Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-01
A TRAGEDIAN STORY. ]

Il
Supper was over, and, seated before
all open wood fire, our small family babe
defiance to the chill frost of late autumn,
when my wife, lifting her head from the
sewing in her lap, said, in low tone /:
"Surely, heard rap"
Cor rat" suggested Charlie, fresh
from college, and skeptical on any sub
ject that might be preached. Really,
mother, if your hearing is SO acute,
please count the steps Of that half-frozen
fly on the ceiling"
"Nonsense, Charlie, replied his moth
er, with smile. "But 1 am sure I
heard some one rap. There it is again !
You must have heard that. Nettie, dear,
run to the door,"
The knock this time, though modest
and apologize in tone, was not to be
disputed. Nettie reached out her hand
to take the candle, but was anticipated
by her incorrigible brother, who rudely
blew out the taper, exclaiming:
CHOW, then, mother, for test of
your ingenuity who is this caller, and
what is his or her errand? Listen Can
you analyze that knock? ?"
Nonsense exclaimed his mother
again. "Some tramp, I suppose, who
has seen the light from our winaow,
and"
But she was interrupted by Charles
burst of merriment
GA trampl And at this season of the
year: No, no, mother try again. A
tramp's knock would reverberate through
the house like thunder.
"Come, Charles interposed I, "this
is idle. You may be keeping neighbor
waiting, or q child"
ga little child " cried Nettie, "and
on O night like this ! No, brother, you
shall not detain me another moment"
And, after slight scuf1e, Nettie
emerged in triumph, bearing the dis
puted candle.
AS she paused ON the threshold to re-
light the candle, I may as well make
public my secret conviction that being
nearer akin to the angels than our Net
tie did not exist. She opens the outer
door, her friendly face beaming well
come to whoever might be standing in
the darkness, while her gentle voice in
quires "Who is there?"
We all listened intently for the reply,
that, quite in keeping with the
rap, was delivered in low, strained
voice.
81 am hungry, cold and sick. I saw
the light from your window, and"
"You are welcome. SIR" interrupted
Nettie, gravely. "And," she added,
glancing an arch look at her mother
andexpected.
The stranger, as he entered, directed
an inquiring glance toward Nettie, as if
not comprehending the import of her
last words, nor the smile that passed
from lip to lip of the family circle.
Hungry, cold and sick There are
many such in the world, but few who
bear such genuine marks of distress.
His clothing, worn and torn by long SER
vice, hung in limp folds about his
shrinking, shivering form; while his
face, pale and contracted by physical
Cor was it mental p suffering, might have
been taken for that of corpse, were it
not for the dark, brilliant eyes that
burned deep in their sockets. y
Nettie had conducted him into the
kitchen adjoining, and by clever STRAIT
agem beguiled her brother out of his
easy-chalr, which, before he could in
tercept her, she had dragged into the
next room and placed at the disposal of
her visitor.
"You are too good" murmured the
young man thankfully, as he sank wear
lily into the inviting chair.
ga model trampl" sneered Charlie,
the loss of whose easy-chair might have
tempted him into whispering in loud
key.
The stranger probably overheard him,
as he shielded his face with his white,
bloodless hands, and spoke no more.
Nettie fitted busily from room to
room, from pantry to cellar, on hospit-
able thought intent, apparently uncon-
scious of her mothers slight coughs and
other efforts to attract her attention
when the stock of preserves was invad.
ed, although close observer would have
noticed by the tell-tale dimples in he1
cheek and the sparkle in her eye that
she was quite cognizant of her mothers
uneasiness. sEs ...f
o these children how they do wheedle
and cajole their parents
It was characteristic of Nettie that
when she gave she gave with both hands
full. She gave the cake and withheld
the crust. And so it was that when the
young man, letting his hands fall from
before his face, beheld the glittering
tea-table, with its goodly array of SUBJ
stantials and delicacies, he stared at his
fair benefactress in such mute, help
less way that it was half-amusing, half
saddening. ~, ...s
'And you have prepared this for me
For me And you do not know who or
what I am"
"Our guest, . responded Nettie, gen.
"Not but that the light "-glancing
disdainfully at his shabby coat" re-
veaIs my wretchedness too plainly"
"Pardon me- said Nettie, bravely !;
"but it is the poor we are commanded
to assist nor do I know of any duty
that yields half the pleasure.
"The warmth of the room betrayed
me into nap" continued the stranger,
sand I dreamed-alas it was but a
dream-that should go forth from this
house free from the burden of remorse
that has weighed me down these many
years. But, no; such miracle could
n