Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-06-10

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w pitied is the poor rich man. The
man in absolute poverty can be
helped; but for the man who is poor
with his Golfers full of gold there is no
earthly help-none, unless something
can get away down into his heart and
open The way for the incoming OF sun
light and warmth. Such a transfer
nation l once knew, and 1 will tell
you how 1t was wrought. 1t was done
by only a little child.
Rufus Grote vas really and. truly
a miser, though he had probably never
acknowledged the fact to himself. At
the age Of sixty he lived in a close,
small, shabby house, in a narrow
street down town, though up town
where the streets were broad, and
where green trees grew, he owned n
whole brick block, the rental Of which
yielded what might have been a mag
nificent income for any man. In early
life Rufus Grote had been disappoint-
ed; so while yet a man he had shut
himself up within his shell and
through all the years of his manhood
he had neither asked nor given any
love nor friendship. He took his u.s.
ance even to the pound of flesh, If it
was due him by the bond, and he was
as ready to discharge all bonded obli-
cations.
One evening, Just at dusk, a coach
stopped at Rufus Grote's door, and a
lady, dressed in black. and accompa-
MED by a child, alighted therefrom,
and piled the rusty iron knocker. The
miser answered the summons, and de-
manded the applicants business.
Uncle Rufus" said the woman, II
am Mary Sanford, and this is my
child. viii you give me shelter until
1 can find work.
Mary Sanford was the only daugh.
ter Of Rufus Grote's dead sister. He
had heard of her husbands death, and
he had shudderingly asked himself
more than nee If it might not be pos
sible 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 IMPULSE, he would have
turned the woman and her child away
with a word; but that would have
been inhuman. He was caught in a
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 thirty-five; q
slight, p%ale-faced, pretty woman; and
more to the reflex action upon her face
and Of her native goodness
than to any outward grace of feature.
Her child, a girl Of nine years, was
called Flora. She was a plump, dim
pied, sunny-haired and sunny-faced
child, with the light of a tender, loving
heart sparkling in every feature. She
was really and truly a thing Of beauty
and perfect joy.
After eating the bread and cheese,
and drinking cold water with it, Mary
Sanford told to Rufus Grote the story
of her husbands death-how he had
suffered long, and how he had left her
In utter restitution.
But" she concluded, as she saw a
cloud upon her uncle's face, II am not
come to be a burden upon you Mrs.
Maynard will be in the city in a few
days, and will give me work."
ugh! What kind of work." grunt-
ed Rufus.
81 shall keep house for her."
Later in the evening, by the dim
light of a single tallow candle, Flora
crept to the old mans side and climb
ed into his lap. For the moment he
had a thought of putting her away, as
he would have put away an insinuat-
Ing cat, but he did not do ii. So she
kept on until she had got both hands
upon his shoulders.
"You are my Uncle RufusT she
said, with a quivering, eager smile.
II suppose So" answered the man.
forcing out the reluctant words.
II haven't got a papa any more.
Mayn't l kiss you before I 60 to bed?"
The little warm arms were around
his neck, and the kiss was upon his