Huntsville gazette., 1883-11-17

wn 1t of oil, and still Benjamin Dwight sat
| in his easy-chair as he had done since sup
per, buried in thought, little while longer
and thu lamp went out and then Mr.. Dwight
arose.
"Ah,o he said aloud, s'it would be easy if
Sarah won. ID only co-operate,n and groping
his way to the lighted hall, he sought his
bed-chamber.
How little In imagined that at that very
time Sarah Rounds lay in her bed awake,
agitated by thoughts similar to his own, and
revolving in her mind plan for the en-
| ployment of the snug sum lying in her
name at the bank. And when, early the
next morning, holding by the hand the
child who had slept by her side all night,
she sought an interview with the master of
the house, he was little prepared for what
she came to tell him.
benjamin Dwight" she said, ''the Lord
himself, believe, sent this angel to me last
night tn melt my frozen heart. 1 am not
the same woman to-day that was yester-
day, and Col willing, Twill never be again.
Will you let me keep this child for my own?
She shall never annoy you'-
''Annoy mel" interrupted Mr.. Dwight.
"Why, God bless you, Sarah, thank you
with all my heart for asking this; we shall
both be happier for it. God bless, you,
Sarahp'
There was moments pause when the
eyes of both were moistened with tears and
then Sarah added:
81 would like to say, sir, that have been
thinking that l amt really necessary to
you. Biddy is well trained, and can step
right into my place, and if you have no OBJ
| jections to the plan sir, would like to do
some good the rest of my life. Ihave a lit
tie money laid by, and l will rent house
convenient to you, sir, so that l can come
| to you if there's any special occasion for it,
and I'll take few of these poor motherless
things and do good part by them"
"Are you serious, Sarah?" exclaimed Mr..
Dwight, astonished beyond measure at such
a change of sentiment. 'If you are, | am
truly thankful. Give me your hand, Sarah.
l see that, unknown to each other, we have
since yesterday been travelling the same
path, and now meet at the same point.
Come to me after breakfast, and we will
talk it over together"
1t is not necessary to record the long dis.
cussion between Mr.. Dwight and his house
keeper, which occupied the morning hours
while the children were racing over the
| lawn and making friends with the various
| occupants of the barnyard. We have only
| to narrate the result. Two or three of the
| children, those who had parents, Were sent
| back to the city loaded with the generous
gifts of the man who had entertained them
so royalty. The erestremained as permanent
guests, or rather members of Benjamin
Dwight's family, and from this nucleus
arose in time one of those beautiful chari-
UleS WHICH, more Undn any UulDS else. prove
the existence of the divine element in mans
imperfect nature.
When travellers ask the meaning of the
banner bearing the image of the 'Good
| Shepherd" which now floats over the
Dwight mansion, they are answered that it
represents shelter for as many poor chill
dren as can be crowded under the roof be-
meath it, home where all that care and
kindness can do is being done to make of
those children good and useful members of
society. Sarah Rounds is the presiding
genius of the establishment, and the ex
preston of peace and contentment which
has already taken the place of the old hard
| look on her face, shows how truly her heart
| is in the good work.
And Benjamin Dwight stands upon his
portico and watches the happy plays of the
human flowers which now dot his lawn, and
blesses the moment when he was inspired
to keep Thanksgiving, and turn his life and
means into this stream which has its source
and ending at the feet of the Divine Master
of all.-C. III. Birneg, IN ". Y. ErdmiRer.