The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-06-08

miracle began then and there to be
worked in Abnef's sordid soul. While
he sat on the great chopping-block in
the doorysrd, in the midst of the ruin
of his hopes, gradually his misery
seemed to abate.
The sun had risen, the birds wore
twittering in the trees. and by and by
the COWS came up the lane one by one
of their own accord to tho milking.
The old horse and the colt in the field,
put their heads over the fence and
whinnied, and finally the great rooster
strutted up quite close to Abner and
crowed encouragingly. Abner, looking
up into his wife's face, almost smiled
81 forgot the creatures" he said,
slowly. They're left to us-and
there's the land. If we only had the
money to buih the new house with
wouldn't care"
"Never mind; we shall get along
somehow. j reckon the Lordrl pro-
vide" she answered cheerfully.
"Belindy," said Abner, TREMENDOUSLY,
''the worst of it is l deserve it ALL And
see here" hesitating and speaking
with evident effort, "I-Pm afraid I've
got nobody but myself to blame FOR
the fire. Belindy-I suppose-it was
my own hand that set that fire. You
sec I went into the parlor just ut dusk
to make sure the money wns safe be-
fore going to bed, and not conteDted
with feeling it. Int match to see. I
expect that match done the mischief;
it must bci And believe it's Iudg-
ment upon me, too.
"Yes," he sohbeG, breaking down
entirely now, "yes, I've been grasp
ing, wicked man, and now granpa's
money"
At the mention Of grandpa Belinda
sprang up with a cry, and fastened to
the chamber i'll the tree, closely fol-
lowed by her husband. In their sell
fish grief they had quite forgotten
grandpa! Was he safe?
They clambered quickly up the steps
and reached the landing. There on
the bed lay the old man, still sleeping.
He was very sound sleeper always,
and evidently the fire had not wakened
him.
Ashley looked upon him. the thought
of what would probably have been his
fate had he been sleeping in the house,
made their blood run cold.
"We should have forgot him-and
we couldn't have saved him, anyway
they said.
While they stood there he awoke.
Seeing his unusual visitors, he sat
up in bed and rubbed his eyes, little
hcwiidcrcd; then suddenly n wonder
fully bright expression illumined his
dim old face, and he laughed aloud.
81 know, Belindy. Ihaiut forgot u
he chucklcd, md slipping his hand
under the pillow, he drew out the
bundle done up i'll the baudanna that
they had hidden in the parlor cup
board, and delivered it over to Be.
linda
'I knew it would he safest here with
me-" he explained simply. "rhieves
don't never look up in tho trees for
money"
They built the new house, and
grandpa's room was tho largest AMI
best room in it. Mary and the baby
came home to live, aud mother au |
daughter did the housework together
easily.
The next year grandpa forgot oil
about his May-moving. He WAS con-
tented and happy i'll the new house,
where he nov found everything "frec
and welcome" But he still likes his
chamber in the tree, and sits there
often of summer afternoon, porin9
reverently over his Testament or gaz-
ing up through the trees, dreaming
perhaps of heaven. Compan.
ion.