The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1901-01-26

day, you know, come down to help
poor folks like you and mamma and
me-"
"Aye, close indeed, my little one,
close indeed" reverently said Joe,
''for in truth saving one has come to
me this day. Kiss me Harry. The
touch of those lips win purify mine.
mayhap."
Sweetly were the fresh lips raised
to the feverish ones, smilingly tie
earnest eyes looked into his.
"You are not-not-"
The boy hesitated.
"Not what?" asked the man.
"Not drunk now, Joe, and you will
come to dinner with mother and me-
simply said Harry. "She sent me,
and told me to be very perlite to
you, Joe, for you was once gentle
man."
A scarlet line shot athwart the
mans forehead. Then hiding his
face from the gaze of those innocent
penitent man.
In contrition the little fellow kissed
the tear-bedewed fingers.
"You will lbe good" he pleaded.
"and not let the boys call you old
drunken joe any more. 1 love you,
Joe, deed do"
Silently the mother stole away, and
thankfulness in her heart made prep
arations for the coming guest.
Could this be Joe, who, from the
| window she saw advancing with tho
little ones hand lovingly clasped in
his, Joe, who walked so erect, whose
attire showed such effort at neat
ness; Joe, upon whose countenance
a grave resolve sat, whose eyes, when
they greeted each other, looked into
hers with no shifting, uncertain ex-
preston as of yore?
THANK you, madam" he said.
with his old-time, courtly grace, for
thinking of me upon such an occa-
sion. l have entertained All angel I'M
awares to-day" he added, with a
quivering lip. MAY the future prove
you have done likewise
The widow was bustling about, and
the full significance of the remark
was lost upon her.
The next morning found Harry
again gazing from the window mot
upon the falling flakes of snow, but
watching this time the removal Of
sundry packages from wagon
which stood before their door.
Id. AZ 4
widow, "for mel" as package after
package was piled upon the table.
"Yes'm," said the man. 81 was to
give 'em to you, with Mr.. Joseph Will
lard's compliments"
With her boy clasped tightly in
her arms, the widow, while later,
sobbed out her thankfnlness and
heartfelt joy.
God bless my boy" she said soft
ly kissing his golden head, "and-'
poor Joe, mamma, ask for poor
Joe too"
Poor Joe no longer, DEAR" his
mother replied, "never again poor
joe"
| Hc lioStS VI .WluteT were RTdu-
ually yielding to the mild glances Of
spring, when day after day Mr.. Will
| lard was found at the widows cot
tage.
Upon his shoulder rested the golden
head of little Harry, whose waxen
face and heavy eyes spoke but too
plainly of the coming morn when the
| t,tr-
to threads of gold, when the sad beau
tiful eyes would be forever closed
to the light of day.
81 told you So" the neighbors
whispered to one another. ''He was
not long for this earth, the little
DEAR" and then the story of the silent
prayer by the bedside of the inebriate
was related, and men and women
alike wiped their streaming eyes, and
| agreed that he was spared by heaven
for the simple purpose of reclaiming
one sinner, and that sinner, poor
| drunken joe
And so one night, clasped in the
| loving arms of the man he had saved,
the boy opened his eyes, and smiling
into the face of his mother who bent
above him, said softly:
"Pray, mamma, pray for your little
boy"
"What shall 1 say" sobbed the
heart-broken mother, "what shall
say for my angel?"
"a 'tilent prayer" replied the boy
family. turning his heavy eyes upon
Mr.. Willard, "a 'tilent prayer. God
likes them best, don't he, Joe?"
Silence fell upon the group, broken
only by the sobbing of the kneeling
mother.
Harry" presently whispered Mr..
Willard. Harry my boy"
| But Harry was no longer there; a
silent prayer, silent fight, and that
lovely spirit was with the angels
Home and Preside Magazine.