Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-12-22

which was the day before Christmas, an.
| it went forth on its work of arousing tn
pity of Doonville for the family in the oil,
house by the river. I was very busy al
| that day and could not go to see them
But when night came and lay down t.
rest l had the satisfaction of feeling tha
they were provided for, and that / hat
been the instigating cause of their relief.
fancied the surprise and sorrow the benevo
lent Mrs. Barclay would feel when sh,
visited them, carrying aid, as she was SUR
to do after reading my article. And hov
distressed, thought, Mr.. Archibald Door
would be when he realized that SO sad (:
case of want existed in the town of whicl
he was so proud. And others-ever 81
many others-would be equally interested
and equally helpful. In imagination
saw the philanthropists Of the community
one after another, going down to the ole
house by the river side carrying aid ant
sympathy.
The next morning was Christmas. 1
was cold and clear, with sharp wine
blowing-traditiona Christmas weather
called CHEEKY in stories, think, but very
uncomfortable for those who are thinly
clad. After breakfast started down tt
see my poor friends by the river. wanted
to help them, but all I could do would bt
but a cipher in comparison With what haG
already been done. But I thrilled with
the pleasure I would experience in seeing
their improved condition, knowing I had
had hand in it.
Hew forlorn and desolats the house was.
even as seen from afar off And oh the
dreariness of Christmas to those within
A man approached the house just ahead
of ne. A second glance told me that ii
was the tract-distribntor. felt spasm Of
wrath at sight of him. How dare he mock
those wretched people with his printed
twaddle about the preciousness of their
souls when their bodies needed food, and
fire and clothing?
He knocked, and the thin little girl with
the pale, delicate face opened the door,
came out, and shut it behind her. The
tract distributor took off his hat, she looked
up at him, and knew she spoke, though ]
was not near enough to hear what she said
| noticed, too, that she raised her hand in
GESTURE solemn and intensely dramatic
gesture, it seemed to me, for one so young
to make unconsciously. A queer sort of
chill crept over me. The distributor
opened the door and went in, but she stood
outside, and was still standing there when
reached the door.
Somehow, when was quite near her /
could find NO words to utter. She seemed
to understand, and pointing to the door,
said "You can 60 in if you want to-
Father died this mornipgp p
stood speechless in the presence Of that
child's fearless sorrow.
'But help came to you yesterday"
said, my heart sinking as possibility
had never thought of flashed into my
mind.
eyes, he--the man who has Just gone in
Game and was very kind. He stayed by
father all night, and was only away little
while; but father died while he was gone u
"And - did did = nobody else come
yesterday?" I stammered.
Nobody else," said the child, looking
up surprised at the question.
felt ashamed to 60 in and face the tract
distributor in the presence of the dead be
had comforted and when I had left fol
others to comfort-others who never came
He greeted me with gentle kindness, and
as clasped his hand in that woeful dwell.
ing inwardly bent before him in self
Gbasement.
We Went ont together tto plan, for tbs
funeral and procure further aid for the liv-
ing.
You did good work when you wrete
about these people," he said, 'tand 1 thank
you, for otherwise 1 should not have known
OF their existence in time to be of help
WREN they needed it most.''
with what shame I remembered nv ar
ticle on religious frauds, of which I had
been SO proud only two days before.
From that hour we became warm friends.
As l learned to know him well I locked
back in amazement at my former conclu-
sions in regard to him. Calamity
Parker, indeed 1t would have been more
fitting had I named him Beneficent Parlker.
His life was enediction-unobtrusiv
and self-denying he gave of his abundant
sympathy and slender worldly means with
out reserve. Nor was his never-failipg
patience and sweetness of spirit the cloak
OF hypocrisy, but the result of years of
spiritual aspiration and discipline, which
have never yet begun to attain. His habit
OF distributing tracts was merely the out
ward manifestation Of helpful spirit-a
habit contracted in bygone day among
simple people. 1t hurt no one. For aught
L know it may have benefited some. Why
should l assume that because man had
an insffensive habit, of which disapproved,
THAT ne was Ht SUBJECT to be lnsulted In
the public prints, derided behind his back
and sneered at when he was present? 1t
was the ignorance of youth, my children.
youth. over-confdent youth, which thinks
1T knows everything and often knows moth
ing. | had not then learned that each one
has his own way of doing good, and has his
rights, too. Neither had l learned that it
is foolish and wicked to judge people whose
real lives we do not know and cannot know
or to judge at all.
1t was sometime before l got over my
surprise at the apathy of the philanthro-
pists Of Doonville in regard to that wretched
family. l was at loss to understand how
they could eat their Christmas dinners in
comfort, after reading about the distress
of the poor souls in the old house. I did
not then know that people unused to seeing
poverty are slower to lend helping hand
than they who see it every day that when
we have not the poor always with us we
forget how to be benevolent and sometimes
grow very selfish.
GERTRUDE GARRISON.
Three Angels on the First Christmas Morn.