Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-12-19
AN ACT OF CHARITY.

AN ALL OI OU AM l. L.
Charity suffercth long and is kind"
The words fell upon my ears like the
dropping of water upon rainy day.
sat alone in the great. high-backed
pew in the old church, dividing my at
iention equally between the sermon
and the swallows dipping in and out
Of the open window at my side, trying
to drown with their shrill chirping the
sonorous voice of the clergyman dron-
ing away in tie queer little pulpit.
And smiled invoIuntarily, for Char
ity is the old-fashioncd cognomen
which my sponsors in baptism saw tit
to bestow upon me, Charity Wayne
being my full name. My smile was
repeated as Eric Perth's dark eyes.
full of mischief, met my own from his
seat across the aisle.
The Perth. pew was quite full that
day. l remembered that a gay party
of guests had arrived at the Perth
mansion, the grandest house in all
Allandale. And there was Nellie, sole
daughter of the house of Perth arrayed
like the lilies of the field. in the midst
of the gay party. A twinge Of some
thing like envy touched my heart for
an Instant rs | thought of the great
house and the merry company. Then.
quite ashamed of my momentary weak
ness, turned my attention ence more
to the sermon, just in time to hear the
clergyman droning forth, monoto-
nously:
Charity envieth not; charity vaunt-
eth not itself, beareth all things. be-
leveth all things, hopeth all things,
endurcth all things"
The sermon came to an end at last.
There was a tluttering of drapery. and
subdued hustle as the congregation
filed out of the church, pausing in the
broad porch to greet friends and neigh
bors, according to country custom. In
moment Eric was at my side.
Charity" he began, in his usual
quizzing way. "you have been thor
oughly expounded this morning! My
dear child, you look as solemn as au
owl. And here is Nell, who wants to
invite you to join our party next
Thursday. We arc going to have a
charity ball. preceded by grand con-
cert. and we want you TO sing"
You must not refuse" interposed
Nellie, Quickly. I'VE will not take
mo- for au answer"
But in my heart felt an inner con-
sciousucss that it was my singing,
rather than my society. which this
young belle and beauty desired.
/ nodded acquesence. i never could
refuse Nell anything; besides, was
just dying to go.
Alone in the old-fashioned church.
yard Il little later / wandered about
among the sunkcn graves and moss
grown headstones, when, turning an
abrupt corner 1T length, / came upon
an unexpected apparitiOn. Beside -
lonely grave man had thrown him
self dewn upon the soft, green grass,
md had fallen asleep. pansed inyol-
UNFAIRLY. A man of some 80 years
The very handsomest nan l had ever
seen.
Something in his attitude rs he lay
there touched my sympathy. He was
evidently no tramp or common way
farer. for he was handsomely attired.
and there was magnificent diamond
solitaire upon one of his slender, white
tingcrs-a ring which sparkled like
imprisoned sunbeams as paused irres-
oluiely near.
a.
only our southern climate can bring
forth. The sunshine glinted in between
the green pine boughs overhead. and
streamed across the pale, delicate feat
ures of the sleeping man.
A strange impulse prompted me. |
bent little closer over the recumbent
figure. and then started back with IL
feeling of repulsion.
Tho man is intoxicatcdw / ex-
claimed aloud In disgust.
1t was evident that he had been
wandering through the graveyard.
and. overcome by the influence OF tho
drowsy god, was taking siesta among
the tombs.
Footsteps fell upon my ears; knew
that the old clergyman. Mr.. Lynne,
was coming. An odd feeling of pity
touched my heart. followed by an in
expllcabls desire TO : conceal the
stranger's-evident condition from the
stern oldy'rastor. It would be an
act Of charity. argued. So hastily
drew my handkerchief from my pocket
IA dainty web of cambria. with
"Charity" embroidered with lilies of
the valley in OILS corner. and flung it
ever the face of the sleeping man. As
did so fell back with a groan of
horror ut the sight which met my eyes.
Not three feet from the unconscious
sleeper hugo rattlesnake lay coiled
ready for tho fatal spring. A brief
ipnco and the man sleeping so peace
fully before me would be fatally in.
Iured.
/ turned swiftly and flew to Mr..
Lynne. while with breathless haste ]
papted forth he situation.