The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-01-24
JOe'S Devotion.

SuSy's admlrer. And Susy, when SSt
heard the half-taunted joke, only smiEt
softly, and at their next meeting only
gave Joe kinder or sweeter smile.
She was the orphaned daughter of {
country clergyman, whose sole Legacy
to her had been the best education hi:
own profound learning could enable
| him to give her. When she was but {
little girl her mother died, and she hac
been her fathers housekeeper, scholar
and companion until her nineteenth
birthday, when the Rev. Stephen Coyle
was likewise taken from the child tc
his last long rest. The good people oi
the parish, knowing Susy's advantage:
for study, and her old home being the
parsonage, she had removed her per.
sonal possessions and had taken up hel
abode at Farmer CoIlingwood's, he
having for years "boarded" the school
ma am.
1t was merry, happy farmers house
hold where Susy lived. Julie eand Mollie
Collingwood were strong armed, bloom.
ing damsels, full of coquettish grace,
and with loud voices and active habits.
Charles and James, the sons, were fine
specimens of young farmers, and the
old man and his wife were kind hearted,
homely country folks.
She had been out but little time in
her position as instructress to the tow.
headed youngsters of Brent Hill, when
coming up the road from school late on
summers afternoon, she heard wall.
ing and groans in one of the cottages,
where often before she had heard the
same sounds.
"Poor Joe9" she whispered pitifully
For she knew deformed idiot wa.
being beaten by cruel master. Bu
on that afternoon, as she drew near the
cottage, the door suddenly flew oper
and the idiot limped bowling anc
speeding as fast as his inirmities allow
ed, out at the opening, while followed
him, strong brutal man, half drunk
flourishing an immense cowhide.
The man cursing and swearing, helC
the whip over the covering, shrinking
lad, but when it fell it struck not Jot
but Susy, who bent over him, one arm
raised, to ward off the blow. Brute q
he was the half-drunken wretch stood
aghast when the heavy lash cut acros
Susy's slender arms and shoulders.
81 beg your pardon, ma'am," HI
said, 81 did not see you in the way"
"How can your" she cried, her pal
cheeks crimson with womanly indigna
tion-"how can you, a strong man
strike poor trembling boy like that
a boy whose infrmities should appea
for protection to any man who was no
an arrant coward2"
"Well, come now, that's prett
strong" said the man. "Don't feet
and lodge him for what he does, ant
amt got right to beat him if h
does everything wrong? He don't earl
his salt, he don't"
"Don't keep him them
"I guess you're right. Iwon't; Joe
you may go to the mischief, but dom
come here again.
The good people at the farm looket
rather astonished when Susy appeared
followed by the STOPPING, limping fgur
of the village idiot. But the farme
broke into hearty laughter when sh
told of her interference and begged
shelter for the boy.
"Stay hereP Of course he can sta
here" he said. "We'll find somethin
for the poor beggar to do. But t
think Of your spunking up to Bo
4 Carter after that fashion. I'd hav
given my best cow to see it. A littl
white bantom pecking mad bull woul
benothingtoit. And heran off. Wei
well. Here, Charley, show Joe tn
room over the barn. He can slee
there, and he'll soon learn where t
come to meals"
So the idiot found his hard bed O.
the floor replaced by cosy barn chan
Der, his scanty food exchanged fc
generous plenty and for blows, kicl
and curses, and hard work, overtaskin
his brain, he had kind words and ligf
labor suited to his comprehension.
And under this treatment he bright
ened visibly, performing his simple tas
willingly and we'll. When winter cam
Susy herself altered suit and overcos
of her fathers to clothe the boy CON
fortably for the cold weather, and KIN
him a scarf, cap and mittens. Sh
never passed him without word of er
couragement, and in his darkened lif
the fair, sweet face stood for religio
something to be worshiped, Joe's e.
pecial Providence.
He never forgot the falling of tn
cruel lash upon the tender figure Der
to protect him, and he understood pc
fectly that Susy's intercession had pre-
cured for him his happy, comfortabl
home.
And his gratitude expressed itself i
such offerings as were within his reac
bouquets of wild flowers, clusters {
delicate ferns he knew she loved, ba
kets of wild cherries or nuts, and a
} eager offer to lift any obstacle from he
path. And the good-natured, jestin
country folks called poor Joe Susy's ac
mirer.
But while the winter SHOWS were W
upon the ground there came to Brer
Hill new clergyman, one Cyrus Por
man, who had been pupil of Susy
father when he was youth of nineteer
she child of twelve. Having fitte
himself for college under Rev. Stephe
, Coyle's instructions, he had gone
Harvard, had studied for the .pulpi
and, having preached in Boston, ha
accepted call to Brent Hill.
1t was quite natural that he shoul
seek Susy, and the old servant at Il
parsonage was warm in her praise
He was wealthy man, having inheri
ed fortune from hic father and