Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-03-23

Mrs. Brown. ell, MISS luPu
dence, l guess what you need most
is character, and you'll find no one
able to give you that"
"Shut the door," roared, Mr..
Brown and don't stand there CAB
bling with such a creature. Pm
shivering with the cold now."
"Go away, go away" said Mrs.
Brown, as she closed the door with
no gentle hand, Ego where such
creatures as you belong"
"Where do l belong" cried the
poor creature, as she gazed up in
to the glittering star.lit heaven,
"where do 1 belong.
"I will try another place, she
moaned, "for he said 'ask and ye
shall receive, knock and it shall be
opened to you.'"
"Go away, go away" cried the
next virtuous matron. 81 couldn't
think of having such creature
under my roof for one instant. An
unfortunate indeed ! Go away.
And so with the next
"The white. haired old clergy
man." whispered voice, "try him."
Ten o'clock had sounded upon
the still, cold air, and only one
glimmering taper was to be seen
in the little parsonage attached to
the church.
A sharp.featured woman replied
to the gentle knock.
"Lord have mercy on u.s." ex-
claimed the good mans housekeep-
er; "who'lI be the next one I'd like
to know thatlI come to this house.
l don't make up no bed for the likes
of you. The preacher7 He's in his
bed, and wont call him up for such
baggage. Go away. It's pity the
likes of you weren't in your coffins
any way, so 60 away" and this
model of virtue sharply closed the
door.
"Who was it, dazedly muttered
the chilled creature, "that the old
man said turns no one away. |
must try and find him. Maybe he
lives in here" she continued, turn
ing into the church.yard. "It's a
large house, and handsome"
"Oh ~ she cried as fever now
crept through her veins, 81 have
found him at last. The warmth
reaches me even out here. He is
rich and great to live in such a
mausiOn he will not turn me
away"
TImldlyshe knocked at the church
door which in her dellrium she fail
ed to recognize. "Knock and il
shall be opened to you" she
murmured, sinking from weari
ness to her knees upon the stone
ond resting her head against thu
carved cross on the heavy oaker
door.
Hark ] music again.
From a house opposite breathet
the sweet notes of an organ.
Then q voice, sweet and low
sang with touching fervor-
"Nearer. my God, TO thee,
Nearer to thee,
Fen though it be. cross
That aiseth me-"
WNearer to God" cried the wo
man, with dry lips, as her eye fel
upon the carved cross 81 am nea
him. My cross has been heavy
and | sink, SINK"
Though like wanderer,
Daylight all gone,
} Darkness be over me,
Ny rest a stOne.D
"It is of me they speak and sing,
she said, softly; "the Tanderel
out here in the darkness, restin
on the cold stone. He will ope
the door to me, he turneth no on
away
Tlmidly she knocked again.
"Angels TO beckon me,
Nearer. my God, 70 thee"
fioated the words of the hymn.
"Angels," she murmured, "al
, gels y while lower and lower sa
her head, till it touched again Il
. carved cross. eyes, see, the doc
= opens, and the shining one doe
[ not say go away but-but-ah
! he stoops-he-" The stiffene'
. lips could say no more heavie
leaned the figure against the cross
!, mOtiOnless it rested there.
/. Thus they found her in the gra
= dawn of the morning, and the smll
Q which rested upon her lip mutel
), said, 81 have found Him.