The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-04-02
their astonishr.ent ovor the unexpeot-

! enoh. asGohiSHTlenC OVer tne uHeSpecC
ed visitor.
All the father was able to do II
reply to the many questions of his wife
and children was to comfort them in S
half-hearted manner. The poor mau's
sufferings had made him skeptical
he had lost faith in himself and II
others, almost also in God. But he
said nothing about his suicidal inten
| tions or about the strange meeting
that had prevented their CONSUMING
tiOn.
Suddenly the door opened once moro
to admit tho man who was uppermost
in their thoughts. Behind him ap
peared two servants carrying baskets
deposited upon the table and ut once
withdrew.
The young man walked up to the
astonished and speechless laborer:
saying in tremulous tones:
My friend, tonight you have saved
my life. Let me offer you and yours
n small token of my gratudo. Do mo
the honor to accept what | brought
you, also this sum of money. And
now, cheer up, for you will have no
moro worries if can help it,"
All shed tears Of joy. Again and
again they showered blessings and ex.
pressions Of their overw Ginning graft
tude upon their noble benefactOr 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 l have moro to tell
you. My name is John Graham, and,
as have already informed you, | have
Inherited great wealth. But | have
no peaceful home, my life is not a reg
ulated one. Wien an hour ago | left
you | went to the next police station,
to find out all l could about you, also
to your former employer, and to tho
clergyman Of this district. l have
heard nothing but good spoken Of you,
especially 80 and in the highest de-
gree, OF your daughter Mary, for.
whom 1shOuld like to care exclusively,
if you will let me-"
These words were followed by
silence, unbrokon but for the sobbiug
OF Mary's mother, who finally remark
Cd with suppressed tears choking her
uttrraDcc, that Mary was her solo de-
pcndcnco for tho household work, that
she alone cared for tho little ones
wncn their father was away at his
work, and she, the mother, sick in
her bed, that Mary had pever worked
away from home, and was hardly in Il
tit condition to be employed elsewhere.
Employment? "A position? My
dear madam. you have altogether mis-
construed my meaning. Nothing is
further removed from my thoughts
than Il desire to sec your daughter work
for others. | want her for my own,
for my wife | could not pay the
debt Of gratitu 10 which | owe the
family Of the man who preserved my
life moro appropriately than to hence
forth keep want and distress from
their home. Aud ask in return the
permission that would give me the
right to do 30 by making your boauti-
ful daughter my wife, providing she
shares my love and is willing to make
me- the happiest Of men ~
OF course, there was no objection,
and IL few weeks later the marriage
took place. Two men, tired Of life,
were fatcd to become the prcservers Of
two families who henceforth led q
happy and useful existence.
The young couple founded an asylum
for poor laborers. If you, fair reader,
ever go to London, and while "doing"
the town should have a chance to visit
this institute, over the main 'cntrancc
| to which is the motto "Ncver Despair,
YOU will surely have no difficulty tt
recognize the grayhaired superintcn
dent us one of the heroes OF this true
tale, thc old laborcr, and by his sid'
his now fully rccupcratcd wife, trying
to do all the good in choir power tt
those in need.