The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-04
carry the lantern, and the wood pllc va


a long way from tile house. Twas re-.
turning with my arm full! OF wood. when
l slipped. fell and broke my limb l lay
there for quite W lille in an gony not
able to speak. AT last I called for help
and my stepmother came and arrled me
in the house put me on the bed, but said
she didn't believe in doctors. and that
she could fix It as well as any doctor,
she also said was lazy. and awkward,
and that It was my fault that 1t was
broken. She fixed 1t. but, of course It
required a doctor. and the consequences
was that the rest OF my life have been
a cripple. have lived with my aunt
two years but this morning she told
me she could support me no longer and
sent me, away.
You can ina CINE how grateful am
to you for; your offer. you need not won
der that II IAN willing to do any thing
can to help you Your life has been a
sad one as we'll as my own my husband
died last year, and left me and my child
without anything on whic hto live, said
the poor woman. When will you start for,
the factory. Mrs Rivers? asked Bessie.
81 will go in the morning. replied she.
Very we'll, said Bessie, Twill take care
OF your boy, as well as | can. The next
morning Mrs. Rivers arose very early.
and prepared her SIMPLE meal After it.
was eaten she put on the only decent
dress she had, a clean calico, and started
for tho factory After she was gone
Bessie tided up the little room as best
she knew how. Then jamie awoke and
the first thing he said vas, Where lis
my mamma ~
Bessie told him she had gone to work
topget him some nice things. SHE tlleli
said
Jamie. don't you want "a, little break
fast?' and he said: ri
~ guess maybe can eat a little."E
After he had eaten some bread and
drank some milk he fell asleep again.
Bessie sat by the sick childs bed very
happy to- know she could cut a crust OF
bread in peace. That night Mrs Rivers
brought some medicine and an orange for
her, child and the next day he was bot
ter. The manager was very much pleased
with Mrs. Rivers and soon increased hcr
wages. which allowed them to live COM
fortably. One day in the beautiful month
Of July, rs Mrs. Rivers was unwrapping
some sewing which she had brought to
| Bessie, she saw it was a late paper and
as she was reading for tho first time in
weeks she \ noticed an advertisement,
| which read thus
Wanted: a widow; no objections to
children; tocomc and be a, companion and
housekeeper for an old lady. Please adj
| dress Mrs. i. a. Darlington, No II
South Washington Street. Chicago
This made them very happy, for they
were not satisfied with their old home.
/ a'rhut very night Mrs. Rivers answered
| the advertisement, ana OH he following
Monday she, Jamie and Bessie took a
| street ear. which carried them straight
Ito Mrs. Carrington's home. OH how
happy they were. when they saw the lady
and their new home, Mrs. Darlington
| treated them as relatives, not as
| strangers. Foratwo years they lived to-
| getller ms one family until at last sad
day came, Mrs, Darlington was strtk-
| eli with pneumonia, aud In three short
| days after. her life was ended, Mrs.
Rivers and Bessie thought their pros
| pcrlty was now a an end, and they woun
| have to look for a home elsewhere. But
on the day OF her funeral when they
| returned as they thought, for the last
time TO their pleasant home. Mrs, Car
| rington's lawyer asked them In the librar,
to hear the reading of her will and 10
their great surprise they were made so {
heirs to her property. Thus Mrs Rlycrs's
kind deed toward Bessie was rewarded
| Doubtless. II she had not been kind &c
one IN so great need, she would ncye,
have met with such good fortune.
Composed by
! LUCILLE MEREDITH NORRIS,
| / 4 \Vuu