Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-01-29
HER GODFATHER.
How Hester Wright Was Kept
from Starving.

Two dollars and forty centsr Hes
ter said, bitterly. 1t lay upon the ia
BILE before her in pile Of pennies and
small pieces of silver, and over it bent
two faces, Hester Wright's and her
mothers; faces that had been fair and
beautiful, but we're pallid with sorrow
and the privations Of two years of grind
ing poverty.
Not all at once had they fallen down
tho slope from wealth to want, although
the first crushing blow rad thrown them
far along the road. From a luxurious
home to a small one; from that to a
boarding house; from ono to another,
each poorer than the last to a room In
tenement house, until they were at
last in a bare, cold attic. so scantily
furnished that the very emptiness was
chilling. They had, at last, reached
the point whore actual begging or star
walton stared them in the face.
IF we invest the forty cents in char
coal" Hester said, in tho same low, Bit
ter tone in which she had first spoken,
two dollars won't pay our funeral ex-
penses"
"Hestorl Don't, deary' her mother
said In a voice of sorrow. but without
one echo of the ring that was in her
daughters. DON'T God will not de-
sert usl''
People do starvel" was the quick re-
ply. And then, with wall indescriba-
bic in her voice, she cAed: Il could
bear IL alonel | could work, starve,
diet But to see you suffer is more than
! can endure. My heart is breakingw
She threw herself into her mothers
arms as she spoke. sobbing violently.
A creature of impulse, OF quick, sudden
change of mood, she wept for few mo-
ments, and then stood erect, dashing
back the tears
II will try once more" she sal.
''Give me two cents, mother, to buy
newspaper, | will answer every ad-
vertisement."
She took from closet q shabby, black
shawl and heavily vailed Grape bonnet,
and began to put them on.
My birthday, toor' she said, present.
ly. buttoning her wellworn boots. II
am twenty-one to-day"
And as she spoke there was a knock
upon the door, and basket was handed
in; shallow, open, round basket, piled
with flowers-roses OF every tint, fra
grant blossoms OF various kinds, buried
in soft moss and tender green leaves.
Upon the top lay card.
Harry Hester said, hot tears fall
ing upon the blooming gifs that lighted
up even that dull room. oh! he should
not do sol Think what that has cost
and he works SO hardr'
"He wi II never learn economy" Mrs
Wright said. gently; and he loves yor
30 we'll, Hetty."
''Our one friend" the girl replied.
Say rather, your true loyerl" said hei
mother.
Though he has good cause to hat
mgr
And kissing her mother tenderly
Hester went out down the narrow, bare
staircase, into the street, where q sharl
October wind brought dresry promis,
Of winters coming. A tall, handsome
gid, whose mean attire could not rem
der vulgar, she bore herself, even Ii
her heart-sick misery, like queen
carrying her shapely head with ancon
scious hauteur that lessened materially
her chance OF obtaining work. She hat
not learned yet to humble herself il
manner. even though her heart burne'
with bitter humilistion-the humilia
ton Of shame.
Shame, because two years before, he
father, who had reigned as million
aire, had been detected in traudulen
dealings that led on and on through tn
miro of dishonesty, forgery, misrepre
sentation and breach of trust, till, in
prison-cell. he committed suicide.
In his ruin was involved that O
others. and the greatest sufferer hal
been his ward, Henry Ashworth, son 0
an old friend who had left large estat
in the hands Of Marcus Wright, in trus
for bis only child For years Harr
Ashworth had been one of Mr.. Wright
family, leaving his home only for schoc
or college, and returning to II, natural
", after graduating in the law-schoo,
to assume mans duties