Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-12-24
THE TWO CHARITY BOYS.


"Daniel, l tell you the best thing
we can do is TO adopt some little boy,
and bring him up as our own. Here
we are, you and me, in Missoury, hum
dreds of miles from kith or kin, among
persons as was time ago unknown to
us. We've worked and scratched and
saved until we've as nice home as the
whole Of Clinton holds. Now, then,
Daniel, when we get old and stiff, who's
there to take care of it? Do you re-
member the day when we came here
from Fulton? / reckon you haven't
forgot it no more than I. We drove
that pair of mules you bought of Joe
Smith. They were the jalkiest critters
anyone ever drove. Them were the
only horses we had then, and every
thing else was packed in one load
Daniel, wasn't it in our lower creek
them ERE mules kept us whole
nght?"
NO, it was in Ford's creek, about
mile from here" answered Daniel.
on remember, KeZiah, that you kept
fussing and worrying all the way, for
fear we wouldn't be home before night.
Just before we got To that creek told
you we'd be home in less than an hour.
| didn't calculate then on spending the
night there, though. When we was
about half way across. them ere
mules stopped, and not peg did they
move till morning.
Yes, Daniel, madden man than
You couldn't be found, just then. You
sorter cooled down after while, and
went to sleep. Well, we started as soon
as the mules was willing, and when we
got to our little log cabin, way back in
the woods, l broke down and cried.
This was the lonesomest. dreariest
place anybody ever made a home out
of. You talked kind Of cheering to
me then. Daniel and | soon took heart
again. We started out hand to hand.
Now at the end of a score of years we
can look around on well-fenced fields
and a handsome house and barn, all
paid for except the mortgage you're 10
pay tomorrow. Now. Daniel, it amt
more than just to show our good feel
ings to the Lord in some way. knowing
that he helped us to all this. lie has
promised to reward us for anything we
do to His lambs. meaning the children
Daniel Allen, don't you think you'd
better bring home one or two little
orphans with YOU tomorrow"
Yes. Kezah. think | will. Any
way. I'll 60 down and see them. There.
wife, the clock is striking nine. Time
to 60 to bed. I'll be sure to bring YOU
a pet or two tomorrow night
Five o'clock the next morning found
Daniel Allen behind a pair Of splendid
bays. on his way to Clintonvile. The
good old farmer felt at peace with him
self and all the world. His last pay
ment was due to-day, and the money
to pay it was securely packed in his
monstrous wallet. IIenceforth the
broad fields and comfortable home
were to be all his; he could raise his
hand and say
I" owe 10 man dollar
"During the time which elapsed ere
he reached the city Mr.. Allen thought
over every possible result of his ~ife's
proposition. His heart longcd for the
sound of children's voices and laughter
resounding through his home, driving
away the gloom there and bringing
sunshine instead.
But he knew that Keziah's warm,
motherly heart would be bound up in
whatever child she should adopt, and
that she would crafty It's every thought
if possible He finally concluded that
he would take home two little boys. in
order that Keziah and he might have
one apiece.
When his business at the bank was
finished, he started for the "Lowood
orphan home. This was 4 iarge char
table institution for boys, under the
immediate supervision Of a friend
named Goodly. This gentleman was
very much pleased with the object OF
Daniels visit. and Immediately sum
moned the boys TO his presence, when
tue farmer picked out the two he
wished ~ Rdopt. The necessary papers
were made st.,, sDd Daniel took his
departure with the ,i,;V boys, hence
forth to be known as BERTHE aIa Harry
Allen. Both of them were bright
handsome children. BERTHE was shy,
blue-eye< child of six, Harry a bold,
dark laddie OF teG years.