Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-05-27


man. The man in absolute
l-O-I poverty can be helped, but
lll9ll lslI for the man whs is poor
with his Golfers full of gold there is nc
earthly help-none, unless something
can get way down into his heart and
open the way for the incoming of sun
light and warmth. Such transfer.
nation once knew, and twill tell you
how it was wrought. 1t was done by
only little child.
Rufus Grote was really and truly a
miser. though he had. probably never
acknowledged the fact to himself. All
the age of sixty he lived in a close,
small, shabby house, in narrow street
down town, though up town where the
streets were broad, and where green
trees grew, he owned a whole block,
the rental of which yielded what might
have. been a magnificent income for
any man. In early life Rufus Grote
had been disappointed; 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 or friendship. He took
his usance even to the pound of flesh,
If it was due him by the bond, and he
was as ready to discharge ali bonded
obligations.
One evening, just at dusk, coach
stopped at Rufus Grote's door, and a
lady, dressed in black, and accompan-
led by a child, alighted therefrom, and
piled the rusty iron knocker. The mi
ser answered the summons. aud de-
manded the applicants business.
"Uncle Rufus,p said the woman, 81
am Mary Sanford, and this is my child.
Will you give me shelter until 1 can
find work?''
Mary Sanford was the only daughter
of Rufus Grote's dead sister He had
heard of her husbands death, and he
had shudderlngly asked himself more
than once If it 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 a word, 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
decency. to go out and buy a
loaf of bread and some cheese.
Mary Sanford was thirty-fve, a
slight. palefaced, 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 G. feature.
Her child, !. girl of nine years, was
called Flora. She was a plump, DIM
pied, sunny haired and sunny faced
child, with the light of a t.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,
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
cloud upon her uncle's face, Il am not
come to be burden upon you. Mrs.
Maynard will he in the city in a few
days, and will give me work"
"Ughl What kind Of work?'' grunted
Rufus.
Il shall leep house for her."
Later in the evening, by the dim
light of single tallow candle, Flora
crept to the old mans side and climbed
into his lap. For the moment he had a
thought of putting her away, as he
would have put away an insinuating
cat, but he did not Go it. SO she kept
on until she had got both hands upon
his shoulders.
"You are my Uncle Rufus:" she said
with quivering, eager smile.
Il suppose So" answered the man,
forcing out the reluctant words.
Il haven't got a papa any more
Mayn't kiss you before l go?'
The little warm arms were around
his neck. and the kiss was upon his
cheek. The child waited moment as
though for kiss in return, but she
did not get it, and she slipped down
and went with her mother to the little
dark room where Rufus Grote had
given UP to their use his own hard,
poor bed.
For himself the host had planned to
spread blanket upon the floor in the
living room. He had slept there be-
fore. and he could sleep there again.
The soil Of Rufus Grote's heart was
like the soil of other hearts. A seed
once forced through the crust would
find root there-either good or evil. In
all his manhood's life so warm thing
as that childish kiss had not touched
his cheek He did not think of it SO
-1uch until he was alone in the dense
darkness, and then when he could see
nothing else, be could see that sunny
face and the musical chirrup sounded
again in his ears. At first he would
have been glad to. believe that the
child's mother had instructed her lin
this, but when he looked over all the
circumstances he knew it could not
have been, and before he slept he was
was glad the child had come to him Of
her own sweet impulse.
gle blanket for bedding, Rufus Grote
did not sleep SO soundly as was his
wont. He dreamed -Asa IN his Il dreams
ne saw -enerub, and felt cherubic
arms about his necks. with kisses upon
bis cheek. And he said TO himself in
his dreams
Surely. cannot be such an ogre if
these sweet beings can love meF'