The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-12-31


was slumbering uneasily.
All the morning, above the clatter Of the
machinery, that moaning voice: 'I'm so
thirsty-I'm so thirstyr' sounded in Julia's
ears. Her purse was so light that the TAX
ing from it Of a single twenty-five cent
piece would involve self-denial. She could
not ask Mrs. Smithers for a pitcher and
tumbler, for the request, interpreted as
hint that she had not discharged her whole
duty, would be resented. But the thirsty
soul must not ask in vain for a cup of cold
water. Julia flched from the short space
given for dinner time enough to buy
small stone pitcher and cheap tumbler.
When the evening bell once more released
her she carried her purchases to the town
pump, made them as bright as, with the
help of cold water, she could, and, with full
pitcher, was soon standing at the weary
ones bedside.
Day after day the cold water was placed
beside the thirsty soul. Day after day the
bedding was smoothed and the pillows
shaken up, but not one word of thanks did
the ministering factory girl receive. Let
us not blame poor Nancy too much, she
was slowly wasting away, not in "crass
consumption, but with disease that I'M
strung every nerve.
November, with its biting winds and
chilling storms, passed away, and Deem
Der, with its bitter cold and blocking SHOWS,
speeding towards its close, brought the day
which reminds us Of the lowly born Babe
who came to bring gifts unto men. On
Christmas eve Julia laid beside the pitcher
of fresh cold water a card bearing on it a
cross and the inscription: can heir Of God
through Christ" and fastening to the
depot was soon on the way to her native
city where the Christmas welcome of her
mother and sister awaited her.
'I don't see,' said one of Julia's room
mates, as she seated herself at the tea-table
the same evening, II don't see what my
lady Leighton wants to fash herself with
that ugly cid thing upstairs forl She
don't get thank yer for it. Wonder if
she thinks Nancy's goin' ter leave her
money to her. They say she's got a pile
slowed away somewheres."
'Much We knows about it," said Maggie
O'Brien. "Didn't yez hear Mr.. Smithers
sayin' lasth wake Nancy'd splnt mhost
ahl her money fur shares in Their Updown
mill9 Niver clint has it paid, lisa year
gone now am Mr.. Smithers' thinkin' it
niver'll pay fur long day yit. Sure, eff
yeZ didn't hear that same Miss Leighton
was hearin' it. It's me own belafe it's love
ave the good Lord, niver mind if she do be
goin' ter Yankee church livery Sunday.
It's love ave the good Lord that's maxim
Miss Leighton take pity on Nancy. Amy
way, it's meself'd be ashamed ter say
name thing concarnin' Their likes ave her,
this blessed Christmas time"
,s,,r. /
ing, as we'll as human joy. The time came
when Nancy needed not even "a cup Of cold
water" When Julia entered her boarding.
house one New Years eve, Mrs. Smithers
handed her a sealed note. The factory girl
opened it, and to her surprise, found writ
ten, in q trembling hand, the following
words
II haven't q blood relation living in the
world. Haven't but one friend in the world
Miss Julia Leighton. What has made her never
miss all these long weeks, bringing me that
blessed cold water and turning my pillows, no
matter how cold or stormy it was or how tired
she was, yes, or how cross I was? know not
If 1t was not the low of the dear Lord in whom
have learned to trust since she began to min
lister unto me. VIII she see that my poor body
has decent burial and then take all of mine
there is left for her own. AMI may God bless
her and hers, NANCY BENT"
The signature was duly witnessed by one
OF the factory overseers, Mrs. Smithers and
son.
Julia stood beside Nancy Bent's last rest
ing-place and wept tears of sincere sorrow,
not for tone loved and lost" but because
this sister had lived so loveless a life that
there had been no one who, for real friend
ships sake, had ever wished her a Merry
Christmas or Happy New Year. The bills
for the simple ceremonial and its concomi-
tants being settled and the clergyman be-
ing paid moderate fee, there was left to
the heir nothing but the Updown stock.
AS she, in her turn, the next payday,
making one in the long file that wound
through the paymaster's office, passed the
desk, she was accosted by the agent of the
factory, Mr.. Bulinch.
miss Leighton, believe" said the man
o. means.
Julia bowed deferentially and stepped
aside, that she might not hinder the hun
dreds who were pressing on behind her to
take the envelopes containing their month 8
earnings.
"Mr. Brightstein is overseer in your
room, think" Mr.. Bulfinch went on, II
wish he could speak as well of all his loom
tenders as he does of you. He tells me you
are Nancy Bent's residuary legatee. If
mistake not she left some Updown stock?''
Yes, sir, New shares"
'sWell, that mill hasn't paid any thing re-
Gently, / suppose you know. In fact, it's
down SO low now it isn't even quoted;
however, if can do you good turn, am
quite willing to. You would like to turn
it into money, no doubt. Just bring the
certificates into the counting-room to-mo {
row. If I'm not there Mr.. Stacy will pilJ
you for it, at the rate of ten dollars
share. That's more than It's worth. Yol
see the Updown is all run out; the ma
chinery is behind the age and makes an an
tiquated style of goods"
This being said in an Off hand way, witt
the arr of a man to whom no one woult
dare to say nay, Mr.. Bulfch turned on hi
heel so quickly that he hardly heard Julia
''thanks," uttered in rather low tone
AS she passed out, she could not be deaf t
the jokes that were passing among the oper
atives; or help knowing that she, herself
was the object of their ridicule- Though
Mr.. Bulfinch inspired the toilers under hin
with some awe, he was not popular, for tn
hands gave him the credit of orlginatiHs
some burdensome regulations, and any ont
on whom he conferred the rare honor o.
his notice was sure to be made uncomforta
bly, prominent.
"Some folks got great present this New
Year Wish could have one," said one.
"'F me an you'd only git ter be residery
leg'tees, mebbe Their big buys ID convars
'th u.s." said another.
Maggie O'Brien, who had been directly
behind Julia in the line, fingered at tn
| gate.
ats an aud rat, tn agint isl'' she de
clared. Hes afther buyin' Nancy's Up
| down. Threw for We, now. He niver buy
that that's with nothin', an he'll nive
pay pinny more than the wuth AVE tina
same" and Maggie ran on, not caring to b
| too intimate with one who was, though IN
| justly, disliked. Julia walked on wondering