The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-01-13
The SILVER TANKARD.

more years ago, stood a farm house to
which the epithet comfortable" might
be applied. The old forest came down
to the back of it, in front were cultivated
fields; beyond which was ground par
TALLY cleared, full Of pine stumps, and
here and there, standing erect, the giant
trunks of trees, which the fire had
scorched and blackened, though it had
failed to overthrow them. 8
The house stood at the very verge OF
the settlement, SO that from it no other
cottage could seen; the nearest neigh
Dor was distant about six miles. Daniel
Gordon, the owner and occupant Of the
premises we have described, had chosen
this valley in the wilderness, a wide.
rich tract of land, not only as his own
home, but, prospectively, as the home
Of his children and his children's chill
dren. He was willing to be far off from
men, that his children might have room
to settle around him. He was looked
upon as the rich man Of that district.
well known over that part of the coun.
try. His house was completely finished.
and was large for the times, having two
storys in front and one behind, with q
long, sloping roof; it seemed as if ii
leaned to the south, to offer It's back to
the cold winds from the northern
mountains. 1aS f@
It was full of the comforts OF life-the
furniture was little snowy for Puri-
tan, and when the table was set there
was, to use Yankee phrase, CONSIDER
able" silver plate, among which large
silver tankard stood pre-eminent. This
silver had been the property of his
father, and had been brought over from
the mother country.
Now we will go back to this pleasant
valley as it was on bright and beauti-
full morning in the month of June. It
was Sunday, and, though early, the two
sons of Daniel Gordon and the hired
man had gone to meeting on foot to the
Landing, little village on the banks of
the river, ten miles distant. Daniel
himself was standing at the door, with
the horse and chaise, ready and waiting
for his good wife, who had. been some
what detained Hewas standing at the
doorstep enjoying the freshness of the
morning, with q little pride in his heart.
perhaps, as he cast his eye over the ex-
tent of his possessions spread before
him. At that instant neighbor, of six
miles distance, rode up on horseback,
and beckoned to him from the gate Of
the inclogur9 around the house.
Good morning, neighbor Gordon,"
said he. 81 have come out of my way
in going to meeting to, tell you that Tom
Smith, that daring thief-with two 9TH
ers, have been seen proving about in
these parts, and that you had better
look out lest you have visit. j have
got nothing in my house to bring them
there, but they may be- after your silver
tankard, neighbor. and the silver spoons.
] have often told you that these things
were not fit for these new parts. Tom
is bold fellow, but suppose the fewer
he meets when he goes to steal the bet
ter don't think it safe for you all to
be off to meeting to-day but 1 am in
hurry, neighbor, so good-by." lAHa.
This communication placed our friend
Daniel in an unpleasant dilemma. It
had been settled that no one was to be
left at home but his daughter Mehita-
BILE, beautiful little girl about 8 wears
old. Shall | stay or go? was the dlles-
ton. Daniel was a Puritan. He had
strict notions of the duty of worshiping
God in His temple, and he had faith
that God would bless him only as he
did his duty; but then he was father.
and little Kitty was the light and Joy Of
his eyes.
But these Puritans were stern and I'M
hinching. l will not. even take Hitty
with nae !; for twill make hef cowardly.
The thieves may not come Neighbor
Perkins may be mistaken and if they
do come to my house they will not hurt
that child. AT any rate, she is in Gods
hands; and we will go to worship Him,
who never forsakes those who put their
trust in Him. As he settled this, the
little girl and her mother stepped to
the chaise +; the father saying to the
child, Ii any strangers come, Kitty,
treat them well. We can spare of cur
abundance to the poor. What is silver
and gold, when we think of Gods Holy
Word ?" With these words on his lips
he drove of--a troubled man, in spite
of his religious trust; because he left
his daughter in the wilderness alone.
Little Hitty, as the daughter of
Puritan, was strictly brought up to OBJ
serve the Lords day. She knew that
she ought to return to the house, but
nature, for this once, at least, got the
better of her training. No harm, Z"
thought she, to see the brood Of chick
ems" Nor did she, when she had given
them some water. go into the house !;
but loitered and fingered, hearing the
robin sing, and following with her eve
the bob'hncoln, as he huttered from
shrub 70 shrub, She passed almost an
hour out Of the house, because she did
not wish to be alone, md she did not
feel alone when she was out among the
birds, and was gathering here and there
o little wild flower. But ct last she
went in, took her Bible and seated her.
self at the window, sometimes reading
and sometimes looking out. ~
As she was there seated, she saw three
men coming up toward the house, and
she was right glad to see them; for she
felt lonely, and there was a dreary. long
day before her. Father" thought
she, "meant something when he told
me to be kind to strangers. I suppose
ne SA peCteU tlSIns L wonder what Keeps
them all from meeting? Never mind !:
they shall see that [ can do something,
if l am little Hitty." So putting down
the Bible, she ran to meet them, happy,
con6ding, and even glad that they had
come and, without waiting for them to
speak, she called to them to come in
with her and said, I" / am all alone; if
mother was here she would do more for
you, but I will do all I can :" and all
this with frank, loving heart, glad to
do good to others, and glad to please her
father, whose last words were, to spare
of their abundance to the weary traveller.
Smith and his two companions en- !.
tered. Now, it was neither breakfast
time nor dinner-time, but about half
way between both; yet little Hitty's
head was full of the direction, ''Spare
of our abundance" and almost before
they were fairly in the house, she asked
if she would give them something to eat.
Smith replied eyes, I will thank you,
my child, for we are all hungry" This
was, indeed, civil speech for the thief
who, half-starved, had been lurkingin the
woods to watch his chance to steal the
silver tankard. as soon as the men folk