Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-06-29
THE RED BEGGAR.

Once upon a time there was a pretty
little cottage by the side Of the road to
the town. IL was humble. but all about
II. everything, was always neat and trig.
50 II was evident that it was not the
dwelling Of either sloth or want. A
honeysuckle climbed up over the door.
and gay flowers hloomed in beds before
Ii; while on the south was the stand for
the bees. where in straw matched hives
they stored honey all day long in sunny
weather.
y In the cottage lived an Old man named
Paul and his wife Barbarer. They were
very fond Of each other. and had il not
been that they had no children they
would have been a. happy as the day was
long. rs II was, they tried not to mis-,
too much the prattle Of little ones which
the storks would not bring to them. bul
went on their way in life. thrifty and
KIND to the poor. and doing good when
il offered
In the morning Paul would 20 afield
10 his work. while Dame Barbarer would
remain at home to do whatever bon,e-
hold task, needed attention and after
ward to spin smooth threads Of flax with
her distaif. to be- sold 90 the market of
the town or to be woven into cloth from
which she made clothing for herself and
her husband, on. What quite "a, often
happened. for some poor and unfortunate
neighbor.
Dame Barbarer was always kind 10 the
beggars vino came her way. They seem.
ed TO her 50 unfortunate in not having a
home that She could rot help giving
them at least food and now and then an
article Of clothing, and she was almost
always patient even when their r,.,it,a-,s
as sometimes happened. took almost the
form Of commands.
The poor creatures know no better
she would say They have nothing
not even sense enough to know how Ia
be grateful; but that does not matter.
do not help them because they beg
prettily. but because they need "
But orce upon time there came
beggar who tried the patience of Dame
Barbarer quite beyond even her endur
anee. Ii was one afternoon when il was
almost time for her husband to return
from the field, and Barbarer was hasten.
ing to get his evening meal ready for
him. She had been to the town to sell
some thread. and had been detained. 50
that she had not time on her return 10
baks-a wheaton cake for his supper. a.
she had intended. She had only a very
little bread in the house. aud when a
beggar came alongani rather impudently
demanded a bit Of bread and cheese she
was 10th to give it To him
The beggar was by no means a prepus-
sessing looking Individual His dress was
all Of red, although il was - faded and
weather beaten. 80 tattered and torn that
Il was hard to tell what il looked like in
its best davs The remains Of a red
cocks feather was stuck iauntilv in his
cap and Jagged ends Of faded red ribbon
fastened his doubIel Long black hair
dangled in tangled locks over his fore
bead, and, with hi shaggy black eve
brows, half hid his piercing eyes Ills
norc was sharp and thin, and there was
~ ms noatrils strange curve which
made his face one not at all progresses.
ing Add to all this that he was lame
4 one foot and that he had something
Il hump between his shoulders. aud he
vas not at all the sort Of man one would
wish to meet on a lonely road
Dame Barbarer heaeed sigh as she
ooked at him. and hcsitaied. while the
TRANCE red figure leered at her in a man.
er that sent a cold ch9l down her spine. !
he did not wish to share the little bread
lere was for Pauls supper with this /