The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-12-25

To them and to the world of trade and So
ciety he had become dead as though his
name and his former virtues We're cata-
logued on the granite of the cemetery.
So long had this been his condition that
it had ceased to excite remark. When he
passed his former companions, often cross
ing the street to avoid them. they could
only look at him in mournful silence.
But at a social gathering about the time
referred to, when this subject was brought
up, and the opinion had been expressed
that there would never be change i'll Obed
Sproule till the day of his death, IA silent
listener observed:
"Has any one tried to break through this
shell of pride and hardness, and reach the
real man Within!'
"ReaL num-" was the ncredulous answer
"There is none. The man has been given
over for years to incurable bitterness and
wrath. We have all seen his condition,
and we all know how hopeless it is. OF
what use to court rebuff and insult by try
ing to change it,
1--WE who knew him i'll his better days
can not shirk our responsibility in this
way" was the gentle but firm rejoinder.
"The question may one day be asked of you
and me, where is thy brother' What
shall we say if we have made no effort to
demons within him!'
A brief silence followed, and the painful
subject was not resumed; but one of the
party went to his home that night resolved
that the attempt for which he had pleaded
should be made
1t was maze upon the very next night.
1t was bitter one, clear, starlighted and
beautiful, but with an air as keen as invis-
Il,Nr ttn,. fi,rt1r m
Obed Sproule, muf1ed almost from ears to
heels in his cloak, was skulking with the
step OF thief through the gateway of his
desolate home when hand was laid upon
his shoulder.
"What the dickens do you want!" was
his rude saluta.ion.
The man who had arrested his steps car
ried in his arms what looked like ii large
bundle.
"Here is a poor little child that have
picked up he said. She is homeless
and destitute Let NE warm her by your
fire.
"No-be off with your Migrants! Take
her to the alms-house and warm her
there. ! don't keep open house for pau
pers."
"Do YOU remember me!'
Sproule looked the other in the face, and
replied, pettlshy:
81 used to know you, when knew any
body. You are Silas West. suppose
"When you knew anybody. as YOU say,
Twas one of your best friends. ] did you
many valued favors, and was always well
come to YOUR home Now. when | ask shell
ter, not for myself. but for this forlorn
waif, / defy you to refuse yes, Obed, in
the name of our old friendship, say you
dare nOt'''
He was shivering with cold, but was more
affected by this blunt appeal. His hard
face, or what could be seen of it did not
soften: but he uttered brief Bring her
in, and made for the back door, followed
by the man with the burden.
Inside the house, the latter was intro
duced into room where dust. litter and
confusion prevailed, where costly furniture,
rare books and ornaments were hcaped
about in utter neglect. A fire smouldered
in the wide, old fashioned fireplace
Sproule stirred it and threw on wood from Il
pile that lay on the carpet, and the ruddy
blaze soon cracked and famed up the
chimney.
Mr. West removed the wrappings which
enyeloped the form of his charge and re-
yealed to the ungraciouS host il beautiful
little girl of perhaps SIX years. golden
haired. blue-eycd ard red-cheeked dressed
coarsely but very comfortably as became
the season. Sproule looked at her and de-
manded harshly:
ssWhat mummery is this. You said the
child was picked up by you. This is ne
vagrant.'
81 told the truth. picked her up tonight
at the orphan asylum and brought he's
here"
''You said she was homeless and desti-
tute''
THAT is no home for any child who is Ell
titled to better one: and she will be desti
tute so long as the love that she should
have is denied her"
A harsh. forbidding reply was on Sproule's
lips. Something restrained it HIS eyes
were arrested by the childs face; some
thing in it held them there. Could it be
possible that his hard face softened as he
looked: He held out one hand, and said,
gruffiy:
"Come here"
1t seemed more wonderful still that the
little one was not repealed, but she came tc
| him at once.
"Humphn' he said. What's your
nameF
Bessie. sir"
He started. and looked from her to Mr..
| West He SCENE balancing between anger
| and curiosity, hcStating to ask another
question. when the conf tence and tallia
tiveness that nature had giv,h to the chile
decided the matter