Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-01-28

Ills feet were bare; his shirt was open
In front for want Of buttons and for O
profusion Of tatters; his coat and trou'
yers were thin. / drew up near him
und bought a paper, handing him five
dollar bill. He looked at 1t despondent.
ly, thinking that he would lose the sale
Of a paper, for he could not change 1t.
"Never mind the change" said
and as we moved away saw him
look at the bill, at me and at the
bill again. while the expression on his
face was a delight to me.
"By Jove! l exclaimed. 1T works
first rate. I'm going back to get the
poor little chap and do some more
Of It."
I returned to the boy, took him into
my car, and we drove to store, where
spent money for clothes for him as
lavishly as l had been spending 1t Oh
myself. couldn't keep my eyes on
the expression of wonder, Of delight
that perpetually hovered on his fea'
lures. I didn't know what he needed
but Adele did and thought Of many
things that would add to his comfort.
"Now We must take him home,' she
said when he was warmly dressed
and, loaded down with packages, we
went to the car and presently drew up
at a tenement house, where we aston
ished his mother and his brothers and
sisters by presenting him to them III
his new hablliments. had a roll OF
bills In my pocket, which distributed
among the children, left check fof
the mother, and Adele and | drove
away, followed by the blessings OF the
family.
I had often returned to my room II:
midnight to feel the doom that hung
over me by contrast with the gajety
had experienced more keenly thar
before going. The evening Of my new
departure / spent with Adele, listen,
Ing to plans she prepared for more
giving the next day, and when | wen:
to bed felt greater relief than ut an!
time since had learned that MUS;
die within the year. For the first time
since I heard the announcement went
to sleep with no room for 1t In my
mind for thinking Of the happiness
had created.
I need not repeat the details OF my
charities, IF which this was the be
ginning. gained something IN
strength as we'll as spirits. l could not
see that the lump that was to kill me
was increasing, and hoped that
might be permitted to live the ful!
time the doctor had allowed me. One
thing | noticed-I had less use for Ar
thur Atherton and more for Adele
Sturgis. l spent my mornings recall
ing the pleased expressions of those
had benefited and my afternoons 60
ing about getting rid Of my money
with Adele. The evenings ! usually
spent with her, talking over our char
liable work for the next day.
One uight when was going to bed
looked Mt my lump. 1t was appreciably
smaller. felt Of it. and, whereas II
had been hard. 1t was now soft. | VOL
dered IL after all the great specialist
had not been mistaken IN my case. Tic
next morning went to him again. Ht
examined my symptom, and | saw al
once by his expression that 1t was not
as he had expected. SAW also tha;
what he was thinking about was how
he should admit to lie that he had
been mistaken without injury to his
professional dignity.
"This lump" he said at last, "is what
l told you In the first place But" 1t
waited u moment before going on t.
give me time to be impressed-"but /,
is variety that Is harmless. think il
will subside."
had q 500 check In my pocket
ready for him and, handing 1t to lhn
got out as quickly as possible, fearing
that he would change his opinion again
before could make an exit. l flew t.
Adele to announce the good news, anC
when | did so met with the astonish
ment of my life. She tried to congrat
ulate me, but words would not come
Then her relief found vent IN tears, and
before l realized what was doing
had taken her In my arms and was
soothing her.
"You have taught me how to forget
death as we'll as to live" I said to her
"and II you consent we will together
pursue happiness as we have begun 1t
Thanks to you, more than half Of my
fortune remains, and we will lay out
certain part Of our income to be giver
to those In distress"
There are blessings in disguise which
we cannot conyrol, but there IRE also
blessings we can control. Every act OF
loving kindness Is such a blessing tc
ourselves, though we are apt to con
slider 1t d sacrifice and fall to see 1t ir
Its true character. The most fortunate
expenditure I ever made was the fee
paid the great specialist for telling Me
to prepare for death, for In preparing
for death I prepared for life. Besides
he was instrumental in giving me IN!
dear wife.