The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-23

| GROWING ludicrOus shock" like a dis
arranged MIN bus, without a touch of rev
erential love. blended with a strange sort
| of uneXplainable pity Even his great
horn bowed spectacles, 50 large that il
might have been through them he bad
gained so much love and charity for his
| kind. seemed the only ones which would
have befitted him
OF whatever he had done in life there
remained some trifiing momenJo. and his
rooms, though little and commonplace,
were a very conservatory of souvenirs.
His work-rOOm was kitchen, sitting room
and parlOr; but from these extended lit
tie rooms and alcoves, which, like the
OutreachiDgs of his affection, compactly
and securely held all he possessed.
On one side of the room was great
work table, covered with odds and ends
of uncompleted vests; above it, string
OF shelves heavily laden with old and
rare books; and above these, arranged
with quaint and artistic effect, were rel
les of sailing in far-off seas.
Opposite the work table and facing the
little court, which could be seen through
the vine-cum bered windows. were several
smaller tables at which girls were sew
ing; while the 'click' of the needles and
thmbles touching and the zip" OF the
thread being drawn swiftly to its place,
made pleasant, chirrupy sounds. AT one
stove, which, winter and summer, never
lacked the song of the kettle for the
punch brewing, as if TO recompense for
the stubborn looking sad-irons standing
guard beside it,
Opposite, and at the other end of the
room where the light of the day fingered
longest, was neat deal table beside
which stood an easy chair, so capacious
so homely and so comfortable that its
broad arms seemed to invite you TO it;
and in this mechanism for waking repose
reclined John Hicks, reading aloud the
evening paper.
Near him, rocked Mrs Hicks, a sweet,
matronly woman with a face as peaceful
as child's; and busying herself about
the supper, which was being prepared,
was Milly Hicks, who had arrived from
Minnesota that very morning and who
htted into the plain but servicea BILE be-
longings of the little system as noiselessly
and perfectly as though she had never
been absent
six o'clock, girls" said John Hicks
pleasantly; and as the old vestmaker
beamed kindly upon his help, the work
girls passed out brightly with, Good
night, Mr.. Hicks. Good night, mother.
Good night, Milly!' And cherry
good night all around it was
Had not the little place always con-
tanned happy, contented faces. now that
the work-girls were gone, the lonesome
look of the stiff tables would have filled
the whole room. But John Hicks loved
mother; and they both loved Milly, and
there was not that in the wide world to
lessen her love for these pure, happy,
trustfuI parents; and all of this, you
would have seen in a moment, was shin
ming upon and from everything about
them.
AS the last touches were being given
the table and the late schoolmistress
showed her domestic adaptability by
grazing the preparations with dextrous
tWltchlngs here and dainty pattings there,
Jonn hicks and mother sat in the twi-
light cleaning with beaming faces; and
when Milly, after lighting the lamp with
great hurry and furry, whirled the chairs
TO the table, announcing solemnly and Sc
pulchrally in compliment to an Irish
maiden who had served them during her
absence, EFF ye place, mum, supper's
afther waitin'!' John Hicks burst in to
loud laughter, and gave mother such a
powerful nudge Of delight that, with a
radiant gasp, she sought refuge at the
table, where he shortly followed, hila-
riOusly insisting so, Milly, if you had
only given your MIR. Watson such a go
ha, ha, ha he'd never have written to
me az ALL"
NIilly sobered at once, but shortly
looked up and smilingly replied:
He ought TO have been worse scared
than that would have made him -
mo, no, no; know better than that
myself. They don't get scared so easily,
do they mother2 They didn't when we
were young either, eh2"
Perhaps the grace of the old days when
they were young together swept over the
years and blended with the grace that
was said before their bread was broken
For the love in our hearts tor our own,
and the worlds, for what we receive and
what thy hand withholds, o Lord, make
US humble, patient and purel"
1t was a quiet, happy supper, where
the full measure of love and content made
even the plain things of a vestmaker's
home glow and brighten with infinite
TRANSPORTATION; and thank heaven that
these things can exist and do exist wher
satisfied pharisees pass by on the other
side
After supper was done and things were
all to rights, Milly brought a low ottoman
and, placing it against her fathers chair
read from an old and priced volume o.
Shakespeare, leaning her head against
his armchair and resting upon his knee
the book, which he assisted in holdinI
| open with his left hand while with hi:
right he lovingly stroked her head, anC
with closed eyes seemed to drink in grea
draughts of happiness Through his hal
| open lips.
BY and BY, mother said gently, BED
! time, dearsl J" and a Bible was brough
| for John Hicks, who, after several time,
wiping and adjusting his spectacles, az
! though mist of some sort were hidins
! the book, read the twenty-third psalm
! that matchless revelation of Gods loyins
care, which opens the eyes, touches tht
heart and lifts the whole life yearningly
| trustingly upwards. And then this vul
gar little family of vestmaklng lovers re
tired with CHEEKY good-nights TO theiI
| cramped rooms; more precious in thu
strangely uncurrent true gold of the realm
they contained than all the riches of con
tinents of palaces.
O plain John Hicks, piece worker! c
pure, patient mother, helper! O CHEEKY
tender Mildred, loving daughter! What
ever your fate. when the shadowy vale,
is reached, may your sleep be as swee
and your dreams-if dreams they are
as void of pain or regret as they are to
night beneath the roof of this old Chicag,
rookeryl
Early next morning there was a hest
tating knock at John Hicks door: and
obedient to his CHEEKY Come I'M" ;
plainly dressed young man entered. Aftel
receiving an affirmative answer to his in
quiry whether he was addressing Mr.
Hicks, he handed that gentleman an oper
letter and remained standing while it wa,
/ bainp road