The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-03-17

child-a little daughter. Too weak to
work, and unwilling to beg, she then resort
ed herself to street vending, and, by
hours of daily toll, managed to support her
self and bring up her daughter. Attwenty
the latter married worthless fellow, who
broke her heart, and then cast her penniless
upon the world with young son, the little
boy who was then setting the table. The
old woman took them in, and about this
time also adopted the little girl, who was an
orrhan child Of apoor neighbor.
"And were you able to support them all
by vending apples?" asked the gentleman.
I couldn't My darter was sick. and
couldn't do nothing, and we got into debt
twenty dollars. Then, as if to make bad
worse, was took down with the rheumat-
les. I was down with them for fortnight,
and when got up, couldn't get around like
I could afore; so, not KNOWN what to do,
I went with my basket onto bench nigh
the frog pond. Folks come to me amazin'
that day, and at night I had two dollars
clean profit. Then saw the Lords hand;
he know'd couldn't make a living going
round, so he gave mo the rheumatics. to
show me it was best to open stand on the
Common"
And since then you have. made both ends
meet?r
YES, sir; since then I have been pros
pered wonderful. I've paid off the debt,
and now when want to can lay in a stock
of ten dollars, and that you know brings
apples cheaper"
But have you no fear for the coming
winter?"
mo, sir. It's two months off; can make
thirty dollars afore it comes, and that with
what sewing and washing can do will take
us round to the fine weather"
And how old are you?" asked the gen.
tleman, looking at her furrowed face and
white hairs, which seemed to say century.
"Seventy next Christmas. But ye would
not think it to look at me. feel Almost as
pert as when was thirty
"And at your age in such poverty, can
you always look hopeful at the future?"
"Yes, sir. The Lord is my shepherd, + shall
not want. He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures. He leadeth ME beside the
still waters. >"
The stranger looked at her in wonder
He had heard those words before, but now
they had to him new sound and new
meaning. All at once it dawned upon him
faith; which, of itself, is 'the Kingdom of
Heaven" Drawing roll Of bank notes
from his pocket, he handed one of them to
the old lady. She took it, held it up in Gu
riosity to the candle, and then said, with a
smile that made ugly features absolutely
handsome:
Its more money than ever saw at once
afore; 'twould take us clean through the
winter. Ye lisa good gentleman, s.and
thank ye; but we can get along, and while
we can don't like to take money from no.
body"
This she said in gentle way, as if she
feared to wound his feelings. He NADIA no
reply, putting the note back in his pocket,
rose and babe her good evening"" When
he reached the door he turned, and saying,
II forgot the children" took both of them
up in his arms, and kissed them. Then he
went down the long stairs, and walked slow
ly honeward. He had CROPPED in the dark
for thirty years, and this old woman had
given him his first living revelation.
After that he kept his eye upon her. Ev-
cry morning and evening he passed her
stand on the common, and never went by
without saying cheerful words, or pausing
to ask after her sick daughter and the child
rem.
sThe children are well thank you, sir,
and Eliza is as we'll as can be expected,
was her almost invariable answer. But one
sultry day in August she said; She seems
to be sinking fast, sir. Way up where we
live we don't get none but hot air, and the
sun don't come in till into the afternoon.
Pears to me we need sunshine as much as
the plants and the flowers"
The next day the gent eman went home
earlier than usual, and as he came near the
old woman's stand he caught sight of the
invalid daughter, seated in hand wagon,
propped up by pillow, and shaded by the
big umbrella. The attention of the old
woman was engrossed bya juvenile custom
er; but the daughter noticed his approach,
and called to him as he made as if he would
go by without speaking.
Sir, sir, she said, please to stop, I
now can go out every day in fine weather!"
"And who got you down the stairs, and
upon the Common?"
''The man that lives on the lower floor
he carried me- down; and Tommy drawed
me here before school time"
And ach0 sent us the wagon" asked the
old woman, her ugly face lighting up with
smile that, this man always made it hand
some.
The Lord, I suppose. All good things
come from him; and this seems to be a
good wagon" answered the gentleman,
taking the vehicle by the wheels and shak-
ing it as if to test its quality.
The old woman looked at him for a mo-
ment, without word. Then she said.
"The Lord will say to them on his right
hand, 'Ye did it unto me, in as much as We
did it unto one of these, my poor children. y
The man turned and walked away, in his
eye tear, and in his soul another revela-
ton. He had learned the whole of relig-
ion-faith and works-at the cost Of carry.
ing an old womans basket, and buying for
her daughter cheap hand wagon.
Every pleasant day for month after this
he found the sick woman seated there in
the wagon under the old umbrella She
always had smile for him, and he always
fingered awhile to get the smile and little