Evening star., 1898-11-19

you and to put 10000 to your credit. Upon
| this account you will be pleased to draw
such a sum will tide you ever the pres
ent crisis, and such other sums viii
able you to extend your business along the
safe and honorable lines YOU have hi hero
followed. | make no doubt that you will
repay the said sum or sums 10 the same
account you may be able-no interest
will be accepted-and / only lay one other
obligation on your honor, that you make
no endeavor to discover my name.
BE pleased to accept my best wishes of
this season for your admirable wife. your
two pleasing children and my confident
hope for your final and large success in
business-I remain your faithful friend,
''ZACCHECS."
Let us go and kiss the children, Lhub-
bic, and then-we might say the Lords
prayer together"
"A respectable elderly woman, did you
say, Marshall?' said Mr.. Greatheart, in his
room at the office: certainly, bring her in.
Very likely widow wishing to get her son
admitted to the Bluecoat school, or some
poor householder in trouble about her
| taxes" For to this man came all sorts and
conditions of people in their distress, and
to each he gave a patient audience and
practical SuccOr.
You don't trouble me. II | can be of any
use. nothing will please me so much"
Placing chair and making a confusion.
2NbW, SIT doWh anu tell me all ABOUT IL.
That was why the respectable poor loved
him.
lis it your husband or your son you are
anxious about?"-for she was much agitat-
ed. Il notice that woman hardly ever
comes about herself. It's We men who
selfish, not the women"
No, it's neither, for L am an unmarried
woman. It's about my master. who i be-
lieve you know, sir Mr.. Dodson."
Samuel Dodson, you mean? ] should
think SOL Have known him for fifty years
since we served our time together in
Palmer's cotton office. What, is he ill?''
| Hes dead-this morning. You'll excuse
| me, was his housekeeper for near thirty
year, and-Tm a little upset"
| Good gracious! No wonder. Maria Will
| kins, did you say? You may well be up
set. And thirty years with him. Tell me
| how this happened, for we've heard moth
| ing in the city. He couldn't have been long
ILL.,"
| NO, sir; he was never i'll at all-not what
you would say proper; but I've seen him
| faiiin' for some time-gettin' thin like and
| CROWN down-and last night he was that
white and shaky that L wanted him to see
a doctor. But no, he wouldn't. If il had
been me or the girl, he would have had a
doctor when there was nothing wrong with
| u.s. he was that concerned about other peo-
pie; but for himself"
Mr. Greatheart nodded - indicating that
Mr.. DodSonS S unSeliSh character was well
known to him.
No, no, Maria says he, "a doctor can
do no good to me. I'm a tough old fellow
speaking that way to me, being long with
hinl-1'H be all right tomorrow. But |
made bold to put a glass of brandy in his
room, and pleaded with him to ring the bell
| II he was unwell-he not easily man
| aged-and that was all l could do, sir
Her hearer was of opinion that from
what he knew of Mr.. Dodsons native OBJ
| stinacy, Maria wilkins had done all in the
power of mortal woman, and possibly more
than could have been accomplished by any
man.
Twice during the night / rose and listen
ed at his door-his face, when he said good
night, lyin' heavy on me, so to say-and l
heard nothing; but when he didn't answer
in the mornin took ii on me TO open the
door. Mr.. Dodson was a-sittin' up in his
bed, and at the sight of his face / knew
how it was, havin' seen death many times
My old master was gone" and the
housekeeper yielded to her feelings.
Dear, deari So, Sam Dodson is gone;
an able and successful merchant, one who
always met his obligations, and whose word
was as good as his bond he had a warmer
heart than any person knew. I've seen a
look in his face at time, and am sure
| that he did good in his own way"
God bless you for that, Siri but it's
what I could have looked for from you
if l may say ii without offense. And you
never spoke truer word, and that | can
| testify as has lived with master for life
time, and could tell the differ between the
outside and the inside"
"Ah, yes, you saw the real man, Maria,
but he was sometimes well, hidden
| from the public"
He had his peculiarities, and 90 hasn't.
l say. Now, my wages when ] came to him
was just f14. and they're just El4 yet, but
every Christmas for many year master
| slipped f10 note into my hand. Put that
| in your bank, Maria he would say, and
| never tell anybody you've got it,
"As for food, he was aggravatin'. for
he would have nothing as was not plain
| and he would check the books to a ha
4 4NIlf
| bring home grapes with his own hand We
dare not for our lives give morset to beg
| gars at the door, but if he heard of a poor
family nothin, would serve him but he
would go and find out all about them"
That's my Dodson, just as | imagined
| him. cried Mr.. Greatheart; tell me more,
Mara; 1t excellent, every word"
DO you think he would let any person
know he was givin help? Not he; and he
was artful. was master. Why, I've known
| him send me with money to a clergyman
that he might give it, and his words were
| No name. Maria, or We part; just citi-
zen of Liverpool
Dodson all over, Shrewd and unassumins
and full of charity. Have you anything
else to tell, Maria?'
We'll, sir, l do not know for certain,
and 1t was not for me to spy on my mas
ter, but I'm much mistaken if many a one
IN the better class was not the better of
MIR. Dodson in his troubles
How do you think thatp'' inquired Mr.
Greatheart in huge delight
We seen him read letter maybe six
times, and he would wipe his eyes through
pleasure as l took it, You wouldn't believe,
maybe, as master could be like that"
Il do, Maria declare it's what 7 ex
Pected. And what then?"
He woUld walk up and down the room.
ana speak to himself, and read another bit,
ard rub his hands,
Il wish had been there, Maria"
And he would carry a letter like that in
his pocket for days, and then he would nut
it carefully In the fire: but I saw him tske
1t out. half-burned, and read a corner
again before he burned that letter"
Maria, I cannot tell you how much
Obliged an to you for coming to me- and
giving me such a touching account of your
dear mastar. Now, Is there anything 1 can
do for You in this loss?"