Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-14

Ell III dC the gate ana reached the mouse
that he called home He stepped out
of the cold and gloom Of the night int,
the warmth and cheer of the coy LITTLE
hall. He paused for a moment ana
held his thin, chilled fingers over the
| register. The grateful warmth stole
| in upon his benumbed senses. and de
spite his sorrow he felt thrill OF
| pleasure. Then as he looked IN il
| seemed for an instant as if he Were
waking from painful dream; for there
| in 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 he said in culver.
| ing tones, Come and see me, little
one"
There was little in the gaunt old
man, with his STOPPING shoulders, thin.
specialized face, and shabby, Hitting
garments, to attract a child. But she
started toward him, and was almost in
his arms when a sharp voice cried
Father Wade, what right have you to
touch her? Come away, Elsie dear
the ugly old man will 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 rebuke, 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 at the tea-table. Miss
Wade, tall and stately presided with
cold dignity, and opposite her sat Miss
Harriet, with little Elsie, the daughter
of a near neighbOr, who had left the
child with the Wade women for the
afternoon. The parSOn took his seat,
and revently bowling his head, moved
his lips in q murmured prayer of
thanks. Instantly his daughters began
Il clatter of silver and china while in
needlessly loud tones they began to
talk gayly on some amusing and trif1ing
subject. This was Il disciplinary meas
ure in their eyes. I'VE 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. The toast is get
ing cool"
Little Elsie eyed the old man fur
lively during the opening OF the meal,
and tidgeted uneasily in her chair. She
was q timid child. and Miss Wade's
remark fingered in her memory.
VIII he hurt me now" she whisper
ed to Miss Harriet, after some min
uteS.
why. you poor child Does he frgh-
ten you? You'd better take your plate
and cup into the kitchen. father. /
don't wonder the child is frightened
You really are uncanny tonight"
SO parson Wade was vanished to the
kitchen there TO cat his bread and
drink his weak tea alone He longed
for Il bit OF meat for his supper, and a
little cream 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 luXuries, who do not earn
clear tea even?' After that he did not
offend in this way again. but tonight
he watched, with almost a feeling of
envy, the sleek, well-fed cat as she
Tapped her trimming saucer of creamy
milk. Lucky cat! There was always
enough food for her
On his way up stairs Il while later,
Parson Wade passed the parlor door
and paused a moment to look in. The
fire was burning cheerily in the CRATE,
there was a cushioned chair before it,
and on the table by the big lighted
lamp was the evening paper. The old
man hesitated. He was never allowed
in that room, he knew; but the girls, -
he remembered, had gone to take Elsie
home, several doors away. And that
paper, he was sure, had a long report
of the conference held the d.. before
in a neighboring city. The temptation
was irresistible. He sat down in the
big easy-chair and began to read.
This weary old Christian veteran, his
years of active service ended, yearned
for news of the thousands of soldiers
in the thick of the fight, and rarely did
a paper or magazine enter his hands.
That the work he so loved was still
going on, he felt sure; but in his mar
row, cramped life he lOnged for de-
tailed tidings of the progress of the
church.
With gliStening eyes he read, forget
ting his own sorrows. Half an hour
had passed when a hand drew the
paper from his grasp, and his eldest
daughters cold voice said, you for
get that this room is not intended for
your use" Miss Wade was never so
abusive in her language as her hot
tempered sister, but her icy, sarcastic
words were often quite as cutting.
But tonight her father scarcely heard
the words. He rose mechanically, and
with feeble steps climbed the stairs to
his chamber. There, in the bare, desc
late room, with it's bit of faded carpet
and its scanty furnishings, shut out
j from the CHEEKY little parlor with its
fire. piano, books and cushioned chairs,
the old man spent the long evenings in
dreary loneliness. There he tOiled over
his spiritless sermons, trying out of his
meager, barren life to find something
! that might bring encouragement and
comfort to some struggling soul. When
/ the oil gave out in the little lamp, and
| the light grew dim. he would close his
! books with sigh and gather his