Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-06-23
Charity S Reward.

Quebec, they dined sumptuously, and
lived happy luxurious life.
In the steerage Heaven have mercy {!
how they suffered
MlllCent Day shiver ed to her very soul
when she thought of it, and wondered often
why such things should be, why some were
50 rich, and some were SO poor; some so
utterly alone, unloved, and neglected. Had
she been able to act as she chose, there would
have been a grand transformation scene
that dirty steerage very soon, and tables
covered with choice dainties would have
risen through the floor and snow white
linen, aud fresh, soft couches would have
taken the place of the rags, and hard
berths, and general shabbinesS.
But one girl, though she were rich one,
had little in her power on that desolate
waste of waters. Still, that little Millicent
did. She had in her possession biscuits, and
conserves, and delicate dalnties prepared
for her own comfort during the voyage;and
thinking that at the cabin table she had all
she needed, she played the Lady Bountiful
with these small stores; choosing for her
principal proteges an Italian woman and
her gaunt children, who seemed to her 10
be the most wretche6 of them all, and TO
whom, speaking the language well, she
could make herself understood.
In vain her friends demonstrated; in vain
| the captain declared that he should forbid
such dangerous work among the emigrants.
Millicent had her own way. Once day,
at least, she penetrated into the Inferno be-
low the comparative Paradise of her own
domain, and fed those poor parched lips
with her dainties, and comforted the
mother, when her youngest lay at deaths
door, with her innocent sympathy. And
the woman grew to love her, and the wan
but classical faces of the boys Lit up when
she approached And when, with land in
slght, the little heiress emptied her purse
into the dark hand of thepenniless steerage
passenger, and made her, for the moment,
rich and full OF hope, she turned with
severe earnestness to her eldest boy.
''Never forget to pray to the Madonna
for this beautiful Slgnorina!' she cried.
'.Remember that it is all that you can dc,
and my dying curse upon YOU If you for
get tt"
And with this fierce adiuration to her
children and prayer that fell like liquid
silver from her lips for ''the Signorina, "
she parted from Millicent, who went to her
beautiful home and her friends saddened
and softened by the scenes that she had
witnessed, and remembered them a long,
long while.
She had given the woman her address,
What fate befel her, Millicent did not
know; and, in time, the memory of those
well cut classical fac es, gaunt and meagre
from starvation but with strange wild
beauty about them nevertheless. ceased to
haunt her-perhaps because one face had
taken possession of her fancy, as one
face will, sooner or later, of that of every
woman.
John Blair, young engineer and archi-
tect, had met her. and looked into her eyes,
had touched her hand, had uttered those
subtle compliments that win woman's
heart so easily and though he was neither
rich nor great, he was the one man of men
to her.
Six months from the day of their meet
ing John Blair and Millicent Day were
married, and happier pair 1t would have
been hard to find. They yielded mutually
to each others wishes, and consequently
grew to have the same desires, so that al
last no yielding was necessary.
Only in one thing did Millicent prove
herself obstinate-nothing could tempt hel
on an ocean voyage.
A visit to his native England and toul
, In Europe was Johns anticipated pleasure
, but her experience in crossing the Ocear
t had made her averse to It's repetition.
!; "Whether saw them or not, the faces
of the steerage passengers would haun
me" she said; 'Faud | cannot endure tn,
idea of setting foot upon an ocean steame
: again.
,, 50 John. who had no wish to go alone
= left the latter to the cure of time, whC
brought them few sorrows and much joy
= and now and then laid upon Millicent'
breast little token of his flight; so that a
last a boy almost as tall as herself calleC
+ Millicent mother, aud the nursery wa
l musical with little voices.
Then, braver and older, and more will
ing than ever to do anything to make Johl
p happy, Milliceut agreed to the Europea
trip: and leaving the little ones to the ten