The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1900-05-24

RACHEL SLIPPED AROUND THE COUNTER
AND STOOD BESIDE HER.
away SO could never get it, and her lip
began to tremble, and she looked at me,
trying so hard to keep her face brave dot
RacheERachel vas standing beside me
all de time-Rachel slipped around the
counter and stood beside her and began
to pat her hand, she was such a young
girl to be so sad. And with that the old
cabtain's daughter broke right down and
began to cry and cry, and Rachel just
picked her up in her arms like she was
baby and carried her in here.
"Vell, dots all right for Rachel l
could hear them through the open door,
and pretty soon Rachel was saying:
You'll take the sword with you. I've
got my own money. I'll settle with Am
minadab myself. He's just got to do his
business on business principles.
oh. but you're good and kind
could hear the girl whisper, but 1
couldn't take it back in that way. There
would seem to be stain on the sword
Zach, now, nowv says Rachel. What
for?'
My father engaged to pay back the
money. and-and l couldn't take charity
You mustn't be vexcd You're so kind to
me. But if you'd ask him to give me
more time. I've worked hard, and I've
saved these 81 since poor father was
taken away. [ could save So more, I'm
sure, il Mr.. Solomons would give me
three months more
you've been starving yourself, my
child Rachel said. You're all gone
away to a shadow. Have you no one to
help you?
"'No one in all the world. My father
was gentleman, and when we got so
poor he got out of the way of having
friends. Poor father. And so there
seemed to be no place for him anywhere,
and at last he came to Boston, and now
it's all at an end
1T vas such hard times in Boston last
year. said my Rachel
Yes. Oh, so bitter hard! Father
was ready to do anything. He was ped
ding books at last, and got little sew
ing, but then l took sick, and all the bur-
den was on poor father. 1t was when I
was sick that he brought his sword here,
and that was the last thing he would
have parted with except me. He bought
things for me with it, and I know now
he just starved himself She stopped,
and l could hear her sobs. so I had
scarcely got we'll again before he was
down sick, and-oh, it's all ended now!
Poor, poor father! He never told what
he had done with his sword, and was
afraid to distress him If asked him.
But he valued it more than his life, and
indeed l couldn't live and not get it!
And, oh, if your husband will give me
three months longerv
$50 / opened dot door, and / said, 4
will keep it three months or three years
If you like And the end of dot talk vas
dot l made her out a new ticket for the
So. Dot vas all right, hey?"
"Why, yes" said 1. Il don't see what
more you could do, as she wouldn't take
help. And hasn't she ever been able to
pay the money!"
mot yum cent. At last she come and
told my wife, 4 try-oh, Mrs. Solomons,
I try so hard-but can't save one quar-
ter dollar in all this timer And it vas
sveatshop. And there she is working
now, and every day I'm afraid she'll
come and find dot sword in my window.
I've been showing it in hopes somebody
will see it that knew the cabtain."
"We must see if something can't be
done to help her." said. "At least she
ought to have her fathers sword. Here's
So. You take the sword to her and tell
her that an old soldier who respects her
fathers memory sends it to her."
swell, yes, l might try that. But If
she would take it from somebody dot re-
spects the cabtain's memory she'd take it
from Rachel or me.''
'"Try it anyway" And 1 pressed the
money on him.
That was ON Saturday. On Monday 1
went into the pawnshop again.
"Vell, vat you think?'' cried Ammina-
dab, spreading both hands palms up
when he saw ME.
''She took dct sword all right. and she
said. God bless your Now, how vas
dot5 She took it from you, and she
wouldn't take it from me!'
Partly because you told her was an
old soldier and partly because you and
your wife have been SO good to her that
she didn't wish to cost you money be-
sldes," l suggested.
Zach, no! Veil, no matter! bury dot
poor, good young girl at my own expense
some Of these days. She is working her
life out just to live"
'That's too sad. Cant she get better
employment"
employment! A total stranger in
rags IL she wasn't so neat! Don't tell
you before that she sold every bit Of her
clo'es except vot she stood in to bury the
old cabtain? Her clo'es is so shabby she
can't get work."
Three weeks later a pale young girl,
starting from Boston on train bound
for Gloucester, said as Newton woman
kissed her goodby: "Oh, you've all been
so kind to me! l pray God to bless you
all, and may he bless the Grand Army
forever"
l had done no more than introduce the
case to my comrades. The post l need
not name. They put their hands in their
pockets and left the diplomacy to the
Newton lady. She called on Miss Blagg
at the sweatshop, and the outcome was
that the young lady was provided with a
good situation not far from Gloucester
as governess to young children in an ex-
cellent family. The outfit for our posts
adopted daughter would have been unrea-
sonably sumptuous had she not vetoed
our designs in large part.
OF Miss Blagg's family and personal
history we were fully informed, but 1t
would be improper to tell here the worthy
reasons she and her father had against
seeking aid from his relatives in the
south.
When she had left us went in to tell
the pawnbroker, who smiled immensely
at my assumption that he needed any in
formation in the case.
"Vell, you don't imagine that the cab
tain's daughter don't say goodby to usv'
smiled Amminadab. "Boh! She come
in here yesterday on purpose. And she
cried and cried about how good the
Grand Army was to q southern soldiers
daughter, and she said it was such a
noble hearted kindness that she couldn't
have any right to refuse. And she said
about you, God bless him, and God bless
the Grand ARMY"