The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-04-29

man. The man in absolute
IO poverty can be helped, but
l5ll ll1lI for the man who is poor
VIII his Golfers full of gold there is no
earthly help-none, unless something
can get way down into his heart ana
open the way for the incoming OF sun
light and warmth. Such a transfor-
nation / once knew, and | will tell you
how it was wrought. 1t was done by
only little child.
Rufus Grote was really and truly
miser, though he had probably never
acknowledged the fact to himself AT
the age OF sixty he lived In a close
small, shabby house, inN narrow street
down town, though up town where the
streets were broad, and where green
trees grew, he owned whole block,
the rental of which yielded what might
have been magnificent income Tor
any man. In early life Rufus Grotc
had been disappointed; so while yet a
man he had shut himself up within MS
shell and through all the years OF his
manhood he had neither asked nor
given any love or friendship. He took
his usance even TO the pound OF nesh,
If II was due him by the bond, ana he
was as ready to discharge all bonded
obligations.
One evening, just at dusk coach
stopped at Kufus Grotes door, and Il
lady, dressed in black aud accompan-
led by a child, nlighted thereirom, ana
piled the rusty iron knockcr. The mi
ser answered the summons, and de-
manded the applicants business.
Uncle Rufus" said the woman, 81
am Mary Sanford, and this Is my child.
VIII you give me shelter until | can
find work.
Mary Sanford was the only daughter
OF Rufus Grotcs dead sister, He had
heard of her husbands death, and he
had shudderingly asked himself more
than once If il might not be possible
that his widowed niece would call
upon him for assistance And now the
dreaded blow had fallen. What was
he to do? Had he followed the first i'm.
pulse he would have turned the woman
and her child away with n wo:d, .but
that would have been inhuman. He
was caught in trap. He had to open
his door wider and let them in. And
when they were in he was forced, in
common decency, TO go out and buy a
loaf of bread and some cheese.
Mary Sanford was thirtytive, n
slight, palefaccd pretty woman, and
what Of beauty she possessed was due
more TO the reflex action upon her face
and manner of her native goodness
than to any outward grace feature.
Her child, . girl of nine years, was
called Flora. She was plump, dim
pied. sunny haired and unLy.faccd
child. with the light of nder, low
Ing heart sparkling in every feature,
She was really and truly thing of
beauty and perfect joy.
After eating the bread and cheese,
md drinking cold water with it, Mary
Sanford told to Rufus Grote the story
of her husbands dcath-how he had
SIffered long, and how he had left her
In utter destitution
But" she concluded, rs she saw q
cloud upon her uncles face, II am not
come to be burden upon you. Mrs
Maynard will le in the city in few
days. and will give me work"
ugh! What kind of work. gruntet
Rufus.
81 shall leep house for her"
Later in the evening, by the din
light of a single talow candle. Flori
crept TO the old mans side and climbed
into his lap. For the moment he had
thought of putting her away, as h
would have put away an insinuatin
cat, bnt he did not DO it, So she KEEP
on until she had got both hands upo
his shoulders.
"You are my Uncle RufCsY she sal
with quivering, eager smile.
81 suppose So" answered the maj
forcing out the reluctant words.
81 haven't got papa any NOR,
Mayn't kiss you before | goy"
The little warm arms were aroun
his neck, and the kiss was upon h
cheek The child waited moment g
though for kiss in return. but 81
did not get II, and she slipped dow
and went with her mother TO the lit
dark room where Rufus Grote ha
given up TO their use his own har
poor bed.
For himself the host had planned
spread a blanket upon the floor in q
living room. lie had slept there b
fore, and he could sleep there again.
The soil of Rufus Grote's heart w
like the soil OF other hearts. A Sc
once forced through the crust wou
find root there-either good or evil
all his manhood's life so warm n thi
ms that childish Kiss had not touch
his cheek. lie did not think of IL
much until he was alone in the der
darkness, aud then when he could :
nothing else. he could see that sun
face and the musical chirrup sound
again in his ears. AT FIRST he wol
have been glad to believe that