The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-03-18
She had iust been upon the point OF propos.

with her sons to bring down such playthings
as they desired into the parlOr, when ring OF
the bell drew them all scampering to the hall
door, where stood three boys, one OF whom, the
Ecening Wisconsin, was spokesman,
~ hope you will excuse u.s. ma'am, for not
coming to the alley gate this evening"" said
he, bowling over the heads OF the boys TO Mrs.
Longman, who was coming to see what TINS
method of announcement might pOrtend, but
Buddy here" pointing to one of his followers,
as blind, and thought you would not mind
US coming TO the front door; and could not
find lame boy" continued he, apologetcally,
10 the Longman boys, $50 l brought the char
coal mans boy, who is deaf and dumb"
Mrs. Longman escorted them to the kitchen
to remove their wet wrappIngs and to dry their
shoes, and then took them to the parlOr, where
the other guests were sitting rather silently
gazing at the parlor and its contents which,
though TO some persons it might have been
considered PLAIN, was to the boys scene OF
unaccustemed luxury; then she went back to-
the kitchen to hold council with Bridget IA
regard to the allimportant event of the evening
supper. ,, ,u ,.0 ,o, pr,,oo, ,o
said she There are eight of them IN there
besides our own, which makes ten, and there
may be as many more for all know, and It's
too wet to go out for anything"
The alslest thing IN the world, maam. /
have been considering the same while you
were in the parlor. There's the chickens IN
the yard, that you were tattenlng for Thanks
giving; nothing In the world would be suit
ADLER than them"
But that would be only one kind of meat,
Bridget, and perhaps some of them do not eat
chicken and now that they are here, would
like them all to be satisfied"
Trust me for that ma'am. | never saw al
boy vet that could not eat his weight in chick
en-, only give him the time. will 60 imme-
diately and tell the fowls their presence is
wanted at party, and the Kettle is singing as
though 1t expected broth OF time
And will make lots of biscuits, said Mrs.
Longman, land while you are cooking thel
chickens we'll set the table"
AN If you please, ma'am, while the hour
and other things are around, will make lott
of my gingercakes; for next to chicken stew
with oceans of gravy, there's nothing boyl
likes better than hot ginger cakes
"Oh, Bridget, you are so thoughtful" SAD
Mrs. Longman, and somehow her heart began
to grow lighter, and with cripple and mutel
in the next room, she began to realize that she
had much for which to be thankful
Several new additions were made to theI
company in the parlor, and by the time the
supper was smoking upon the table the mlrth
was growing fast and furious"
The boys were almost dazzed by the bril-
liancy of the dlnnng.room the glitter OF the
china. glass and silver under the strong gas
light. Mrs Longman had eXerted herself to-
make it a feast indeed to those who seldom
Jared except upon the coarsest viands, ana her
table showed no lack of dainty preserved
fruits jellies, and all the knick-knacks which
she could muster on such short notice. SheI
knew that the boys, leading the outdoor, active
life of the majority OF the guests, were not
troubled with NERVES" so coffee the richest,
and tea the purest, graced the board, while the
perfume OF the baking gingerbread fioated
through the open kitchen door, where Bridget,
in the goodness of her heart, was importing a.
choice stock of horses, cows, and other AMI
mails Tor each ana all vt the guests, cut from
luciOus gingerbread.
Mrs. Longman took quiet observation OF the
whole company while helping them, and she
observed one puzzle for which, in her own
mind, she could find no solution; and that was
that the blind boy had carefully laid his pieces
of poultry aside.
Here is one exception to Bridget's rule, ,"
she SAID to herself. "Do you notlike chicken,
my boy? she inquired.
Yes, ma'am, love it," he replied with en-
phasis, but" and he hesltated; his pale face
grew flushed
A moment or so after he slipped from his
chair, and with the unerring accuracy with
which the blind calculate distances, he came
to Mrs. Longman and said
Please, ma'am, may touch your face
Certainly, DEAR" she replied
Very gently and speedily the little soft hand
of the blind boy examined each feature, and
then, apparently satisfied, he whispered:
II would like to take 1t to Nancy, che is so
good to me- she Is sick, and cannot get good
things to eat"
Quick tears of sympathy filled Mrs. Long
mans eyes. Truly, she was receiving many
lessons this evening. She was giving, but it
was being returned TO her an hundred fold.
She kissed the boy, and whispered in return:
you are a noble little boy to remember
others; eat all you wish: will see that your
friend has some also"
After supper was over, the table cleared
away, and the other boys deep IN the enjoy
ment of games in which he could take but lit
tie part, Mrs. Longman and the blind boy had
a long and confidential conversation. She
gathered from his earnest lips that even the
poor in purse can be rich in spirit that the
milk of human kindness sometimes made fer
tile hearts which had never known anything
but stern, unrelentlng poverty. The one he
called Nancy had received h! 81. from the bed
side of his dyln. 4.u,Aer, and although she
had to work early and late to support her own
helpless ones, she was to the best of her poor
ability fulfilling her promise.
The Longmans were not rich, but Mrs
Longman sadly compared her own selfish life
with its means of doing good with that of the
poor woman whose opportunities were so few
and yet whose life was continued sacrifice of
self for others. Mrs. Longman was a Sabbath
school teacher, and her conscience had many
times reproved her that she had not gone into
the byways to bring children under the nflu
ence of the gospel. Here was her opportunity
and she resolved to seize it, She argued with
herself as to the proprlety of using temporal
Inducement for spiritual end, and her con-
science upon reflection approved.
In the meantime, Mr.. Longman came home
and the cheerful smile upon his Nife's lips
II Ear.t Era.;s. :s,I.at ~. moot do