The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-14
Maple Hill Charity.


Cynthy Hull!'
II.
Maple Hill Charity.
The occupants Of the pleasant room had
scarcely all returned when the storm
seemed to clutch the old farmhouse fu-
riously, and a ghostly knock was heard
at the rafting door.
"There tits. / knew It, / knew
sunthin' d happeny gssped 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"'
The latch was sprung quickly. Then
It was raised slowly. Another great fren-
zy and wailing Of the elements. and
scared. trembling girl was shot out or
the night 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 head.
she stood there, the embodiment OF des-
perate hope and fear. ready for instant
flight at the first intimation OF unfriend-
illness.
Grandma Hull saw nothing poetic in the
weird apparition, and with genuine
court-martial air, chopped out one word'
Hungry"
con. missus! I doant mind a-bein' hun
s-rv But they be chasin' hus away an
rye gone and got lost" said the heathen'
ne IL half a mind TO spring back AGAIN
into the night and storm. ~,
"Ohov' calculated Grandma HUI, with
n world OF conviction in the word l
sec You're one Of them Gipsies lhal
been campln' in the grover
Eyes. missus, be-" reJoined the ""li
"a
40 ~ realizing that between hcr own anu
the Christian race the gulf OF mate an an
distrust lay measureless ana lihpaSs $50
rrhen the little vagabond burst into tears
which Richard Hull, in after years re-
,oan,bcred made her seem pititul, en-
cagine, and pretty.
Grandma Hull, never fussy about mel
charities. made haste to bolt tne hilOH. I
door against the hired men. Ihen' VIZ
lane and Josh, who were now uustii'ls
s,.isb the warmth of transmitted nospl'a,
HE influences, the wild thing was pidoeu
AZ the table where, between eNclteu Sop
bings. she was made TO eat a nearly me- -
a,,ervthing on Grandma Hulls part INK
while being done with brusque yet Ger
,ain touch of appreciation OF the siri
| ;mmediate needs, that had III u sehuii'
| humanity. ,,,,n -hor
"DIrtv?" asked Grandma Hull' whei
| the raven had finished her meal.
| "Hus Gipsies is never dirty. sara tn'
-, o,,ietlv hut with a noticeable IRE II
| her eyes. ~.,..,. ,1,u
.pooh pooh" retorted Grandma HUI
| while she looked appealingly az Jane, WV wv
in turn looked appealingly at JOSH WIN
| Josh looked straight at the sioM -pe 1s','
| names. but all three seemed clearly sd.is
| fed that the vagrant must have a sousihs
Nth before lying upon Christian oeu'
Tbe Girl understood ii all Instantly a
| c,neses always understand In iiasn sh
| had her splendid tawny bosom pareu' a."
| tben vvhisking her sleeves up to her rouh'
| shoulders said excitedly: see, see'-a
| clean Gypsy! 80 ,ona,r,
In another instant she was bendihl
down TO present the same unahs"eiao l
argument as 10 her shapeiy legs Jan
nut her back against the Kitchen uool az a.,
! a0ain fling her apron over her heau' VIM
-, ,,-ent IN the window and almost cur
tanned it with his hulking form. bu
| Grandma Hull took the waif prisoner
marched her into the garnet, and stowe
her away I'm a capacious trundle-Ded De
side the roaring chimney, where, muI'ei
ing words in an unknown tongue "lio
surely held the meditation and accent {
nrayer. this lost heather sObbed hersel
sleep.
That night Gypsy brother, or may ma
n good for nothing lover, had followed III
girl through the storm. For momei
nerhaps. he had Toasted his hungry eye
on the Gypsy racklie-safe within the farm
house cheer. Then he bad crept TO the bar
where like faithful dog, he had watche
and waited until morn. Refusing breakias
no had taken charge Of the girl. and ate
such grateful looks as had never glove
unon Maple Hill farmhouse before the
had set out together, hurrying acros
those bleak New England hills like oar
sllhouettes against winter sky. AS the
disappeared from view, Jane Tooher r
marked with all the conscious nrinne;
az nrophecy to her husband, who ma
fingered at the kitchen window until IN
raced Rouany were lost from sight,
"Joshua Tookerl mind my words
Sunthn II happen. Grandma HUI
hear from this"
And truer words were never spoke
than these.
Charity Afeid.
Ten years had passed. North ana sout
the shadows OF hate and strife lay clos
upon a shuddering land. Because FEY
cunning leaders had so willed million
Americans those wearing the blue unde
the old standard, those wearing the era.
under a new. sought like frenzied beast
each others lives. North and south IN
strength and light had gone perhap
never 10 return. from out million happ.
homes: and at Maple Hill, the trembling
hearts of Grandma Hull, Of Mary. nov
swest-eyed lass of fifteen, and o
faithful Jane and Josh. were ceaselessl.
quivering In dire expectancy from ever.
far-borne thrilling echo OF the dreadful
conflict: for somewhere In its thick ant
heat was the only son OF Grandma Hull
Along the hlackened war-helds Sher
mans conqIering hosts mad fought from
Chicamauga 10 Atlanta and beyond
The cruel sacrifice Of Atlanta had bee
nade. Intoxicated with victory, onwar
swept these hosts to savannah and tn
sea. Some thousands Of Federal troop
had been turned back to battle with IN