The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-03

dow and sat down on the broad Sill, MS
deep-lined forehead pressed against the
cold glass. He watched the people on inc
street until his view was ooscured Dy
the moisture on the pane. lie RUBBED
the window dry with his coat sleeve ana
strained mis- eyes TO see through the iast
falling snow. He thought that ne hearu
music, and opened the wlndo"' ~ came
from the church half a block away, and
he could hear 1t plainly. Inc cnoir was
practiclng tne hymn, IN lhe hour Vi
trial'-his wife = favorite. The old man
stIlI sat on the window sill, his head
resting on his hands. The b; eeze Wnlcn
entered the window was bitterly coid' Dul
with it came the familiar words;
When thou seest me- "d'ei'
With a look recall. ,.u
convuisiva shu,der shook his frail
form. two tears trickled from beneath
his thin hands. and rolled down , me
cheeks. sparkling In the candle light ne
vision OF a beautiful little child came pc
fore him; her soft hair seemed 10 prush
against his cheek. lie rose 70 ms Iee''
shut the window. and taking the IONS
paper-wrapped parcel, he Die" oue III
candle ana tottered across the room anu
down the stairway. lie had az last con-
quered self.
Early the next morning, while Mrs.
Marshall was preparing bre@kIds, D09
knocked at her door ana haHuei ne
bundle Of considerable SIZE va =.
tened with a string, upon which huhs d
card. With difficulty she read the craihp-
ed words For Miss Jane Marshall. she
called her daughter, and they opened the
package. -,
ION. mamma. It's the pretty cloak! 1
am so very. very glad! who could nave
sent it?"
Il don't know. dearest. Suppose we
read this note" 49,.
on one Of the letter sheets Of the BAKER
who kept the store below was written IN
the same faltering hand as the caro- 'he
following note: ..,
"Aiy dear little girl: I send you with
this note something / know you VIII DC
glad 10 have Tell your mamma thd'
she has reason TO be proud OF her niue
Jane. l hope you Will nave happy
birthday. Goodbye, and God bless you.
THE Old MAN IN THE BAKE-SHOP.'
The mothers eyes were flled WIN sldi
tears.
"He IS a good-hearted old man. JANE.
Won must write him an answer. ! VIII
help you" a.,
The next morning at daybreak the JAM
tor opened the door Of the old artlst
room. He saw the thin figure seated Oh
the floor his head resting on the box
asleep. He quietly left the room and went
down the stairs. saying to himself:
Poor old fellow, ! guess he's pretty
nearly played out. I'll let him rest a
little longer"
Later in the day they found him just
as the porter had left him in the morn
Ing. CIasped tightly in his emaclated
hand was a sheet of note paper upon the
four page; OF which was scrawled in great
shapeloss characters this little letter:
Dear old Gentleman. 1 thank you so
much for the cloak. You are 50 good and
kind, and | hope you had nice brth-
( day Mamma says can you come and see
MS some day ! will say my prayers ior
you every night. Goodbye, and ] love
you so much. JANE.
"r. S. Mamma showed me how to write
this"
close by his head stood the old bottle
with what remained Of the candle. Both
lights had gone out at the same time bu'
the peaceful look upon his poor, thln
face showed that his death had been hap
pier than his life