News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-02-16

ings, and the little cabin on the hill
side had no soft hangings to shut
out the gathering darkness. When
the night fell. and the self-appOinted
committee of five drew near, the light
from the small window shone out
bravely, and the interior was clearly
revealed. Such a picture as that
was! No lone man bending over
tracts or Bible, but a neat room,
plain almost to baroness, indeed, but
wondrously bright and hOmelike to
! those eyes which had seen nothing
like home Or so long. There was
strip of rag carpet on the freshly
scrubbed floor, q print framed in
! twisted branches on the wall; a home
made lounge, with pale-faced wOm-
an reclining upon it; while a little
girl, with grave, hOusewifely air was
brushing up the hearth.
Involuntarily the men drew nearer
to the window and gazed. Their next
movement might have been a silent
retreat, but the little girl turning,
caught sight of some one, and eager
ly threw open the door.
Papa, is it yOu?"
"Sssy, is your pa in?'' asked Dirk,
lamely enough, as they found them
selves discovered.
Not yet, but we're looking for
him. Won't you come in? asked the
small hostess, trife dismayed, but
bravely rallying her hospitality.
The five filed solemnly into the cab
in. There was q limited supply of
chairs, but with a rude bench and a
little crowding they were all seated.
The invalid on the lounge attempted
to speak to them, but the weak voice
failed to make itself understood by
any one but the watchful young
nurse.
eyes, Mamma; she wants to tell
you," turning to the visitors, that
Papa II be home soon; but she can't
talk much yet, cause she's been so
sick. ] guess it was the way the roof
leaked made her take cold; but Papa
patched it, and I'm keeping house
so she'll get rested and strong. l can
do it pretty well"
"Course, Sissy you oit first-rate, "
| declared Sam, as emphatically as if
| She was only a plain-taced little
maiden, enveloped in a course check
apron, but she and her surroundings
seemed to have a wonderful facina-
ton for these strange guests. When
she attempted to replenish the fire,
Dirk proffered his assistance.
"M y hands is bigger'n yours, Sissy;
see how much bigger!" and he gazed
at the small fingers as if a child's
hand were a marvel.
When for Il few moments she was
silent one of the men nudged Sam
and asked in a whisper if he "couldn' t
set her agoin' ag'in."
1t was easy enough. She was a So
ciable little body. and the few awkard
questions drew ready repiieS--an al t.
less story which uDcOnsciOusly gave
glimpses of many a hardship and
privatiOn. The pale-faced mother
only listened and smiled.
But presently the child broke off a
sentence abruptly, and turned to the
door.
''Theres Papap
That the master of the house was
surprised when he beheld his callers
cannot be doubted. His face betray-
ed it, though he greeted them pleas
antly. As for the guests thus sud
denly recalled to a remembrance Ot
their errand, they glanced furtively
at each other, and were silent for a
moment.
"Parson," burst forth Dirk, desper.
ately, "We've come-we've come to
that is to say if you'll pint a preach.
in down to the Camp We'll all be
there, an lot more O. the fellers. .
He concluded with savage glance
at his companions which challenged
them to dispute him at their peril
, but no one offered the slightest op
position. They drew a long breath
of relief, indeed, as the astOnished
preacher made his appointment, and
then they quickly took their depar
ture. Hallway down the winding
path O figure lodging behind the
! trees, was anXiously watching theil
approach. Sam espide and pOunceC
upon it, dragging little Jim out into
the moonlight.
"You young rascal did you know
there was wOman-a sick woman
an little gal up there?"
Jim under the shaking, chartered
something that might have been al
affirmative.
! "Then why didn't you say so?'
} "Cause wanted ye to goan' see,
= ventured jim, feeling that the hanC
| on his collar was, after all, not 6
very angry one.
There was an unusually quiet ses
sion around the campfire that even
ing, and the pipes were smoked medi
tatively. Suddenly Sam broke the
silence.
"When | was a yOungster, way
back East, they ulster have donation
parties, or somethin', for the parsOI
carried him slathers of things"
That's the talk" said Dirk, will
sudden tightening of his dark face
'Go to Hard Licks tomorrow, eh
! AN scoop the stOre?'
, The proposition was carried by
accIamatioo. Hard Licks was not {
large town, but it had high opinion
! of its own Importance, and its shOI
I windows were gorgeous. These lat
ter furnished the chief suggestions
: concerning what would be useful in {
poor missiOnary's family, and th'
BUYERS were lavish, SO that it was
8 safe to say that such Il donation
8 party was never seen before. Nor,
3 critical people might have objected
: that a crimson silk dressing-gOwi
) for the invalid and gay sashes for tn,
sober little maiden did not harmon
i. ize with their surroundings, but tn
committee from Hustler's Camp wa
) not critical, and indulged its eye 70
!, color regardless of expense. Usefu
t articles by the quantity went witt
. the finery, however, and the littl
cabin on the hillside was fairly inun
: dated with comforts and luXuries.
t "Blest if our parsOn shan't live lik
other folks parsons" said Sam
vOicing the sentiment of the camp.
And the patient, persevering mis-
= sionary. He looked up with eye
grown dim, and whispered to one be
: yond the clouds:
. Dear Lord. l wanted to win thes
3 souls for thee, and thou hast Opene
wide the door."-N. Y. Independent
a Now TRY Tms.-It will cost you nothin
and will surely do you good, if you have
= Cough, cold, any trouble with Throa
n Chest or Lungs. Dr. Kings New Discover
for Consumption, Coughs and Colds is qua
anteed to give relief or money will be pai
back. Sufferers from La Grippe found it jus
4 tI,s,A 1, 1 "a, l..