The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-12-18
Providence Helps Thee whs Eslp


"Buy lilly, STRIP The tone was
sweet, timid, and pleading.
Eyes, l will take half a Dozen"
replied the gentleman addressed.
Katie counted them, saying as
she did so, twelve cents, sir
"There's half a dollar--never
mind the change" and he was gone
before Katie had time to think.
''What kind gentleman to give
me so muchr' she said to herself
For fifty cents seemed a good deal
to the little girl who seldom earned
more than that in two days. She
hoped to SEQ and thank him the
next day.
When Katie was six years old,
her father had died, leaving bis
family only the small cottage
where they lived. Mrs. Rodgers,
who had always been feeble, was
now obliged to work very hard to
support herself and child. She was
soon overcome with care and labor,
and a severe illness ensued. On
her recovery, she found q debt of
four hundred dollars had been in
CURED. There was but one way to
obtain the money, SO their little
home was mortgaged.
Mr.. Rodgers had been an only
child of poor but respectable pa
rents. His wife had one brother
who had gone to India a long time
ago and had not been heard from
for years. So Mrs. Rodgers toiled
on alone, although she was not able
to do as much as before her illness.
At the end of two years she had
only been able to pay the in
terest on her debt beside support
ing herself and little daughter,
when she was again taken i'll. Ka-
tie SO often begged permission to
sell lilies that Mrs. Rogers finally
consented, and thus it was that we
found the little girl on one of Bos-
toms crowded streets that suItry af-
ternoon.
The next day Katie watched fol
the kind-hearted gentleman, and
sure enough he came. When she
thanked him for the money, he said
she had earned it. Almost every
day he passed there, and he never
failed to stop for at least one lilly;
and so to Katy each weary day
seemed shorter because of his
friendly face.
One day the gentleman said, 81
used to have a little sister who
looked very much like you"
"Did you? Did she die?' asked
Katie, her face aglow with interest.
81 don't know whether she is liv-
ing or not. I've been away ever
since she was little girl, and now
I've returned, and can find no trace
of her."
"Why, how dreadful! What was
her name?'
"Nellie Howe"
Nellie Hover repeated Katie,
with an exclamation point expressed
in every feature. Chat used to be
my mammals name before she was
married"
1t was now the gentleman's turn
to be astonished. "Can it be
possible2 At last, after so many
daysr' he said to himself, uncon
sciously speaking aloud. Their
turning to Katie, he added
Where do you live, little girl? ]
must go home with you"
Mrs. Rodgers did not at first rec
ognize in the tall bearded stranger
her long lost brother, but when full
ly assured it was he, she was over
come with joy.
Everyone was happy that night
in the cottage. II Katie sat GU hel
uncle's knee while her mother TOLD
Of their past life, and he in turn re
lated how immensely wealthy he
had become in India, how long be
had been seeking for them, etc.
AS soon as Mrs. Rodgers health
permitted, they changed their cot.
tage home for a stately mansion OF
beautiful avenue.
Katie is young lady now-beau
tiful, refined, accomplished, and
above all, possessing the dignity oil
true christian womanhood. She is
beloved by large circle Of friends
of Boston's best society; yet she
never has forgotten that she once
sold lilies, nor how God blessed
her efforts to assist herself and he1
mother by sending her own uncle
to purchase her lilies, thus making
the call things work together fol
good. THE Little Star.