The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-07

were vicious. The best ones Were good
hearted, bat they did not understand
their proud and sensitive companion.
who did not readily iningle in their
conversation and amuseInentS The
girl was unhappy; she could not be
otherwise in observation-disclosures and yet
she was too weak and too friendless to
better her condition. She tried to read
and improve her mind during the win
ter evenings, but the severe work in
the factory during ten and sometimes
twelve hours daily fstigued her SO
much that she found it almost iclpossi-
bic to crafty her ambition. Moreover,
the woman with whom she boarded
was ignorant, and the house was uI-
clean and uncomfortable, so that the
home life Of the girl was unfav-
orable for the development Of
her higher tastes Not singular,
then, was It that she finally be-
came desperate and began to yield to
the weight Of the circumstances that
oppressed her. The vulgar talk of her
companions no longer shocked her, and
she gradually adop5ed words and ex-
pressions which formerly nothing
would have induced her TO use. She
was deteriorating. Like she ring in
the furrow. the best in her was becom-
ing dim She was out of her proper
sphere and she knew it. She loBged to
escape from her present condition, to
save herself from mental and perhaps
moral ruin, to ningle with better peo-
pie and to enjoy coRgenial surroun-
ings; bat of what avail was it for her
to battle longer?
Fortunately at this critical period in
thropic man who lived near the factory
became Interested in her. He aseer-
tanned that her parents had been re-
fined people, and that the hereditary
traits in her family were good. He
comprehended the circumstances sur
rounding her, and saw the temptations
to which she was exposed. He
recognized in her a gem In obscurity,
which only needed some person able
and sppreciative enough to place 1t
where it ought to be. Accordingly he
adopted her as his daughter, gave her
a good education and other advantages.
She became a noble and accomplished
woman, and her benefactor felt well
repaid for bis kindness. But what
could be said IN regard to many cases
like that of this girl, whore no helping
hand was extended? 1t was sad to
think of these cases. The fate Of the
individuals involved was similar TO
what the destiny of the ring would
have been, had it not been found by
the farmer.
The audience, most Of them wellto-
do persons, were much impressed by
the sermon. One wealthy member OF
the church was especially impressed.
1t happened that he had become in
terested in girl whose circumstances
in life were almost identical with those
of the one whose story the pastor had
related. The man had thought of
adopting her as his daughter, bat he
had been restrained by selfish cOnsid-
erations. 1t only needed the sermon to
overcome his reluctance, and he iInme~
dlately decided TO carry out his Philan-
thropic plan the next day. Now 1t
CHANGED that tAe poor girl whom the
rich man had 10 mind also heard the
sermon, she occupying one Of the free
seats near the veStibule during the
services. She, of course, was aston
ished, and wondered whether the
preacher had heard OF her, and had
founded his story on her experience.
She dared not hope, howeve that she
would be fortunate like the poor girl
in the story, and have helping HAND
extended To her. Great then were her
amazement and JOY when the beHevo-
lent man came to her and made his
proposition. She accepted 1t wish pro
found gratitude. Her new guardiau
was especially anxious that she should
be well educated, and it was not long
before he sent her to a noted boarding
school in another city. AT the end OF
five years, Mary, that was her name.
returned to her benefactor, a be&utlIu.
and accomplished young woman.
Every Sunday Mary accompanied hcI
adopted father to church and Listened
to the preaching of Rev. Thomas Moa-
ton. The minister noticed with de
light that the fair young woman APP
peared to appreciate his sermons very
much. Soon he began to cultivate her
acquaintance, and made such rapid
progress that friendship ripened into
love with surprising celebrity. He was
more hum bie-n inded than are most
preachers, however, and he was dis.
heartened by fear which many manly
men have felt He feared that be was
not good enough TO become the hus.
band of a superior woman.
In the course of a STUN bling speech
IN which he acquainted Mary with his
desires he said:
II love you, but feel that you are
too good for me"
Mary looked at him IN an encourag-
ing and affecuonate way.
'If you knew how great nv obliga-
ton to you is, you would have more
courage" she replied.
What do you mean2" he eagerly
asked.
II was in the furrov. and had Il not
been for you I would have remained In
il TO this day"
The worthy clergyman was mysi.
fed. An explanation was IN order.
Mary recalled the sermon and told
what II n ad done for her.
nr Neulton was greatly pleased,
snd. fuasmuch as be was to obtain d
good wife BY means of this sermon, he
declared that il was the best one he
had ever preached. u. A Bolles, IN
Boston Budget