The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-01-02


clinging to her scanty skirts. The sun
light gllttered with binding radiance
upon the hard white snow, but the wind
swept nene the less keenly through the
long street; and the poor creatures
shivered as the icy air pierced through
their worn clothing and chilled them to
the very heart. The woman stopped
for moment and stared about as though
bewildered at the maccustomed scene
in which she suddenly found herself,
and then sank down, apparently be-
numbed and helpless, with her children
covering beside her, upon the broad
steps of an unoccupied house directly
opposite Miss Evelyn's window.
"Oh, that will never dol" was the
young girls instant thought. "A po-
liceman will come and drive them away
from there in no time. Poor creaturel
how miscrably cold she looked! and
those poor little children! how wish
this was my house, wouldn't l bring
them in and warm them, and feed them,
just fer once anyhow"
And then there flashed into her mind
Mrs. sSuydam's gracious offer of hospi-
tallty to any friend of hers!
''Of course she didn't mean this kind
Of people, but then of course she didn't
think of this kind, and know she Is
very charitable herself" argued Hope
eagerly in her own mind. at is so cold
they couldn't possibly have anything
catching, and anyhow they needn't see
a soul but Inc. I'm going to do it,
and take the consequences afterwardsr
And yielding to the urgent impulse Of
pity, she tlarted from the room and sped
swiftly and noislessly down the long
flights of stairs to the bottom Of the
house, and through the basement door
out into the wide, stone-paved area
The sharp air struck her like blow, but
she stood still, needing neither the icy
wind nor the curious glances cast at her
from more than one passing cutter, and
beckoned to the group of 'miserables"
across the way, until the woman recog-
nizing that she was summoned, rose slow
ly and made her way, her children still
clinging TO her skirts, in and out
amongst the horses to the other side of
the street.
As soon as she was within reach, the
little governess took her by the arm, ,and
laying her finger on her lip as a token Of
silence, hurried her along the basement
hall to the furnace-room in the centre.
The laundry and kitchen were beyond
at the rear, and both were closed, SO
that there was no one within sight or
sound, SO she opened the door and
ushcred the shiyering wretches into
what seemed a very Paradise, after the
ice-inferno of the frozen streets. Such
great glowing mass of fire, such a
blissful sense of warmth and rest and
comfort! When had they known the like
before.
Miss Evelyn drew forward couple Of
empty wood-boXcs, and motioned them
silently TO be seated. Then she sped
lightly up the stairs again to the recep-
tion-room which had been placed at hel
disposal. Arrived there, she touched
the bell, and to the colored elegant who
answered it, she said with a pretty as
sumption of impatience:
"Am l to be starved to-day, Howard
because no regular meals are to bt
served? Bring me some luncheon, do
enough for two hungry people, How
ardm
Howard smiled benevolently; the
pheasant spoken" young governess wal
a special favorite with high mightiness
"With pleasure, miss" he replied
bowing graciously; I'm accommodate
You immediat ely-glad to give her I
square meal, too, for once" he added a
Ec bowed himself out. ''She never git
half chance at the table between then
two split children"
The result was a tray, in a few min
utes, loaded with all manner of daint
dishes; oyster patties, chicken salad
bohed turkey, ham and tongue sand
wlches, to say nothing of great goldel
orange, bunch Of white grapes an
plates of maearoons and chocolat
eclairs.
~ guess knowed pretty much wha
you'd like, miss. Take your choice G
all the delicacies, and l hope" hu
here Howard's compliments were alb
ruptly curtailed by the impenous sun
mons of the drswing-rOom bell, and tn
little intriguante, overioyed at heI bonn
fortune, seized the opportunity TO escnp
with her provender.
If the dark, glowing room had SCENE
like paradise before, 1t became tran;
formed into a very heaven itself, in tn
eyes of the starved wanderers as tn
blessed vision of food--abundant an
delicious food--appeared before then
The children started up uttering sharI
eager cries In some unknown patoi!
} The mothers great, black eyes owe
flowed, and she would have knelt TO th
little governesS as TO the Madonna SaI
tissima herself. But Miss Evelyn shoe
her head and pressed her finger 10 b
, lip so emphatieally that she was ohhgs
TO let her tears speak for her, and deyo'
herself 10 satisfying her own and he
| children's hunger,
When the last morsel had been col
sumed the young lady, who had stoo
r on guard, as It were, all the while, too
= from her purse silver coin sufficient
p insure them a nights lodging and
| breakfast, and putting IL into the w
: mans hand, opened the door softly an