The Meeker herald., 1909-03-27
HIS CHARITABLE
DEED

., ). .. slsTclssA

O0g C8tt8lu UIIkuk 4ubuAA 81SCI~
uoon Mr.. Poskltt and the partner Of
his joys sat In their comfortable par.
Tor on either side Of the tea table.
when the servant announced the
MIases Merridews.
Two quaint figures approached Mrs.
Poskitt, and shook hands with her In
= shy. breathless fashion.
.De take . cup, ladies'" said Mrs.
Poskiu, who bad already rspienished
the teapot and whispered the servant
suaiA 10 bring fresh hot toast. "Itll
do zoe power Of good after your
walk. Do, now"
Miss Sarah Ellen Merridew and
Miss Martha Mary Merridsw hssitated
II he fashion which they had been
tausht many Q long year ago to con-
slider the polite and ssnteel thing. But
sveatualIy, after many protestations.
thu fvo ladies ver~ seated n the table
ana supplied with tee and hot toast.
0ecrstiy M. Poskitt was wondering
what had brought them to his house.
He knew them as the proprietors OF
the little village shop--two simple
iaindsd old maids, whose sole means
OF livelihood lay In their business.
These here two ovid lasses IL T.
the vale O. tribuiation," be said to him
self. why, now. then, We must ses
n ~ can't do summat to help 'em out
% It. But We mum know nrst how
they come to get theer."
NJ. Poskitt never hurried anybody's
cattle, and he waited until the tea
table had been cleared. and he, his
wife and their visitors had been in
stalled round the CHEEKY IRE, to hear
the reason which had brought the two
old maids to his door. AT the end Of
silence that followed the solemn
lighting Of Mr.. Poskitt's pipe. Miss
Sarah Ellen Aerridew spoke. with pa-
thetic timidity.
mr.. Poskitt." said Martha Mary.
me and Sarah Ellen is In great
trouble"
Mr.. Poskitt blew out q cloud Of
smoke.
"Naay!" said Mr.. Poskitt, with great
aRectation Of deep surprise. "Ye don't
say 20! Trouble! Why, I wor Just
thinking how we'll ye wor both looking
young ~ liver, like! Trouble? May,
come, now!"
Its like this. Mr.. Poskitt.' = contin.
ued Sarah Ellen. 1--WE NO doubt you'll
remember our only brother. John. OF
course. you'd never zee much Of him.
because he left the village when ws
WAS an young folk. A nne. handsome
y0ung fell0w he Observation-Disclosures.
like ~ ~ Merridsws."
Il ~ some rscoltsctioa q tn sen.
Ale1aan,- said NJ. Poskitt. Went
awaS 10 London Town. didnt-a?"
He did. Mr.. Poskitt. and married
ana settled down there" REPLIED Sarah
Elisa. married ! very senteel Young
person of the name Of Saunders, And.
Of course. We never saw much Of them
after that-iu fact. We never saw John
after fathers buryinr. and that's a
long time aro. He's dead now. ia
john. poor thing. and 20 II his wife. -
LEFT oany fam'lyr incurred Mr..
Poskttt.
"One son. Mr.. poskitt-John sauu.
der, Nerridev.- answered Sarah Ellen,
ayes. John saunders Merridev. sor.
rI An to ~ n Of ono Of nv own
aesh and blood, Mr. Poskitt, but that
young man. John Saunders Merridew,
our uevvy though he was, was q bad
una real bad 'un!"
.Naay,s s.id Mr.. Poskttt. "Ye don't
saws
"a raal had 'uni" repeated sarah
Ellen. "Don't You try TO make out :. he
Want Martha Mary. for he vaa A
decelvin. story.tellinx. false-tonrued
Young rascal that's What he vas, He
to,d 3. NOW rrandlv he Vas getting on
~ NJ. hm.ine.s-ha -. IN the .ur.r,
hrokins trsde. NJ poak,tt though I'm
.nr, don't knov what mat is-.nd
hov much better he ce,,ld ret On n he
M . ~ more canital and ~ .aid NJ.
h.nkers vould iet MIN have the canitaI
q ~ co,ia ma .acurltie. ~ h. honrd
.. ~. : ~ - r,,,-.. q ....,.s