
id dence was about to execute pla
which would be a sure test.
le Kenneth continued to visit the poo
ut and administer to their comfort, and, {
last, he was stricken down, and tn
m doctor pronounced his disease I'll
re smallpox. They all fled from hin
Dt His proud sister-in-law, his niece, an
II. Claudia Drummond, and a servant onl
lg was left to care for him who had bee
ii so kind to others; but one day the rool
as seemed to grow bright with the pre-
I'd ence of sweet Annie Day.
er She remained at his side all throug
of his sickness; she bathed his brow, ar
on sung low, sweet songs to him. she d
ch everything human hands or huma
boo,,t oould. ond uhan tha sinlfnn