The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-10-15
GRANTSV1ILE w. VA. TUESDAY, OCTOBER WHOLE

who sat huddled up beside her. care
you sick?" she inquired, anxiously.
The man raised Redeemed, bloated
faced, and gazed unsteadily at her.
"fes. " he said huskily. ''sick # 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 the Lords help
I'm living it down. Maybe some
body dead belonging to you"
I'm dead to them," said the man,
bitterly, sinking into his old position.
Mrs. Petit was mystifed; but this
was plainly trouble that catnip can
not reach-a trouble of the heart.
'Tm sorry for you," she said,
quaveringly, laying her quantity
gloved hand upon his arm; "but
whatever your trouble is, with the
Lords help you eau live it down"
'lO2, said an officer, touching the
man on the shoulder.
The man rose to follow. hesitlted.
then held out trembling hand.
"With tho Lords help, when 1 get
out of this I'll try to live it down." he
said, huskilY. He looked ut the
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 lunches of fragrant June pinks,
clusters of elder blossoms and pack
ages of marigold seeds. a bottle Of
home made cordial and dozen fresh
eggs were put into the hands of n
young woman with hectic checks and
hollow cough, who held a hayward
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 1T"
Two hours later the doors swung
violently in, and an excited group en-
tered. An old gentleman with n fringe
of white whiskers under his chin, n
tall young gentleman looking very red
and excited, and two officers. A mo.
ments conversation at the desk, an
5S was called.
But "5S." close in conversation with
two little Migrants, the baby girl in
her lap and the boy at her side, with
traces of tears still upon her old
cheeks, had forgotten that she had
ever been given number.
"You will never be hungry again.
she was saying, solemnly, "never
beaten, never forsaken. You shall 90
home with me, and Tony shall own tho
dog, while the white kitten that will
drink nothing but cream shall belong
to the baby sister"
''Mother !" said voice at her side
"A voice i'll which there were both 10 Y
and tears, and III moment pair of
strong arms had her in their embrace.
Lucy" said another voice, which
sounded like Ephraim's mullled with IL
feather bolster, "Pll never forgive
myself for losing you-never."
"Why, john" said Mrs. Petit,
"and Ephraim, too! I'm glad you We
come. There is so much trouble in
world, and here I've been sitting to
home shutting my ears to it. Ephra-
I'm, know you won't care. You've
never opposed me in anything i'll my
life. I'm going to take these children
home with me and keep them. There's
nobody in the wide world to look af-
ter or do for them"
But, mother, such charge at
your age began her sou.
'John," said Mrs. Petit, with the
solemnity of conviction, cts the
Lords call. They're sweet, handsome
little things, and such life as they've
led? Ephraim, you don't object? We
will call the baby Eleanor, in memory
of our own"
For answer Mr.. Petit stopped AMI
lifted the baby girl in his arms.
81 guess we've got money enough to
hire nurse if they are charge" he
said, triumphautly. John, you're n
lawyer; you Gun fix up the papers as
soon as you like"
And 50 the losing of Mrs. Petit,
like the wandering of clear brook
over parched meadows, leaving fresh
and grateful all behind, carried also
on its bosom to harbor of safety two
tender human souls. New York Inle-
pendent.