The San Francisco call., 1896-12-25

WOrK constantly; TO nave nanQS as SOL
and white as those of Rico. For the firsi
time the cobbler felt dissatisfied with hi:
lot; the work seemed tedious, the dag
eemed endless, and in place of his usua
snatches of merry song he heaved deef
| sighs. But his unpleasant. disturbed
thoughts were at last arrested by the sound
| of wheels before his door, and, looking
up, he saw Rico seated in resplenden
coupe drawn by pair of shining blacl
horses. Rico alighted, greeted Cosmo
most graciously, and as soon as the little
| shop was closed showed HIM to the coupe
gave few words of instruction to the
coachman and also stepped in. Never in
all of his poor life had Cosmo been a bic
or permitted to indulge in such luxury.
The coupe was drawn right merrily over
the pavement by the 1.-THE, shining blacks.
Cosmo tried to be light and pleasant to
his host, but strange heaviness was
upon him.
Soon they arrived before the door OF
the vine-wreathed cottage, from which
emerged Mrs. Cosmo, neatly dressed,
looking sweet and pretty, with the two
little ones. Then, as soon as Cosmo had
made his toilet and change, all entered
the coupe and were driven rapidly away.
From street to street they passed,
through the finest business portion,
whirled along into the quarter of the city
occupied by the homes of the wealthy
portal of beautiful grounds, where long
sweeps OF green lawn, rows of rare trees
and hedges of bright flowers led up to a
mansion of brownstone, the like of which
Cosmo had seen, but in vague way had
classed as something of another world,
far, far beyond his element. In fact, he
had never thought much upon the mag
nificence of those homes, and had never
sighed to enter them. But now he was
about to enter one of the finest, something
he had never imagined in his widest
dreams.
The coupe halted beneath magnificent
arcade, and alighting, Rico ushered his
guests into the house. through rooms fur
nished in style ana richness the simple
visitors had never before gazed upon.
They entered large room, even more
sumptuously furnished than the halls
through which they had just passed. I'm
mense lights of speckless glass gave a
view of the beautiful grounds and playing
fountains.
The host by rare tact and grace, with
pleasant and deferential familiarity, placed
his guests at ease. Apparently he was as
entirely unconscious of his rich surround
ings as he had been of the poverty in the
home of his guests. Without words to
that effect, he conveyed to their minds
that surroundings, whether of wealth or
of poverty, counted for nething-that in
the interchange of kindly sentiments of
kindred spirits, alone was to be found
pleasure.
A servant soon announced that dinner
was served, and all repaired to the dining
room with its glistening waxed floor, its
huge carved side board laden with cut glass
and china, the table resplendent with
snowy linen, flowers and delicate fruits
A stately butler brought in the courses
anticipating every need of the adults,
while maid waited upon the children.
Rubo Cosmo gazed about in soulful ad-
miration as he heaved low sigh.
"Ah, sir, how happy you must be to
live in such a heavenly place, with all
these comforts and luxuries."
my friend" said Rico, as the old look
of care and trouble that Cosmo had noted
at their first meeting again darkened his
face, which throughout the conversation
had been lighted up with pleasure and
amiability, "happiness does not always
accompany rich trappings. In visiting
your pretty, vine-covered home, in the
pleasure of meeting your sweet little
family, III noting your merry song, which
first attracted me to you, and in observing
your contentment and good health, Ihave
thought, oh, how much happier is he
than L; how gladly would exchange"
tsDo you not think, sir" questioned
Luta. as look of womanly sympathy
beamed from her large blue eyes, ''that
happiness consists In loving our neigh
bors and in doing good, whether one is
born to poverty and labor or to wealth
and iuxuryP"
.'Ah, dear madam, you have clearly
solved the problem of happiness which
have sought so long, and OF which l have
only just now found the key. but which
as yet fear l may not quite understand
how best TO use."
The call was at last ended and the party
again descended to the carriage. The
host re-entered to appear again in a few
minutes bearing a small, stout sack, and
close behind him followed the stately but
ler bearing another, both evidently heavy,
and which were deposited in the carriage.
In front OF the little vine-covered white
cottage Rico aiighted, lookup one of the
sacks, requesting Cosmo to bear in the
other and as he laid the burden upon the
table, remarked:
my dear friends, accept this from one
who is seeking TO make others and him.
self happy. Use it as your own, and in its
enjoyment and the good it may bring
may the happiness and contentment you
now know never depart from your home"
And before Rubo or Luta could recover
from their surprise Rico had disappeared
through the door, entered the coupe and
was being rapidly borne away by the
shining blacks.
IL.
Cosfno became q shoe merchant. Ac-
cepting the little fortune which Rico had
so generously presented him, under the
condition that it was to be repaid in time,
with the assistance of his kind benefactor