The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-11-17

.Imay be COMO two or three DAYS. Have
the east chamber thoroughly aired and dus ed
before get back, tell Hiram to take peck of
peas down TO Mrs. Alder, don't forget to see
il those canned strawberries have worked or
not, and be sure the front door is kept bolted
and put that last brood of chickens in the
other coop, and keep newspaper over the
geranium slips in the afternoon"
''Yes, ma'am."
Sand, Hannah, be very careful to keep out
the flies, and tell Hiram to fix the well curb.
He is so apt to forget things
Dot was bathed in tears as she mounted to
her place in the rockawaY.
isn't l comm backln she said.
81 hope so, dear" replied Miss Roxbury
who appeared preoceupied and anxious aud
scarcely heard Dots chatter on the way to the
station.
''Why, Miss Roxbury,p said Mr.. Alders as
he assisted her to the PLATFORM ''you are a
vertically fairy grandmother. This rosy, dainty
maiden cannot be the same bit OF humanity
/ that | held In nv arm fortnight ago. You
viii miss her, will you nott''
II shall go with her to New York, anyway y
said Miss ROxbury, land / don't mean to come
will forgive me for the empty house Ive had
all these years.
''An empty house means a lonely heart. -
/ he replied 'Im glad you're going with the
child
That afternoon Miss Roxbury and Dot. at
I
through a dark alley in one of the most
sgualid districts of New York CITY, and
climbed fight after flight of rickety stairs in a
rear tenement,
The hea', the filth, the scenes of misery
were indescribable. Miss Roxbury felt as If
she were on the confines of the bottomless
pit.
Dot darted down a long passage aud disap-
/ peared in a room beyond. The friends fol
lowed and beheld her clasped tightly in the
arms of wan figure that lay on pallet. The
woman had tainted.
mamma, mamma, look at metz pleaded
/ Dot, and began to cry.
There was no water in the room, and Mr..
/ Knox took a cracked pitcher from the shelf
and went with Dot in search OF some. Miss
! Roxbury knet beside the woman, who was
/ only about thirty years OF age and had been
very attractive young girl. There was a
/ CLEAN OF gold on her left hand. Her hair was
sunny like Dots AID her features delicatey
| shaped. The letter that Miss ROXbury had
written lay crumpled and tear-staiued on the
/ pillow.
While Miss Roxbury gazed the woman
opened her eyes. They We're beautiful eyes,
/ but sad with want and a struggle against de
spair. She tried to sit UP and mOaued.
My baby-please give me ms babyr ~
jus then Dot returned and carried the pitch
/ er Of water to her mother, who drank long
I aud eagerly; then holding out her arms TO
/ Dot, said feebly to Miss Roxbury:
o, madam, VIII You take care of my little
/ girll 1 think In going TO die"
/ You're not going TO die-not bit OF it, .
! said Miss ROXbury, pouring out some wine
/ into a teacup, ''but III take care OF you both.
! There, drink this and you'll feel better right
/ away. How long since you've had anything
! to eat ~
Day before yesterday was the faint reply.
1 " had TO stop work four DAYS ago.
/ Now, Mr. Knox, said Miss RoXbury, slip
! ping her purse into his hand, &" just step out
/ TO the nearest grocery and order some kind
! ling wood aud tea aud sugar. III poach a nice
! fresh egg for this poor soul, and well see about
/ getting her out of this place"
The woman's face frightened, but she said:
. I'm giving you much trouble. -
! g Trouble said Miss ROXbury- " I'm all
alone in the world, aud I've a house with
/ twenty four rooms in it, aud plenty 10 do with
and what I've been thinking OF all these years
/ / can't say. I've been crusty, cold, disa-
/ gree1 bic old fossil, Ms. Winthrop, and when |
come down here and find folks arriving 10
death and crowded like cattle | wonder the
good Lords had any mercy on me. Don't YOU
worry another mite. Here's the fire st1i
already"
! Miss Roxbury rolled up her sleeves put an
apron over her silk skirt, and while Mr.. Knox
/ built a fire and brought water 10 treat, she
/ bathed Mrs Winthrop's face and hands, aud
/ brushed out her hair.
THANK God why, Pm bet err already said
/ Mrs. Winthrop with rare smile.
"Of course YOU are, child,' said Mrs. Rox-
! bury. "We'H see what good food and mountain
air will do for YOu YETI
few days later found an occupant in the
Z great east CuaD4DeE OF TIE lNOAhuiA mousse
Mrs. Win hrop sat IN ar easy chair before
/ the open window inhaling the fragrance OF the
blOssomiug honeysuckle that nodded TO her
through the easement.
The morning sunlight fell across her bright
hair and peaceful face.
Dot hung owes her shoulder and threw daisies
In her lap.
Down by the garden fence stood Miss Rox-
bury, talking with her neighbor, Mrs. Lane
Mrs. Winthrop smiled from her window, and
there came an answering smile from the depths
OF the purple and calico sun bonnet.
so you're really goin' to keep 'emf' said
Mrs Lane.
% Yes, I've adopted both of EN-" replied
Miss Roxbury, with TIE Deum Ia her voice,
s. and I've sent for half dozen little girls TO
stay until cold weather.
- Well, it does beat all" said Mrs. Lane,
wiping her eyes on the corner Of her checked
bingham apron. :" 'spose | needn't ask y n
now, Radiance, what you think of the Fresh
air Fund}r
What do think of itl'' said Miss Roxbury,
gravely, g / believe it's been the means of
saving ms soul / should have gone into the
next world holding my head pretty high and
considering myself be ter than mos folks, and
the Judge would have said, Reliance Roxbury
| gave YOU a large house and a long bank
account. What have you done with themH
Then how mT empty rooms and Grandfather
L 'Xburys gold pieces would have stood up
against me And He would have said: Ye
did it not unto Ne. Depart from Me, aud
what answer could have made him 1t is very
true she iinued, as Dot CAME flittu z
down the path like a fairy, ." Of such is the
Kingdom OF Heaven. ~ y Ttjttas.