Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-01-31

'ouiu' pul III tne Hdiu
had"
Has that rascally agent OF -, ,,''"e
been bothering you, Mrs. Grogan
"Indade the man only wanted you'
rint. sor, an told hom-
Never mind what you told MN "
Grogan So this is Molly. Is ~
tie Molly. How old Is she!
Siven. sor. Speak to the Jih'iei''h"
Molly. dear"
Now. Mollyr' and he produced III
yer coin from his vest pocket, ) n az, H., H."
ing TO give this to your motneI; "d rna n-
~ going to buy you the plgs11a' r. Mrs
pie you ever saw Nina you 90 IT, ~ >.
Grogan Now. about that rent How
long have you been living in that mouse
of mne?"
Eleven yeaH. sor." ,oro
Why, IL seems to me lnat you HaNe
been pretty steady tenant
~ got this notice day before yist'ruaS
sor. and she hauded him hot'ce oi 'iS
possession
The lumber merchant scowlei Ana
| this. he muttered lis done IN my hafht,
All the hardships that are iiiiiIieu ii.I upoi. ~.
| these poor souls who have paid rent Iol
| eleven years, | have TO stand sponsor
| for
Now, Mrs Grogan." he said turning
TO the widow. who was wlp.hs NJ rfe., oNes
with a corner of her dress. an tpiiil
| W SiNt Sou II mote W VI, 20
will fix YOU all right. so far ~ N" r., heNt en-
| quarters rent is concerned. am ! u seI
YOU before then. You've had pretty nara
lines since Patrick died .,,.. ~
"lndade. very hard. sor; ManN 'he r.
meal-hour there's neither bite nor sup n
the house"
TOO bad Too bad But we must try
| to help YOU in some way. VIII set my my
| wife to come down and see ypu' ME NIT
! Grogan, and see If we cannot Elakc u cas-.
/ ier for YOU and little Molly. I'm, molly
| The child smiled in his face bnt Sun
| clunS 10 her mothers sleeve. IL Iuiiip.eu
, IN his Nest-pocket-it was a 9'r snse tr'ite
| that he was prompted to do. put ne dla
fit. Generosity had never 3ee2 weak
ness of the moneymaker. but ms, ne
| felt. was special case. II was ms doing
| all this misery and suffering lie hahGco
| Il tcn-dollar bin to the widow
| Now. here is something to keep the pot
boiling. anyway. and don't you fear but
we will call" ne said. cordially That
| is all | wanted to see you about. Mrs
| Grogan. Good night. little Molly.
| Then the pent-up motion broke ont be
| yond all control The poor widow was
overwhelmed with such kindness, ana sht
fairly broke down.
May the Lord bless yc. sor" on may
| He bless you and yours forever, Indadc
it's good man you are. the Gay 70 M
an Molly. and we'll pray for .you iverH
| day of our lives-that we Will It's KIND
| heart you have, indade it is
Hush, Don't say such things. said
| the lumber dealer huskily. and his owr
| voice trembled. You can find your way
| down, and they will see you on the car
"Oh. indade. well walk she said
| smiling. while the tears stiil dropped.
| feel like fyin."
He heard their steps going down ths
stairs. the patter OF the child keeping ac
compartment to the heavier football ol
| the mother Both were smiling with JOY
and happiness.
With his own eyes strangely moist w!tt
the suspicion OF tears. he turned from the
| window and looked toward the shadowec
corner OF the room. The soul seemed q
smile at him with a kindly Expression
| which ne had not observed befNre.
The hours that followed were eventfu
ones for the lumber nrerchant Long ht
| sat, and at intervals he convtrsed with
his strange companion. The complete
record OF his career unrolled itself beforc
him. He saw In new and unfamiliar
| light many of the events which iit mao
| recorded as triumphs: he recalled a thou
sand Instances where he had been harsh
where he had repressed noble impulses
and sacrificed love and affection in order
that he might be unhampered in his
struggle for wealth; where heshad driver
hard bargains and been guilty OF what
now seemed monstrous injustice, though
| the world called ii shrewd trading. Anc
then. with this reflection he looked agaIs
at his dark and diminutive visitor
You forgot that these men were youl
| brothers,. said the voice from the cor
ner answering his unspoken thoughts
Du showed tUefn no mercy you tndut
no allowances: you took the fEll measur,
of your rights as you understood then
and gave no quarter. Their broken fort
tunes and blighted hopes you made step
ping-stones to your own success. YuJ
have trodden all the way upon hearts
even the hearts of your own dear ones
You have given me-your soul-no oppor-
tunity for growth, but have made me. as
you see. a thing to be loa thed and de-
spised." And it bowed itself in its cor
ner with gesture of sorrow
With n zeal that was almost feverish
f'Se set about as far as man could do. {,
rectify the wrong the injustices, the in
juries and the sharp trading OF years. II
took time and no little grace and mora
courage. to make amends, ana To- do such
other things as he could, but he perse-
vered. And. strangest of all. he found
presently a keen and satisfying pleasure
in his new line of action. In business and
social affairs, abroad and AT home, he
grew gracious and liberal. Mary ana the
girls at home found him companionabe
and affectionate His men at the yard
became familiar with his smile ana kind
words.
He did not forget his promise to the
widow Grogan. and both she and little
Molly protited by the change in affairs
as also did many others.
Before many months had passed. the
business community, at first incredulouE.
had wholly revised its former estimate OF
the lumber merchant. He was no longer
the meanest man." and the hardest at
a bargain. In losing the reputation for
such qualities he had, all unconsciousy
gained one for qualities much more desir-
able. He loved to help those who found
themselves in tight places To the poor
of his neighborhood he was a constant
bcnefaCtor.
The year neared the close. The soul
had grown to be a dear comrade fair and
we'll proportioned such the increment
would have loved the whole world to see.
And when the moment OF parting came,
he gazed upon the being who stood beside
him and marveled; for, as it smiled upon
him. he knew that it was noble and beau
tiful dazzling in brightness and in stat
ure like the angels.
The lumber merchant awoke with n
start He rubbed his eyes, looked at his
watch, and then sat thoughtfully for Z,
little space. He had slept altogether less
than twenty minutes. but he had lived a
year and learned lesson of a lifetime
shade of regret passed over his lace
as he looked into the corner where had
appeared the visitor OF his dream and
found ii empty, Then he put on his over
coat, locked the door and went home.
And the dream came true.
G. H. S.