Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-02-06
AN AWAKENED LOVE

AN AWAKENED LOVE.
Abel Grimes was al old bachelor.
Some people called him an old cut
mudgeon. and some people called him
an old hunks, and these titles were
really more truthful than tiatterlng.
The fact is, as the world goes (and
the world goes hard enough with some
Abel Grimes was pretty hard man
hard and cold, selfish to the core, cruel
when his interests were at stake; appar-
emily had no more feeling than lamp
post. no more charity than a tobacco
sign; seemed ever grasping for every
thing, never yielding up anything; Nv
ing only for Abiel Grimes, and caring
for nothing beyond himself.
When he WAS twenty, Abel Crimes
went to see a young lady-a very sweet
Young iadv. everybody called her-and
it wss at last rumored that they were
going to be married.
But one day, being caught out in the
rain, she allowed another young man TO
hold an umbrella over her while she
walked home by his side.
Abel Grimes CHANGED to witness the
transaction. and became furious
storming, raving, and tearing passions
TO tatterS.
He did more. He left Mary Albright
with a curse, and never visited her
again.
She wept and sobbed and was very
discOnsOlate for a time; and then size
married the kind young man wlo had
held the umbrella over ner.
From that time forward nobody ever
heard Abiel Grimes laugh
In fact 1t is doubtful if he could
laugh,
He drew into himself, like a turtle
into his shell, and to the world he pre-
sented an exterior as hard as that shell.
He bent his whole energies to making
money. And he made it.
He owned houses and lands, which
he rented TO the rich and to the poor.
But woe TO the luckless wight who
came up short on payday.
he loaned money on Mortgages, but
he never missed an opportunity to fore
close.
He seemed devoid of pity and never
showed mercy.
Into the street went a sick father or
mother or starving children if he failed
to get his lawful due.
He was no hypocrite, however; he
was consistent with himself.
He gave nothing to churches, because
as he ayerred, religion was sham
He gave nothing to hospitals, be-
cause people had no business to be 81 ck.
He gave nothing to charitable sHcle-
ties. because the poor ought to work for
their bread.
In short, he gave nothing to nobody
except Abiel Grimes.
And Abiel Grimes he pampered-
There was nothing too good for Aoiel
Gr'- IS.
he bought splendid mansion, sur
rounded himself with lCxuries, and kept
servants who were no better than so
many slaves in his regard
His sister kept house for him. being a
poor. quiet, timid, childish widow, with
no other home, nor any means to live
without labor.
OF all days in the year. Abiel Grimes
hated Sundays and holidays.
Why
Because he could not vex people in his
business transactions on those days, and
because poor people were idle and
seemingly happy, and he hated to see
people happy. ...
If he could have shut them al up in
black pits, and kept them to work there
all their lives for his gain and comfort.
he would have done s..
And of all holidays Abel Grimes
hated Christmas, and its reioicings and
festivities.
And in this state of mind, without
ever having had a days illness-going
on prOsperously in worldly gain, and
amasSing Tiches-Abiel Grimes reached
the age of forty-five, hale and hearty,
with sharp face, iron frame, cold grey
eyes, thin hair, and a bald head.
Now it so happened that one hated
Christmas night Abiel Grimes returned
70 his elegant mansion at the hour OF
eleven.
IL was showing fast, and the street:
were mostly deserted.
The mansion looked grim and dark
and cold. for there had been no rejoic-
ing there that day, and the servants had
all gone to bed.
Only the poor housekeeper was sitting
up for her brother, TO keep the fire
bright and his slippers warm. and his
water hot for his punch, and to be ready
10 act as his slave, and minister to hi:
every whim.
Abel Grimes assembled the high mar
bic steps In no pleasant frame of mind
1t had beeh = long, disagreeable dal
to him, because everybo1 1y had been too
happy to feel the venom Of hate witt
which he regarded them.
On the upper step he paused in as
tonishment, which soon merged int
rage.
Somebody had left a ba ket on thai
step-a basket with handle to it; |
basket filed with something which the
fast-falling snow had already covered
with thin, pure mantle of white.
The Internal careleS5ness or impu
dence Of some servant or beggar, " nut
tered Abiel Grimes through his shu
teeth, as he raised his foot and gave tha
basket a vigorous kick.
He intended to kick it clear from hi
cold, hard marble step-net colder an
harder than his own marble heart
into the middle of the street.. But hi
design miscarried.
The basket struck against the iro
nail, bounded back, fell over, and
mall bundle rolled out.