The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-12-20

and her charge hurried on, Up the
great stone steps aud into the wide hall,
shouting: 'I've got himl I've got him,
SARAH"
But before the astonished housemaid
could reply, Sadie was in the sitting
room dragging the bewildered boy with
her, when she electrified her parents
with:
i've got him, mamma and pnpa! I've
got biml'
"Got who9 What is itP' they chornsed
ip surprise.
"Why, don't you see this little boy2
found him on Eighth street. He asked
me for candy, so 1 thought I'd bring
him home. Policeman knows him; says
his fathers good man, but is sick and
is awful poor, and"
"Stop stop!" interrupted Mr. Bensen,
with smile. Lets get at the right
end of the story"
When Sadie had quite recovered her
natural self, she related the story over
again. Sarah was summoned, and pres
emily, with her hat and shawl, disap-
peared through the door.
Aunt Matilda started into the room,
but paused abruptly on the threshold as
she discovered frankie and the little
stranger at play.
"Well, Jane Benson" she exclaimed.
deprecatingly, "if you are gcing to allow
your husband and your daughter your
elegant home to Ii axe refuge for street
gamius, you're going to introduce scme
dreadful disease. Now, just mark my
word"
Matilda" answered Mr.. Benson, pay
ing no heed to her ominous prophesy,
"can you recall to mind an incident
which occurred in your chilohood days?
How, when for weeks you anticipated
the greatest of pleasures, the superin-
tendent of the school by an oversight
left your name from the roll, and failed
to share with the rest?'
''I can, most distinctly"
"Do you also remember, Matilda, how
the tears flowed, and how full-immeas-
urably full-your heart was of grief at
the disappointment
THAT do; but where's the compari-
son in this case?" and she tapped the
carpet impatiently with her feet.
t. L.
"thiS little fellow, like you. is all expect
alton. Suppose we were to heartessly
turn him, without some recognition of
our sympathy, into the street. Can you
appreciate his feelings?"
Matilda did not reply, hut nervously
paced up and dowr the room, ray Of
sunshine was about to pierce that CAL
lous old heart, She at length sat down
giving vent to long-drawn Sigh.
"Now. Matilda spoke Mr.. Benson,
energetically, "I intend to provide for
that child, aud want your assistance" )"
with a significant wink at his wife. 81
want you to buy him a pair of shoes?
"Oh. yes, do; that's a dear, good
aunty" exclaimed Sadie. throwing her
Grms affectionetely about Amt Matilda's
neck; "see his poor little cold toes peep
ing out from the broken leather" she
pleaded.
"Well, now, belleqe aunty will, for
your sake, Sadie she slowly answered,
brushing something slyly off her cheek.
The happy little fellow was dressed
out in n comfortable suit of Frankie's
and the new shoes put on. Sarah made
favoraSle report on her retarn, and
was soon on her way back, leading the
little boy and carrying q basket of sub
stantial food. 'shaken together, pressed
down and running over" and late in the
afternoon well-dressed gentleman was
observed to leave Mr.. D.. home with a
light, elastic step, but what he said OF
did no one ever knew.
Sadie went to bed that Christmas night
with heart overhowlng with happiness,
"God has paid me tenfold with quiet
conscience and cheerful heart, thought
Mr.. Benson more than once during the
evening, and Aunt Matilda, in quiet
conversation with Mrs. Bonson, admitted
that 'children were of some use in the
world after all"