Huntsville gazette., 1883-11-17
BENJAMIN DWIGHT'S CHARITY.

mere 49,, c.nt TO take care of 'em." exclaimed
O. slnb nds Rbonnds as she snatched up the door
pa "at and flung it over the porch railing
MAJ MAJ yigor which would have given a
stranger a pretty good Idea OF Sarah's
eNso7 and physical force.
JPssTiqnin Dwight, bachelor and million
,-s ut a few feet away reading a news
Pgbn't know, Sarah," he said, "but the
ra,re who take these children may find
sms pleasure in it after all. l have just
been reading how happy the poor things
are to get away from the noisy, dirty city,
and run in the fields. NV attention has
never been attracted to it before, but it
strikes me that it is true charity"
"Stuif and nonsensen' retorted Sarah.
"t is only spoilin' 'em, and in my opinion
is done to paumper up rich peoples own
sentimental feelin's. VIII you tell me
Benjamin Dwight, what good it does them
miserable half-starved children to give
lem two-weeks' holiday, feedin' 'em like
turkey-cocks and lettin, 'em know what
clean sheets and clean tablecloths is, and
then Sendin' 'em back to filth and starva-
| ton for the other 'leven and a half months
Of the year? 1t only makes 'em discomfort
ed with that station of life in which it has
pleased God to place 'em."
Long, long ago, in the days of their first
| acquaintance, under circumstances which
his first name, and now with the social dis
| tance Ogreat between them, she still, when
moved or excited, fell back into the famil-
iarity, and he never seemed to notice it.
isn't it better that they should be dis
cOntented, Sarah?" said Mr.. Dwight, and
then as he saw her perplexed look, he add
ed: Il wish you would read about these
children; l think you would feel interested
in them, and'-
benjamin Dwight!' interrupted Sarah,
sharply, whats come over you? Y ou amt
a-thinkin' of takin' none of them children,
IhOpe:"
"Oh, no." exclaimed Mr.. Dwight, depre-
catlngly, "of course not, Sarah: how could
i But as | was going to say, it is some-
hing for those wretched children to learn
mat there are such things as green fields
and flowers, and plenty of food, and clean
sheets and table-cloths, and kind, gentle
people in the world. They will never for
get it, and the memory of it will help many
| boy and girl to become a good man and
woman"
For answer Sarah began to bang the rug
over the rail, sending the dust in every di-
reCtiOn.
Not quite SO vigorous, Sarah, not quite
soUsorous," so said Mr.. Dwight, mildly, as
he moved his chair farther away, 1You
forget that | am here"
II don't never forgit you, Benjamin
Dwight. YOU'RE wus than half a dozen
children on my mind, with your foolish no.
tons about most things and your vagrant,
keerleSS ways. Why, you'd have gone to
destruction long ago ii | hadn't watched
over you like a mother over q fatherless
babe"
u guess that is so, Sarah," said Mr..
Dwight, with little laugh, ''but you must
not carry your care too far; you must not
tyrannize over me, Sarah. Now, in the
matter of these children"
Benjamin Dwight" continued Sarah,
putting her arms akimbo and looking him
SIernly in the face, tits my opinion you'd
better stop talkin' about them children
They sha'n't none of 'em ever enter this
house a-trackin' up the floors and leavin'
Their hnger-marks on the furniture, to say
Aothn OF pickin'S and stealin's. But it's
700 late for you to have any of 'em this
year, anyhow, for it's most Thanksgivin',
and saw in the paper that this weeks load
Is Ea Lhe , last that's goin' to be sent off, and
Pm glad of it :"
Near Thanksgiving, is it"' said Mr..
dwight Il had forgotten it. Sarah, you
ana ana nave great deal to be thankful for.
we ought TO show our gratitude in some
Nay often see you reading your Bible.
n un you ever come across a passage like
Ms-'lnasmuch as we have done it unto one
u me least of these Ny brethren, We have
u}le 1t unto Mech, Sarah?"
oarah flushed hotly, but only tossed her
neau' and without replying she turned and
went into the house.
Mr. Dwight arose, reached for his cane,
anu walked down to the gravel walk which
separated the house from the extensive
lawn. His gaze wandered over the green
iipace dotted here and there with beds of
IpleIt flowers, interspersed with maple and
tumn hues. o. "-'-- WY
..1 don't believe" mused Mr.. Dwight,
sudI child's foot ever trod that lawn.
pai pau Is perfect ogress about children.
t,o voI old mani! She must have been at
Itactlve when she was young. wonder
me ne never married! Humph," and he
sneq, perhaps the same cause that made
Iar olu NJ bachelor of me: who knows? I'll ask
~ Vi solne time if she was Tilted" He tried
ana ndusn. but another sigh came instead,
fni5i ia iseatlng himself on garden chair and
Sa hung his hands over his cane, he leaned
dr;f. cnlh upon them and let his thoughts
H. III pack over the long space which Law
,ee.ween his middle age and his youth. Pic
m;rn. aiter picture came up in memory's
u-aa Vi' o out the one which fingered longest
inc Ina .ua1 OF fair, gentle-faced girl kneel-
fn7 a't "elore him with hands clasped and tear.
aTy Ty IS raised to his face.
asl, ro.rglve me, Benjamin." he heard her
D., Qhly less miserable"
puV lie had turned from her. and when
Ju Sne would have caught his hand he had
ona %a%n 1t roughly away, and left her with
win word. word. How often his heart had ached
Of tbin, teni9TSe @ as, in after years, he thought
if he g., nat would he not give even now
that r eould go back and speak the words
H. po poor girl had begged for so piteouslv.
sjonata vas young then, and proud and pas
undere, aye, and selfish, too, and could not
totISeIstand totSa s the kind of self-sacrifice which
natnraTi III II had seemed not only perfectly
It wal a, but the highest duty.
of a wa. was very common story: the father
a frian5ii,lly ruined by putting his name ON
rassn1na paper-then a season of embar-
stared steetes nus and notifications until poverty
er, Tu in IN Saen in the face, when their deliver
est da',a uile form of rich suitor for the old
gepfIa SShter, made his appearance. and the
to sacrisua g-hearted girl felt it her duty
suitor ilnce rLn herself for her family, AS the
her. ana Ias not personally disagreeable to
Would AN h was reputed amiable, the sacrifice
for her Ave az. oeen comparatively easv but
poor yonr "slacnment to Benjamin Dwight, a
had nli"hs liJns clerk in bank to whom She
fortuna her troth in the days when
Shall. b;s smiled fd- Dwight's salary was
him nov, MO future Iuture uncertain, and to marry
ter ahau ipm seemed to the girl equal to An nj
noohInent of her family, and She