The Princeton union., 1896-05-14

Ihe young man was shocked when
he beheld the scene of what appeared
to be unmerited but great misery But
when his sympathetic but astonished
gaze, full of pity, had fastened itself
upon the face and figure of the beauti-s
flll oiue-eyed, slender blonde Girl, he +
gave a start OF genuine surprise. Full
of a generous impulse, and quick Y re-
solved, he grabbed the laborer by the
hand, eXclaiming
Cheer up; / shall be back in an
hour he explained, and left before
the family had time to recover from
their astonishment over the unexpect-
ed visitor
All the father was able to do, in re-
ply to the many questions of his wife
#andgchildren was to console and cheer
them in half-hearted manner. The
poor mans sufferings had made him
skeptical: he had lost faith in him-
self and in others, almost also in God. &
But he said nothing about his suicidal
intentions or about the strange meet
ing that had prevented their consuma
ton.
5 Suddenly the door opened once more
to admit the man who was uppermost
in their thoughts. Behind him appear
ed two servants carrying baskets filled /
with choice eatables and sundry bot
ties, which they deposited upon the
table and at once withdrew.
The young man walked up to the as
tonished and speechless laborer, ying
i in tremulous tones:
My friend, tonight you have saved 3
my life. Let me offer you and yours
T a small token Of my gratitude. Do
me the honor to accept what I brought
you; also this sum Of money. And
now, cheer up, for you will have no
more worries if can help it:''
All shed tears of joy. Again and
again they showered blessings and ex-
pressions of their overwhelming grati-
tude upon their noble benefac ctor; but
when Mary approached him to kiss his
hand for saving the mother, whose life
was fast ebbing away from sheer want
and ailment, he drew back, saying:
"My friend, have more to tell you.
My name is John Graham, and, as
have already informed you, have in
herited great wealth. But I have no
peaceful home; my life is not a regu-
lated one. When an hour ago I left
you [ went to the next police station,
also to your former employer, and to
the clergyman of this district. l have
heard nothing but good spoken of you,
especially so, and in the highest de-
gree Of your daughter Mary. for whom
should like to care exclusively, if you
will let me-
These gracious words were followed
| by silence, unbroked but for the sob
bing of Mary's mother, who finally re-
marked, with suppressed tears choking
her utterance, that Mary was her sole
dependence for the household work;
that she alone cared for the little ones
| when their father was away at his
work, and she, the mother, sick in bed;
| that Mary had never worked away
| from home and was hardly tit to be
employed elsewhere.
Employment? A position: My dear
madam, you have altogether miscon.
strYed ny meaning. Nothing IS fl1f-
j thef removed from my thoughts than a
desire to see your daughter work for
others. want her for my own, for
my wife! could not pay the debt Of
gratitude which owe the family of
] the man Yho preserved my life more
| appropriately than to heneeforth keep
| want and distress from their home.
And, on the other hapd, what tet.s,
compensation could 1 ask in return
than the permission that would give
me the right to do 50 by milking your
beautiful daughter my wife, providing
/ Sic SudIeS Lily f1Ofe ttu1 Is Wl1lluS tOs
make me the happiest Of men!"
OF course there was no objection,
and a few weeks later the marriage,
took place. Two men, tired of life,
were fated to become the preserYers Of
two families who henceforth led a.
happy and useful existence.
The young couple founded an asy-.
lum for poor laborers. If you, fair
reader, ever go to London, and, while
''doing" the town, should have a.
chance to visit this institution, over the
main entrace to which is the MOTTO,
''Neyer Despair" you will surely have
t no difficulty to recognize the gray
haired superintendent as one Of the
! heroes Of this true tale, the old lahorer,
and by his side his now fully recuper-
ated wife, trying to do all the good in
their power to those in need. From
the French. 80