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

can COOK some meat r I'VE can't
wait, !" was the reply, "give US what you
have ready, as coon as you can" 81
am glad you do not want me to cook for
you-but I would do tiff you did-be-
cause father would rather not have much
cooking on Sundays" Then away she
tripped about, making preparations for
their repast. Smith himself helped her
out with the table. She spread upon it
clean white cloth, and placed upon it
ne silver spoons and the silver tankard
full Of sold orchard" as was the
custom in those days, with a large
quantity of wheaton bread and q
dish Of cold meat: l don't know
why the silver spoons were put on
perhaps little Kitty thought they made
the table look prettier. After all this
was done she turned to Smith, and with
courtesy told him that dinner was
ready. The child had been so busy in
arranging her table, and SO thoughtful
of housewifery, that she took little or
no notice Of the appearance or manners
of her guests. She did the work as
cheerily and as freely, and was as un-
embarrassed, as if she bad been sur
rounded by her father and mother and
brothers. One Of the thieves sat down
doggedly, with his hands on his knees,
and his face almost to his hands, look
ing all the time on the floor. Another,
younger and better-looking man, stood
confounded and irresolute, as if he had
not been well broken into his trade and
often would go back to the window and
look out, keeping his back to the child.
Smith, ON the other hand, looked I'M
concerned, as if he had quite forgotten
his purpose. He never once took his
attention off the child, following her
with his eye as she hustled about in ar
ranging the dinner-table /; and there was
even half-smile on his face. They all
moved to the table, Smiths chair at the
head, one of his companions On each
side, and the child at the foot, standing
there to help her guests, and to be
ready to go for further supplies as there
was need.
The :nen ate as hungry men, almost In
silence, drinking occasionally from the
silver tankard. When they had done,
Smith started up suddenly and said
"Oome let's go" "What I" exclaimed
the old robber, Ego with empty hands
when this silver is here ?" He seized
the tankard. Put that down." shouted
Smith "Ill shoot the man who takes
single thing from this house." Poor
Kitty at once awoke to sense of the
character of her guests with terror in
her face, yet with childlike frankness,
she ran to Smith, took hold of his hand,
and looked into his face, as if she felt
sure that he would take care of her.
The old thief, looking up to his young
companion, and finding that he was
ready to give up the job, and seeing that
Smith was resolute, put down the tan
kard, growing like dog which has had
bone taken from him. "Fool | catch
me in your company agan ;" and with
such expressions left the house, followed
by the other. Smith put his hand on
the head Of the child and said "Don't
be afraid stay quiet in the house no.
body shall hurt you."
Thus ended the visit of the thieves,
Thus God preserved the property Of
those who had put THEN. trust in HIM.
What story had the child to tell when
the family came home How hearty
was the thanksgiving that went up from
the family altar.
A year or two after this, poor Tom
Smith was arrested for the commission
OF some crime, and was tried and sem
fenced to be executed. Daniel Gordon
heard of this, and that he was con fined
In o jail in the seaport town, to wait for
tho dreadful day when he was to be
hung up like dog between heaven and
earth. Gordon could not keep away
from him. He felt drawn to him for the
protection of his daughter, and went
down to see him. When he entered the
dungeon, Smith was seated his face was
pale, his hair was tangled and matted
together-for why should he care for his
looks !? There was no other expression
In his countenance than that of irrita-
ton from being intruded upon, when he
wanted to hear nothing, see nothing
more of his fellow-nan. He did not
rise, nor even look up, nor return the
salutation of Gordon, who continued to
stand before him. At last, as if wearied
beyond endeavor, he asked: "What do
you want of me-? Can't you let me
alone even here? ?"
-" 1 come" said Gordon, :" to see you,
because my daughter told me all you did
for her when you"
AS If touched TO the heart, Smiths
whole appearance changed; an express
sion of deep interest came over his
features he was altogether changed
man. The sulien indifference passed
away i'll am instant. "Are you the
father of that little girl? Oh, what a
dear child she is Is she well and hap
py? How | love to think of her. That's
one pleasant thing / have to think of.
For once l was treated like other men.
Gould I kiss her once 1 think should
be happier" In this hurried manner he
poured out an intensity of feeling little
supposed to lie in the bosom of a con-
demned felon.
Gordon remained with Smith, whis-
pered to him of peace beyond the grave
for the penitent, smoothed in some de-
gree his passage through the dark val
ley, and did not return to his family
until Christian love could do no more
for an erring brother, on whom scarcely
before had the eye OF love rested whose
hand had been against all men because
their hands had been against him.
l have told the story more at length
and interviewer some unimportant cir
cumstances, but it is before you SUBJ
stantially as it was related to me. The
main incidents are true though, doubt
less, as the story has been handed down
from generation to generation, it has
been colored by the Imagination. The
silver tankard, as an heirloom, has de-
scended in the family-the property of
the daughter named Mehitable, and is
now in the possession of q clergyman's
wife in Massachusetts,.
A good story is told of Mr.. Raymond
and the Lotos Club. The comedian
persuaded number of the members of
the club to appear on the stage, for one
night only, as jurors in the trial scene in
ga Gilded Age" conditionally that their
names should not be known. Prior to