Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-09-16

3 EhA aHN# H@@+E - 'Ah%- -
teaching But by continued taunts
they succeeded in making his whole
life sad aud uncomfortable. Yet Par
son wade always expected that some
day he would come home u find a kind
welcome and loving words from them.
They're Mary's children, he would
say 20 himself surely they must care
Il little for their old father But This
dreary November night the Old com
rorting assurance was no longer Lis.
In the bitterness of this new pain he
gave mp all hope that he could ever be
wanted anywhere.
With these thoughts 10 his mind the
Old man stumbled on, and al last turn
ed lu at the gate and reached the house
that he called home. lie stepped out
Of the cold and gloom Of the night into
the warmth and cheer Of the cory little
hail He paused for a moment and
held his thin. chilled fingers over tpe
register The grateful warmth stole
iu upon his beuumbel senses, and de-
spite his sorrow he felt q thrill Of
pleasure. Then as he looked mp Il
seemed for an instant Ms If he were
waking from a painful dream; for there
iu the doorway stood a winsome little
maiden. who eyed him with childish
curiosity The old man was passion
ately fond Of children, and his faded
eyes grew wistful as ne said IN CULVER
iug tones, Come and see tue, little
one"
There was little in the gaunt old
man, with his STOPPING shoulders. thin.
specialized face, and shabby, ill-ftring
garments, 10 attract a child. But She
started toward him, and was almost I'm
his arms when a sharp voice cried
Father Wade, what right have YOU to
touch herr Come away, Elsie dear,
the ugly old man viii hurt you" With
these words Miss Harriet, the younger
Of the daughters led aWay the child,
and Parson Wade was once more
alone. The look Of adherence and ter
ror stole over the child's face cut deep
into the Old mans heart as his daugh
ter's cruel words failed to do. A slight
moan escaped his lips, but dreading a
fresh rrbuke, he choked back a rising
sob and hobbled away into the dark
ness Of his own room.
Half an hour later the little house
hold gathered mt the tea-tabIe. Miss
Wade, tail and stately, presided with
cold dignity, and opposite her sat Miss
Harriet, with little Elsie, the daughter
of q near neighbor, who had left the
child with the Wade women for the
afternoon. The parson took his seat,
and reveutly bowling his head, moved
his lips in q murmurcd prayer of
thanks. Instantly his daughters began
"a cl1ttcr Of silver and china while in
needlessly loud tones they began to
talk gayly on some amusing and trining
subject. This was a disciplinary meas
ure I'm their eyes. we must break
him of this absurd habit" they said to
each other, In talking the matter over
Come, you've mumbled long enough"
cried Miss Harriet. ''Tho toast is get
ting cool
Little Elsie eyed the OLD man fur
lively during the opening Of the meal,
ana ddgeted uncasily in her chair. She
was a tImid child, ana Miss Wadc's
remark fingered ia her memory.
"Wiu ne hurt me now2' she whisper
eel to Miss Harriet, after some min
utes.
why, YOU poor child, Does he frigh-
ten youg You'd better take your plate
and cup into the kitchen, father. II
don't wonder the child is frightened
Nou really are uncauny tonight"
So P0rsou Wade was vanished to the
kitchen there to eat his bread and
drink his weak tea alone. He Ionged
for "a biz of meat for his supper, and "a
little Crcam and sugar for his tea.
once, months before, he had made
bold To reach for the milk pitcher, but
was stopped by the words, DO YOU
think we can afford to provide you
with luyuics,-you who DO not earn
clear ton event. After that he did not.
offend iu this way again, but tonight
ho watched. with almost q feeling of.
envy, the sleek, wclI-fel eat as she
Tapped her trimming saucer of creamy
milk. Lucky cat, There was always
enough food for her.
ON his way up stairs a while later,
Palsou Wade passed the parlor door
and paused a moment TO look in. The
IRE wa, burning chocrily i'm the grate,
There was a cushioned chair before It.
and ON the table by the big lighted
lamp was the evening paper. The old
man hosItltri He was never allowed
no THAT room, ne knew, but the girls,
he remembered, had gone 10 take Elsie
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