The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-30

get up hBalu, anu 10 pursue uutlr way |
At last Lizzie fsncied she saw house
and pointed toward the spot.
"Now, Mary,we shall soon get something
to eat; we shall find kind people there"
1t took them more than quarter of an
hour before they reached the farm house,
for such it proved to be. With hesitat-
ing steps they entered the house, for they
had never begged before, in spite of their
former misery. But at this moment they
could think of nothing else but their ter
rible hunger. When a few steps from
the house they heard the farmer vio-
lently scolding one OF bis men. Then
he went into the house, fercely closed
the door after him, SO as TO make the
windows rattle, continuing his abuse all
the time. The children, terrified and
with beating hearts, stood still at the
door until the voice ceased. Then Lizzie
opened the door and both the children
entered. The farmer sat in an arm chair
by the fire.
"Well, what do you want?" he harshly
asked the children, who were too fright
ened to utter word and to tell their er-
rand "Can't you speak?' he asked still
more roughly.
Lizzie at last took courage and said
gently:
ooh, if you would be SO good and give
us the least little bit to eat - a small
piece OF bread or few potatoes -
81 thought so," shouted the farmer; 81
was sure you we're nothing but beggars,
although you do not seem to belong to
this neighborhood. We have plenty of
those here and do not want them to come
from other parts. We have no bread for
ourselves in these hard tines. You will
get nothing here. Be off this minute"
The children, dreadfully frightened,
egan both to cry bitterly.
THAT will not do you any good" con-
tinued the man; chat kind of whining is
nothing new to me, and won't move me.
Let your parents feed you; but they, no
doubt, prefer idling rather than getting
their living by honest labor"
"Our parents are dead" said Lizzie.
~ thought So" replied the farmer;
whenever children are sent out to beg
their father and mother are always dead,
or at least their father. That is a mere
excuse for begging. Be off this minute"
"We have not eaten morsel the whole
day." pleaded Lizzie; "we are so tired
that we cannot move step. Ii you
would but give us the least DIT to eat, we
are so hungry"
81 have told you should not. Beg
CARS get pothing here"
The farmer got up with threatening
look. Lizzie quickly opened the door
and drew her sister along with her. The
children again stood in the farm yard
| but knew not what to do; suddenly little
| Mary drew her hand from her sisters
clasp and went to the other side OF the
yard; there was big, fierce dog chained;
his dinner stood before him in wooden
basin Mary put her hand in the basin
and began to eat with the dog. Lizzie
went nearer and saw that in the basin
there was some liqaid in which a few
pieces of bread and some boiled potatoes
were floating; she likewise could not
resist; she had but one feeling; that of
the most gnawing hunger: she took some
of the bread and potatoes and ate them
greedily.
The dog, not accustomed to such
guests, looked at the children full of as
constituent; he drew back little, then
sat down and left them his dinner, of
which he had eaten very little. At this
moment the farmer stepped into the yard.
He wished to see whether the children
had really left, and then he saw this sim
gular scene. The dog was noted for his
ferceness, and, feared alike by young and
old, he was obliged to be constantly
chained. No one dared to come near
him except his master. Even the servant
put the food before him in the most eau
tious manner.
In the first moment the man thought
of nothing but the fearful danger in
which the children were, and, quickly
walking toward them, he exclaimed:
Don't you see the dog? He will tear
you to piecesl" But suddenly he stopped
as if rooted to the ground; the dog had
got up again and gone near the children,
then he looked at his master and wagged
his tail. 1t seemed as if he wished to say:
do not drive my guests awayp
At that sight a great change came over
the man, the spectacle before him acted
like an electric shock, and feelings such
as he never had before seemed to stir
within him.
The children had risen, terrified at
the call of the man, fearful of punish
ment for having eaten against his COM
mand. They stood with downcast eyes.
At last, after several minutes silence, the
farmer asked:
"Are you really so fearfully hungry
that you do not even despise the dogs
food?"
But without waiting for an answer he
continued
"Come in, then; you shall have some
thing to eat, and as much as you like"
And taking them by the hand, he led
them into the house, calling out to the
servant:
4 IL