The National tribune., 1882-12-21

| An iron-fisted miser,
Who would seldom afford himself a fat,
| Delectable Christmas goose like that,
| Or indulge in anything half so good
Confronting the widow, there ne stood,
| Glowering under his visor;
And it certainly seemed that his presence would
| To say the least-surprise her.
| For he said to himself 81 Her means are spent,
An she hasn't penny to pay her rent,
! While this is the way she gorges
Her ravenous tribe on the fat of the land!
| FL let her know that understand
| Whose money pays for the orgfes!"
But seeing the old man standing there,
| The widow, seemingly unaware
| c. his brow S severe contraction,
| Percei = lg only his thin white hair,
And his almost venerable air.
| Wiped her fingers, aud placed chair,
With charmingiy natural action;
| Welcoming him with never trace
! OF gui le in her smiling and grateful face;
| Accounting this visit the crowning grace
| OF his noble benefaction.
"Oh, sir" she began, " I am glad you are here''-
! With suivering lip and starting tear
To see what happiness" (ths gall
Since so he ered
Il never good!" But she replied,
| With gentle sweet insistence:
| 1T seems but trifie to you, no doubt
| Such kindness yours Here he burs. out,
Il tell ye, woman ye're talking about
thing that has no existence"
| "Ah, you may say that since you have shown
| A goodness which you too good to own!
| Bat could never with what know,
| Permit another to wrong you So"
Then up spoke one of the younger crew:
! - You may bet your dollars on that it's true;
! For only yesterday, tell you,
Hasn't she in high dudgeon,
| Just hearing you called by Deacon Shaw
The keenest old skinfiint ever he saw!
He said he would sooner have hoped to draw
sap from n hatchet or blood from straw
Than money that wasn't allowed by law
From such an old curmudgeon.
"well, what have said?' "Hush, Jamie, hush.'
Cries the mother, in CONSERVATION;
While Elkanah starts, with an angry flush
And a vigorous exclamation.
- Did he say that Say that of me?
He's tighter himself than the bark of a tree"
He has more heart than he lets folks see:
A little like you in that" saye she.
" Ho! no! wa'al, wa'al that's queer idee!
That's q curtis ca calation!"
g But he, when at last he understood
W hat friend you had been, how exceedingly good,
10 my poor orphans she went on
And me-for the sake of him that is gone
He was humbled; he took it quite to heart;
Declared you had acted a noble part.
And expressed sincere repentance
For having misudged you so till now.
But your exampie"- Example! 1 vow,
Mis- Brown, snarls Eikanah; but somehow
he couldn't complete the sentence.
Your Christian exampleI" the widow cries,
" Who wants proof of it, there it lies
with glance of pride Mt the great squash pies,
And the goose superbly basted.
The deacon was here at half-past one;
And at half past two the proof had begun:
The goose was brought by the deacon's son,
And then 1t seemed as if every one
Must do as the deacon and you had done.'
"Yes, sir" says Jamie; and wasn't it fun!
1t was ring, ring, ring it was run, run, runl
Squashes THAT weighed pretty nigh ton!
Such apples you never tasted!'
- 1t came to us in our sorest need"
The widow resumed; and all are agreed
Twas harvest of which you sowed the seed
You your charity was, indeed,
An example that wasn't wasted"
MY charity!n Elkanah groaned. swell, well.'
Twas more of a blessing than can tell -
she cholled little and wiped a tear
" For we have been dreadfully poor this year.
'lis hard, hard struggle to provide
For my five little ones since he died.
Faithfully, every day meant
To save little to pay my rent;
stlnted and planned, but still found,
As often as Saturday night came round,
had spared, when they were patched and fed
Hardly enough for Sundays bread
Such constant WEAKNESS, want, and care
Seemed often more than life could bear.
Then came, oh, slr, your gracious gilt,
Which all of a sudden seemed to lift
The burden which weighed me to the ground;
And all these other good friends came round
And 80, in our joy and thankfulness,
1t seemed to me could do no less
Than make feast, =" she said with smile
Be patient! be quiet" For all the while
The hungry children clamored
And climbed the chairs and peeped at the pies
And ogled the goose with wistful eyes
IT'S favor" said she, II should greatly prize
If you would sit by and not despise
The bounty which Heaven through you supplies -
Hem waali ye take me by surprise
Don't know, the old man stammered,
She smil;nSly reached for his coat and hat,
And the goose was fragrant, the goose was fat.
Il think you will stay.' IVA al as to that,
Idon't dine out very often;
called to explan-but never mind,
Fact is, Mis- Brown, hdren't dined;
And If you insst-senee you air so kind"
He rather surprised himself to find
His heart beginning to soften.
:. Don't care fl du." And down he sat.
The goose l0nS fragrant, the goose tUdS fat.
The old man did the carving;
The sauce was dished, the gravy poured
And the plates ali round that little board
Were filled in manner that didn't afford
The slightest hint of starving.
Not in all that dreary year
Had her cottage known such cheer.
With hope, and her happy children near,
The widow smiled contented.
Even old ElEanah ceased to be
Greatly scandalized to
Cheerful faces and childish glee
In the home of the late lamented.
Natures ways are wise and kind:
Clouds pass, dawn breaks. and ever behind
Each dark sea hollow swells a wave;
And fresh grass grows on the new-made grave;
And softly over the broken heart.
And its sOrrowful recollections
The leaves of another hope will start
And tender new affections.
The widow talked and told her plans:
" hat dutiful child was Nanoei
The parsOn had got her boys chance
To blow the organ the coming year:
= SO there will be twenty dollars clear
The girls'will help me more and more
I'll sew; and often, rs heretofore,
Earn Tread for the morrow while they sleep;
And so have hopes that yet may keep
NV little flock together
With Heaven so kind and friends 50 good
send them to school and provide them food
And shelter them from the weather
But oh, what a charge for them and me!
low different now it all would be,
f my dear husband" Mrs. brown
iere. for some reason, q1ite broke down:
And even old EilanalI's sight grew weak
fou might have observed In his withered cheek
Some unnccustom"d twitches
md IN his voice. when he tried to speak,
Some very unusual bitches;
'or, seeing how long she yet must strain
Ter utmost energies just to gain
bread for her babes-perhaps in vain
lie had some twinges of shame and pain,
md curious feeling can't explain
At the thought of his boarded riches
Hem! wa'al, Mis- Brown! it's a pooty tough
case! !" ,
lie made motion as if to place :
lis hand in his pocket but drew il back
Though must say you'v got knacki 4
ou're gittin' along, an I'm dreffie glad. {
% more, no, thank'ee, maam | hant had
ch dinner as this, don know whenl" :
own went the uncertain hand again. .
Your childre are well an growin'
ew years, your boys IL be rich men
Mabby they will, no KNOWN" C
e merely pushed back his empty plate Y
hen tugged at his watch. ''Iiai is it so Iatep !
no i'dee on'tl train won't wait; :