Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-02-05

gnawlng hungori she took some Of the
1read and potatoes and ate them greedny.
The dog, not accustomed 60 such guests.
looked ut the children full Of astonish.
nent; he drew back a little, then sal
lown and left them his dinner, Of which
le had eaten very little. At this moment
,he farmer stepped into the yard; he
wished to sec whether the children had
really left, and then he saw this singular
scene. The dog was noted for his fierce.
ness and feared alike by old and young,
he was obliged to be constantly chained.
No n dared to come near him, except hif
master. Even the servant put the food
before him in the most cautious manner
In the first moment the man thought OF
nothing but the fearful danger in which
the children were, and walking quickly
toward them, he exclaimed:
Don't you see the dogp He will tear
you to pieces!' But suddenly he stopped,
as If rooted to the ground; the dog had got
up again and gone neal the children, then
ne look up at his master and wagged his
tail. 1t seemed as if he wished to say,
Don't drive my guests away!'
At that sight u great change. came over
the man; the spectacle before him acted
upon him like an electric shock, and feel
Ings such as he had never had before
seemed to stir within him.
The children had arisen, terrified at the
,all Of the man, fearful of
punishment for having eaten against his
command. They stood with downcast
eyes. At last, after several minutes
silence, the farmer asked:
Are you really so fearfully hungry that
you do not even despise the dogs fo0d?"
But without waiting for an answer he
continued:
Come in, then; you shall have some
thing to eat, and as much as you like"
And taking them by the hsnd, he led
Them into the house, calling out to the
servant
"Biddy, get some hot bread and milk,
and be quick, for these children"
The dog had shamed his master-the
brute taught the man. Touched by what
ne had seen, the farmer was anxious to
make amends for what his conscience
showed him to be u great sin. He seated
The children at the table, sat down by
hem, and kindly asked them their
names.
my name is Lizzie" said the eldest,
and my sister is called Mary"
"Have your parents been dead long?"
Our father has been dead two years,
out our mother only died last week"
AT the thought of their recent loss both
children began again to weep.
Don't cry, children" said the farmer,
"God will in one way or another
lake care of you. But tell me, now, where
10 you come from?"
From Loughrea, replied the child.
"From Loughrea% asked the man,
from Loughrea? That is strange" He
began to suspect the truth, and asked
lesitatingly:
what is your fathers name?"
martin Sullivan" replied Lizzie.
Observation-Disclosures S~u!livan2" he
claimed, jumping up at the same time
md casting o piercing look at children,
thoroughly frightened them. His face
rev red-then tears came to his eyes
vt last he sobbed aloud. He took the
-oungest child in his arms, pressed her to
us heart and kissed her. The child
'truggled and called for help to her sister;
he could not think what the man meant.
Then he put down the little one and did
he same to Lizzie, who took it more
luietly, as she had seer that the man
,ad not hurt her sister. At last he be-
ONE more composed; he dried his tears
nd said:
"Do you know my name, children?"
NO" replied Lizzie.
How happened it, then, that you have
ONE to me?' he asked. "Has any one
ient you to me?"
Nobody has sent us" replied Lizzie.
We were to go to Kiiburn, where a
brother of u father lives, and they say
he would gladly receive us. But I do not
believe it, for our mother always said
hat he was a hard-hearted man, who
loes not care for his relations"
Your mother was quite right when she
said So" said the farmer. "But what will
iou do if the hard-hearted man does not
'eceiye yOu?"
Then we shall have to starve," an
jwered Lizzie.
NO, no." exclaimed the man quietly;
it shall never come to that-never. Dry
tears. The merciful God has had
)ity on your helplessness and has made
use of a fierce brute to soften the heart of
your uncle, and, therefore he will never
you-never!"
The children looked at the man in utter
5eWilderment; they did not understand
what he said-his works and behavior
were alike strange to them. This he soon
perceived, for he added.
you were going to Kilburn to Patrick
sullivan; you are already there. l am
your uncle; and now that l know that
you are the children Of my brother Mar
in, l make you welcome"
The childrens tears quickly changed
into smiles, and the meal which Biddy had
just put on the table for them made them
their grief.
Patrick Sullivan had taken this farm
Kilburn about q year before. A
kind Providence had directed the chill
iren's steps to him; but if the dog had
not taught him alesson in kindness what
after all, have become of the poor
orphans? But He who is the father of
he fatherless would assuredly not have
'orsaken them.-IIugh Sanders in New
York News.
Literary Men and Their Names.
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