Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-12-25

rags with dirty baby on her lap afte'
she had heard Mrs Raynor's request
do as re like about It. said the
fond father. young uns are most toe
thick around here"
well, re ken take her, said Mrs.
Hunter. nodding to Mrs. Raynoz ''an
II she don't like it over there among
your young uns she can COME back any
day.n This was said In the most indie.
pendent and airy fashion. as though
there was every possibility that Ruth
might not like life in the Raynor tam
lily at all
Mrs Raynor smiled as she thanked
Mrs Hunter and then she took Ruth
home with her.
The child was overiOyed- Nice clcshes
and kindness soon developed her self
respect. and she loved her benefactress
as only young savage can love. She
was bright and quick, and learned with
surprising rapiditY. The winter went
BY and she still remained at the Ray.
nOrs- The summer and another winter,
and year after year slipped away and
she was sill there
At last Ruth was twelve years old.
and a very sweet and lovely Ruth she
had grown 10 be. Her comfort and JOY,
however, were soon TO end One day
her mother came over to the Raynors
and told Ruth that they, the Hunters,
were about to move ''oUt West and she
must 90 with them Tears and en-.
treaties were Of no avail The misera-
bic. ignorant woman had long been
jealous Of Ruth's affection for Mrs
Rayn4s. and she now declared that Ruth
must come home and share the fortunes
Of the family. SO the poor child went
away with her unlovely family into a
life that was hateful to her. For a tine
she wrote frequently to Mrs Raynor,
but as the years went By letters came
less frequently. and at last after the
Raynors removed 70 another town, they
ceased 70 hear from Ruth altogether.
Time moved on and brought sad
changes 20 the RaynorS One by one
the rosy-cheelzed children sickened and
died. and Mr.. Raynor soon followed
them Mrs RaynOr found herself alone
and penniless, for her husbands Affairs
were in a bad way, and his property
had been seized by his creditors
She struggled for 4 time. but sickness
eventually overpOwered her. and. as she
was destitute, she was taken to the
almshouse-
Here, on New Years morning she lay,
helpless and sick at heart She put her
thin hand over her eyes to hide the
tears Of humiliation which trickled
slowly over her cheeks. Silently she
asked herself how she had sinned that
she must be punished thus? Had she
not always given out kindness wher-
ever and whenever she could2 Had not
her heart always been full OF pity,
mercy and charity, and her hands ready
70 help the needy? Yet here she was.
i'll. old and pauper. a recipient of pub
lie aims Il is greater than l can
bear" she groaned. as the full force Of
her humiliation came upon her.
Somebody began to sing in the next
room L was poor old Nancy. one Of
the cOunty's feeble-minded children.
In quavering voice she sung:
Bread upon the waters cast
Shall be gathered At the last"
The words bizzed before the brain Of
Mrs. RayEor and she repeated them
doubtingly:
Bread upon the waters cast
Shall be gathered At the last
An. but it was not true-the promise
ia these words was not true. it was not
true Had she not cast her bread upon
the waters in deeds Of kindness, again
and again? Yet here she was. fOrsaken-
The tears gushed forth anew-fears Of