Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-09-16

who sat huddled up beside her. "Are
you sick?" she inquired, anxiously.
The man raised u Redeemed, bloated
faced, and gazed unsteadily at her.
eyes," he said huskily, ''sick of life. "
A mist gathered in the old lady's
eyes. 81 was once SO, too" she said,
sympathetically, "when my Eleanor
was taken; but with tho Lords help
Pm living it down. Maybe some-
body's dead belonging to you"
'I'm dead to them," said the man,
bitterly, sinking into his old position.
Mrs. Petit was mystified; but this
was plainly trouble that catnip can
not reach-a trouble of the heart.
'I'm sorry for you," she said,
quaveringly, laying her quantity
gloved hand upon his arm; "but
whatever your trouble is, with the
Lords help you can live it down"
"102," said an officer, touching the
man on the shoulder.
The man rose to follow, hesitated,
then held out q trembling hand.
"With the Lords help, when I get
out of this I'll try to live it down." he
said, huskily. He looked at tho
withered hand within his own mo-
ment with twitching lips, then gently
laid it down and left the room.
Down the rows Of poor humanity
moved Mrs. Petit. Ginger cookies
caused baby eyes to shine, and kindly
words dropped like rain upon arid
hearts. The brown basket brought
forth punches of fragrant June pinks,
clusters of elder blossoms and pack
ages of marigold seeds. A bottle of
homo made cordial and dozen fresh
eggs were put into the hands of a
young woman with hectic cheeks and
a hollow cough, who held wayward
brothers hand anxiously in her own.
"There won't be much left for Johns
wife," thought Mrs. Petit, regret
fully; "but dear knows these poor
creatures need It,"
Two hours later the doors swung
violently in, and an excited group en-
tered. An old gentleman with fringe
of white whiskers under his chin, a
tall young gentleman looking very red
and excited, and two officers. A mo-
ment's conversation at the desk, and
58 was called.
But "5S," close in conversation with
two little vagrants, the baby girl in
her lap and the boy at her side, with
traces of tears still upon her old
checks, had forgotten that she had
ever been given number.
"You will never be hungry again,
she was saying, solemnly, "never
beaten, never forsakeu. You shall go
homo with me, and Tony shall own the
dog, while the white kitten that will
drink nothing but cream shall belong
to the baby sister"
"Mother !" said voice at her side
u voice in which there were both Joy
and tears, and in moment pair OF
strong arms had her in their embrace
'Lucy," said another voice, which
sounded like Ephraims muflled with a
feather bolster, "Pll never forgive
myself for losing you--never.
"Why, john" said Mrs. Petit,
''and Ephraim, too! I'm glad you've
come. There is so much trouble il
world, and here I've been sitting to
home shutting my ears to it. Ephra-
i'm, L know you won't cara. You've
never opposed me in anything in my
life. I'm going to take these children
home with me and keep them. There's
nobody i'll the wide world to look af
ter or do for them"
"But, mother, such charge a
your age" began her son.
"John," said Mrs. Petit, with the
solemnity OF conviction, "it's the
Lords call. They're sweet, handsome
little things, and such life MS they've
led? Ephraim, you don't object? We
will call the buby Eleanor, in memory
of our own"
For answer Mr.. Petit stopped ant
lifted the baby girl in his arms.
81 guess we've got money enough tc
hire nurse if they are n charge" h
said, triumphantly. John, you're 6
lawyer; you can fix up the papers a
soon MS you like.
And SO the losing of Mrs. Petit
like the wandering of clear broo!
over parched meadows, leaving frest
and grateful all behind, carried als'
on its bosom to harbor of safety tw,
tender human souls. New York lnde
pendent.