Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-05-29

the stairs, and Mike, with his face in
a broad grin, exclaimed
"Sure, didn't l be after telling yes
I'd make a haul somewhere? See
now if I don't scare up fire in a
jiffy."
sob, Mike where did you get
that pail of coal! | hope you did
not
Benny paused and shut his teeth
tight. How could he ask if the Goals
were stolen when Mike, with cheeks
extended was putting and blowing to
start fire to warm his poor SILVER
ing, aching limbs? And yet he felt
as though he must protest against
their use, if Mike had not come hon
estly by them.
The boy had heard and understood
the half-uttered words.
"There, sonny, just youkeep still;
the grocer around the corner gave
them to me, when | told him who
they were for. Never yes fear that
Mike will be after stealing Goals for
the like of yes; for don't | know
you would sooner freeze to death
than warm yourself with stolen Goals;
/ hain't been up here in this room so
often for nothing. Mike will never
be jail-bird so long as he remembers
your sweet face and patient ways.
More ready to starve, sure, than eat
mouthful of stolen fruit. My, how
mean / felt, when you would not take
so much as a bite out of that big ap-
pie | hooked from off the old woman's
apple-stall."
Ben gave faint, happy smile and
replied. "You see, Mike, it's dread
full hard to lie here and suffer all day
long and when l think of the beau
tiful home above, ready for all who
try to do right, l would not, for the
world, do anything that might shut
me out of it. guess it won't be
very long now before the Shepherd
comes for me-
Mike shook his head, but could not
say a word. Ben, no doubt, was
| right, for he plainly saw that every
day the poor child grew weaker and
weaker; his eyes had become more
sunken, and his face so pale and
pinched, it made one sad to look at
him, and yet he was SO patient, at
times even cheerful. Mike could not
quite understand it, for downstairs
there was such groaning, cursing and
swearing, if any one was the least
bit sick.
Mike had been one among them,
and at first felt great reluctance and
sort of awe upon entering the quiet
sick-room above, but Mrs. Green's
earnest appeal, ''Mike, I wish you
would now and then look in upon my
poor boy, while I'm off working ?
could not be resisted, and he haC
since learned to consider it pleasure
to do anything he could for the poo
; little chap, "almost an angel" as h,
said.
3 1t had not always been thus will
,, Ben and his mother. Once they hat
been in comfortable circumstances
+ when the husband and father ha,
been led astray by drink. The habi
once formed, it seemed as though h
" was possessed of an evil spirit. Low
;, ing words had no power to save, an
E he rapidly sank into an untimel
IL grave, leaving debts and tarnishe
name.
n Ben had tried hard during the VIII
. ter to help his mother by earning
little at shoveling snow. He too
cold, however, had inflammation
of rheumatism, and now seemed like
lie to leave her quite alone. His lif
- though, had not been without it's 81
III cred influences. Some of the hal
IS drinkers downstairs could not east
. forget the earnest pleading words
IS. had sent down to them: and Mil
! never forgot what the poor child hs
1t said to him about swearing, drinking
al and stealing; it kept him from MAJ
sinful temptation that might ha'
or led him far astray.
ns And thus Benny, without pied.
or badge, had unconsciously be.
We acting the part of a brave, fearle
alt little temperance cadet, while Mi
nd had proved faithful to his trust.
is. The greatest wealth is contentme
with little.
dy
AN INTERESTING FAcT.-ln France. all patent m
nd cines must be endorsed by an official board of oh
clans before they be Sold In lieu Of such a
he in America the people have resolved themselves
National committee which has endorsed Swayr
Ointment for allaying the itching accompanying
tic t,aia tba
u poor rule that won't work both ways.