Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-01-18
MApLE MIL CHARITY.

| long enough and all your tine airs too,
Cynthy Hullw
II.
MAPLE HILL CHARITY.
The occupants of the pleasant room
had scarcely all returned when the storm
seemed to clutch the old farm house
iurlously, and ghostly knock was
heard at tho rattling door.
There tits knew it. l knew
sunth' d happen - gasped Jane Tooker
dolorously, flinging her bingham apron
before her eyes; while old Josh rose to
his feet threateningly. But Grandma
Hull, quite used to James alarms.
merely said calmly:
"Come in p
The latch was sprung quickly. Then
it was raised slowly. Another great
frenzy and wailing OF the elements and
scared, trembling girl was shot out of
henlght into the CHEEKY old room. Then
her hand still upon the latch, the snow
beaten into her black hair, which was
matted wildly about her handsome
mead, she stood there the embodiment
OF desperate hope and fear, ready for
instant flight at the first intimation of
unfrlendliness.
Grandma Hull saw nothing poetic in
the weird apparition, and with genu-
Inc court-martial air, chopped out the
one word:
Hungry"
"oh, missus! / doant mind a-oein
hungry. But they be chasin' hus away;
an I've gone an got lostr said the
heather, as If half a mind to spring
back again into the night and storm.
"oho! calculated Grandma Hull with
world OF conviction in the word. II
see. You're one o. them gypsies that's
been campin' in the groveEh
Yes, missus, be-" rejoined the waif;
as II realizing that between her own and
the Christian race the gulf of hate and
dlstrust lay measureless and impossible.
Then the little vagabond burst into tears
which Richard Hull in after years re.
membered made her seem pitiful, en-
gaging and pretty.
Grandma Hull, never fussy about her
charities, made haste to bolt the kitchen
door against the hired men. Then, with
Jane and Josh, who were now busting
with the warmth of transmitted Hospital
bic influences, the wild thing was placed
at the table where, between excited Sob
bings, she was made 10 cat hearty
NEAL everything on Grandma Hull's
part the while being done with brusoue
yet certain touch OF appreciation of The
glrl's immediate needs, that had in it
genuine humanity.
"Dirtyr asked Grandma Hull, when
the raven had finished her meal.
Illus gypsies is never dirtyp said
the girl quietly, but with noticeable
fire in her eyes.
"Pooh, pooh!' retorted Grandma Hull,
while she looked appealingly at Jane,
VINO in turn looked oppealinglyat Josh,
While Josh looked straight at the snow
pelted panes; but all three seemed
clearly satisfied that the yagrant must
have a sousing bath before lying upon Il
Christian bed.
The girl understood it all instantly,
as gypsies always understand. In a
Hash she had her splendid tawny bosom
Dared, and then, whisking her sleeves ub
to her round shoulders, said excitedly
"See, see la clean gypsy p
In another instant she was bending
down to present the same unanswerabie
argument as to her shapely legs. Jane
put her back against the kitchen door
and again flung her apron over her
head; while Josh went to the window
and almost curtained it with his hulk.
ing form. But Grandma Hull took the
walf prisoner, marched her into the
garrett, and slowed her away in
capacious trundle-bed beside the roar.
ing chimney, where, muttering words
in an unknown tongue which surely
held the meditation and accent Of
prayer, this lost heather sobbed herself
to sleep.
That night gypsy brother, or may
hap good-for-nothing lover, had fol-
lowed the girl through the storm. For a
moment, perhaps, he had Toasted his
hungry eyes on the gypsy racklie safe
within the farmhouse cheer. Then he
had crept to the barn where, like faith
ful dog, he had watched and waited
until morn. Refusing breakfast, he mad
taken charge of the girl, and, after such
grateful looks as had never glowed upon
Maple Hill farmhouse before, they had
set out together, hurrying across those
bleak New England hills like dark
silhouettes against winter sky. AS
they disappeared from view, Jane
Tooker remarked with all the consc Gus
irmness of prophecy to her husband,
who had fingered at the kitchen win
dow until the ragged Romany were lost
from sight:
Joshua Tookerl mind my words.
sunthin' III happen. Grammer Hull II |
hear from thisl"
And truer words were never spoken
than these