Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-02-12
A CLouDED LIFE.

he iail yard of old Henchley one gray
october evening. Nobody knew whether
John Gedney's wife was dead OF not. He
never spoke OF her. But he had said. just
,efore they put the black cap on his head
May God raise up a friend for my little
Ruth Poor little Ruth! And let her
always feel that die innocent"
The kind-hearted clergyman. going
home across the fields. thought what
sad. bad cruel world this Is. and remem-
bered. too, the dead mans last words.
Poor little Ruth! l think I'll stop
and speak to her before 60 home" he
said. THE child knows nothing Of what
has happened to her. but 1t has happened.
| nevertheless.
And with this the good man turned down
n certain street, passed certain neglected
cottages, and paused at one near which
group OF slatternly gosslps had gathered.
They looked at him as he approached.
He heard from within the house the
voice OF child. lifted In aloud sharp cry.
and then the words, "You tell story"
In the same voice In minute more a
! little girl, with her bright hair all about
her face, rushed out OF the door. followed
by a woman, who looked half-angry and
half-terrified.
"Such a temperw she said. But no
wonder. What can you expect?"
"Oh. Mr.. Martin, she said papa was a
wicked man; bad man." cried the child.
Shesaid-I don't know what she did say
about my papa. Has papa done anything
lke- like. Oh! l know It's B" wicked
What have you been saying. to this
child, Mrs. Chalners?" asked the min
| ister.
"WelI, SIR" said Mrs. Chalmers. "she
shows her temper, and thought 1t was
| my duty to warn her"
Against temper? Very proper. Mrs.
| Chalmers" said the minister. There Is
nothing more dangerous"
The woman flushed and was silent.
TELL them my papa Is good,"' cried the
child. "You said you would see him
every day where he had to go and live
Tell them. Oh, Mr.. Martin. when Is papa
coming back2"
"My child" said the minister, "youi
father will not come back, but You shal
one day 90 TO him. Not yet, but In Gods
time. A little while ago was with him. d
He looked around on the group.
1--WE we're alone. He knelt beside me
and prayed as child might. When W.
parted this is what he said:
INLAY God raise up friend for my
| HttI0 IOOT htttO Ahuth'
"God has answered his prayer. Mrs
Chalmers, get the child's hat and sucf
clothes as she may have. will take he
home with me, and keep her there"
"She ought to be very thankful, In
sure, SIR" said Mrs. Chalmers, with o YER.
red face: for otherwise, as she has NJ
kin, she'd go to the poorhouse; and littl
Andy shall bring the clothes to your hous
after her. It's not much Of parcel
though have cut up two whole gowns +
make her aprons and given her cape Q
my little Sally's to keep her warm.
The ministers good. kind wife welcome
the child heartily. and under their roc
: she grew to be healthy and strong an
pretty; her principles were formed, ne
faults corrected. She was ut sixteen q
fine and well.mannered young girl
could be seen In q years journey.
She loved her adopted father and mott
or, and honored them, and she was FRIEND
ly and kind to all. But malice and Il
norance are never to be trusted. Althoug
the best people in Henchley called Rut
i, lovely girl, the gossips were aiway
: speakiDg to each other of the fact tina
i her father WIS hung, and taught tn
i story to the younger ones. with the add
r tional precept that such folks childrel
never camo to good-that the ministe
would DO sorry some day, and that Rutl
q Gedney would not turn out well In the end
e Unconscious Of this, good Mrs. Marti
x often sent the young girl to the low quartz
5 Of the town with glasses ofjeily or loave
{ Of nice bread for the poor old women
il little tea and sugar, and with charg
II to read chapter before she came back.
z Ruth Gedney accomplished her tasl
,e but sometimes with repuSnance. MOI