Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-12-23

You are coming, so we can go or send
| team to hartford to fetch Won out. Your
loving cousin with Mats best rcspects),
"HITrY BLAKE.
There were verbal faults enough in the
little school-ma ans letter to have called
down the censure of any school visitor
but to John Turner it was as voice
from heaven. H dropped his grizzled
head on the table where he laid ii down.
and thrill OF genuine repentance ran
through his heart. The goodness and
tenderness Of woman preached the
Gospel to him and, remembering words
long ago learned at his mothers knee.
he cried ont to the heavenly Mercy this
human loving kindness interpreted,
God he merciful to me. sinner.
But Hitty never knew what good her
generous sweetness did. She received
an answer to her letter thanking her for
her willingness 10 help her cousin, and
saying that he WAS too low to travel so
far. which by this time was true. With
sigh for the lonely old man, she broke
off her negotiation with Miss Platt for
the extra bedstead, and set about her
own preparations. These were simple
enough.
She was putting up some white cur
tains III the small sitting-room of the
little red house. ON Christmas morning
that being a holiday-curtains made out
of an old gown, and trimmed with lace
knitted ut odd times by her own hands.
when Mat came in to help her, bringing
letter III his hand. He stopped a mo-
ment to look at the clear. spotlcss drap-
ery, as Hitty boasted of its success.
II wish YOU needn't have had TO work
so for it, Hitty. I don't banker no great
for money but I'll like to save them
little hands O yourn from hard work,
dear, if could"
ooh, Mat / love to work, " she said,
with glance that meant ''for you, and
foreshadowed future when home
and "wife" should mean all they can
and ought to mean, to Mats eager eyes.
He forgot the letter and put his arms
about Hitty but it dropped at her feet,
and, extricating herself with blush and
smile, She picked it up. 1t was from
John Turner's lawyer, and inclosed a
copy of his will, whereby he left to his
cousin. Mehitable Blake-the only one
of his family who came to his help when
he was dying-all his property, amount
ing to fifty thousand dollars, to have and
hold iii her own right, so long as she did
not share it with her brothers and sisters.
Hitty was stunned The sweetness of
possession was made bitter by this nm
generous clause; but. after all, it was
kind in Cousin John. She came TO that con-
ISOLATION before long, and Mat suggested
to her so many ways Of doing good-at
least to her nephews and nieces-that the
gentle, tender heart warmed gratefully
mt last toward John Turner in his grave
10y the lake far away, and his memory
was held forever green lii the new and
more spacious house that superseded
the small cottage. Miss Platt's com
ment was characteristic
"Well, YOU throwed your bread onto
the waters, as Scripter says. an it come
back to ye cverlastin' quick might
ha' flung hull loaf away, and 'twould
hey water-soaked, SO to speak, afore it
riz. if it ever did. Some pork viii bile
So; hut don't We go for to think it II allus
do to be givin' up things for every
body; 'twon't work, now, | tell We, spe-
cially with men folks: an faint always an
forever t the good boy gets the goose
berry pie-not by means =
But he always has the comfort of
bein good, don't he - asked Mat, with
IA smile.
"Weil, if that's allus a comfort, dono
MS fiS and I dOuO as it's "