Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-11-22
JENNIE'S GOOD LUCK,


Misa Mary Jane Ham stood IN iropt OF
tho impOaing brick building used as The
high school Of Riactown, with IN un'
opened letter jult handed her by the
passing carrier, IN l,cr hand, ill1s Mary
Jane had her little PECULIAR los, er
ioibles, her likes aud her dislikeg, as
what woman has not, or man, cithcr for
that matter 7 but Miss Mary Jano'a one
crowhiGg dislike, which ombl,tCred her
whole soul, a. much a. II was possible
10 0mbitter 30 sweet and sunny q 6oul,
was her hatred for hor hane. She
signed her namc, IN IaultleSs chiro'
giaphy, as became q sohoolmaam, NJ
Jonn.o II IN and she had faith that, in
tho near future, some iaultiess young
man would cndow her with u namc far
more cndumblo than the ono her father
had left her and which was oil sho had
ever received from him, II wal, thoie.
fore, with q gort OF shudder that she
read tho euperscription which ran, in
bold, businoss.liko letteia, across the
envelope; "Miiss Mary Jane Ham, Rife
town, Mass Tho post,marh, for once
not blotled over, was Chicago tho
writer - whop NJ. Jenlso he'd no
acquaintanees in that famous Wt,,crn
city, and only by dint OF hard thinking
did IL occur 10 her that her mothers
eldest brother John Rivers, lived there !;
but he was reputed TO DO Of immense
wealth, and very likely he had never
heard oil her existence. She tore open
the envelope and read
"ATr DEAR MICE;
"I expect the reception Of this letter will
, cause yUu some surprise, aud the reading OF IL
more. am your mothers oldest brother
When first cUunr 10 Chicago, used to eorIo.
| spond with your mohcri but, Ua tho years
| slipped away, somehow our letters grew moro
und more inlitqucn, and fnally ce,srd entirely
Then your dear mother died, und, in the heat
oil money.getiing, lost oil trOc, oimy Eastern
relatives Lately, ] must confess from selfish
motives, have been looking them up, Ium
getting old. My wio Is dead, | have no
child. ! need a home. You must know that
business men frequently suDer great rcveises.
| huve written TO each OF my nephcws ard
nieees much as nave written to you. My
letters have mostly remained unanswered; or
ii answered, furnished but cold comfort. win
you take pity on nm old man2 await your
answer with intense interest.
"Your Uncle,
"Joug RIVERS"
NJ. Jennie slowly folded tho letter,
mechanically replaced it in tho envelope,
and, with preoccupied mir, turned her
steps toward her home.
Nj. Jennie had tender heart. Her
, struggles with poverty had left no cal
louses on 1t. Her mind went reluctant.
ly back to those old, unpleasant days,
and then reverted 10 Uncle John. He
had been wealthy and now he had no
home ho was old, his wife was dead,
he was her dead mothers brother, and
he needed some one to care for him.
All ! well, Her life, go far, had been
one long repress on why rot let it
continue so to the end ? And alter all,
is there not sometimes as much pleasure
in the denial as in the qualification Of a
wish
Long before sbe reached her home
Jennie had come 10 decision. The
little brown cottage must accommodate
one more. With friend OF her sewing
days she had rented little cottage on a
back street, and thus satisfied the in.
tense longings Of her heart for home.
Her arrangements were soon completed
and the next day the mail carried an
answer to Uncle John. 81, too" she
wrote, "have known what it is have no
home, and the one have to offer you
may sadly disappoint you but I will
try my best to make it pleasant for you.
Your room is ready and, with my warm.
est welcome, waits your coming"
A week later an express wagon landed
an old man, with battered trunk, on
the doorstep Of the little brown cottage.
1t Glanced to be on Saturday, when
Jennie had no school duties, and the
cordial words with which she welcomed
Uncle John were interrupted by kiss
on the old mans cheek, which tho latter
did not fail to repay. From under a
pair Of busly eyebrows there peered out
two keen, sagacious gray eyes, which
,;,tio IHtn ~ eUois aoon "n' o'eiuen' oi 'ne
'''.!v ssnooinlu uii, -
ovo .ou ueat VI iiS'le @ oaah .'Sih.;l ne ciieu'
.o,toa nto; " "'A A' ie'"'i'eS' "'one oon'
SeI'eu va h,,a ,. .,,,.,, oo, A. -,
80, "a so.S onsh nunu was p1"'e" over 'ne oio
inan anf nou1n. y
nusn ohote honood oodn, t sne SUI s'si9. 1885, lou @
con.e US ins : honoreo suess, uno you afe .
u mn riake no Samaritan, samaritan references 10 lne.
Ihen sne lnIloaucea MN TO her CON CON
panlon' shoWea MIN tnrougn the lit'le