The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-25

4 until II shone. There being such a
big crop this year. the price has
dropped away out OF sight
\ We'll. IL we can't sell them. we can
give them away" Mrs. Arnold dished
out her breakfast energetically. IT'S
! just a sin and a shame to let the Lords
I good bounty lie on the ground doing
nobody any good
! We'll, well. mother, I'll h1I q wagon
/ load of barrels tomorrow and start for
the city with them as early as I can.
But don't you go counting on that
new silk gown out of tho sale, for
/ it's morn likely you will be disap-
pointed"
| The next morning Mr.. Arnold was
ready with his load of apples. each
barrel provided with long willow
switch with 1ne specimen of the
contents stuck upon II. II was a tempt
| ing load. for the Arnold orchard was
the bes. and Mr. Arnold had taken
great pains to select only the best
of the fruit
1t was not long drive to the city.
and the strong farm horses drew their
load briskly.
Mr.. Arnold often sang softly to him
self as he drove along. and his songs
were of a pleasant nature. like him
aelf Today II was Jerusalem, my
happY nome name ever GEAR 10 His
Yes. that's so. II doesn't make
much difference how pleasant we have
things down here. it's a pretty thought
that there's better home waiting for
us up yonder. Mother and / will be
mighty glad to get there, too, / reckon:
for life iw full of pin pricks at its
best and we've had our share"
The horses trotted along through the
suburbs OF the city toward the fruit
IL
ry to say IT, but there's no market for
apples today. A dozen carloads have
come in from Michigan and just
knocked prices clean out of sight. It
wouldn't pay you to unload. even IL
we could take them at ALL
Mr. Arnolds ruddy face fell. for he
had been maturing little scheme of
his own on tho way TO town. At any
sort Of fair price the apples should
bring the price of a silk gown for the
patient wife who had needed one so
long. but instead had worn her old
alpaca until Ii was shiny and thread
bare.
Perhaps you might sell them by cry
ing them on the residence streets"
suggested tho dealer.
Mr.. Arnold turned his horses toward
the avenues with revived hope. APP
pies. apples"
Mr. ATHDiu nA0 a strong, luSLS voice,
and he used il unsparingly; but not a
customer appeared. and with a keen
sense of disappointment he turned to-
ward the humber streets where the
tenement houses stood in long, unin-
viting rows. His shortest route home
was out beyond these. even. where the
tenements were shabbier and whore
grim poverty was evidenced by rags
and dirt. Swarms of children were
l L. L.
and on the sidewalks. and Mr.. Arnold
noticed with interest their pinched
faces. their unhealthy pallor
'They don't look as II they had eaten
a square meal in year" he COM
mented as he passed little girl with
a scrawny baby in her thin arms. The
little one was crying--not the lusty cry
OF healthy babyhood, but the dull.
moaning cry which is born of hunger
and pain. A sudden Impulse stirred his
heart
Here. little one. have some apples"
The horses stopped and a handful of
the mellowest pippins he had were
tossed on the sidewalk. The older child
reached down eagerly for the fruit.
and the babe stopped it's wailing.
Put down the baby. and Til MI your
skirt full. Hold it fast now" The
girl oheyed, looking UP at Mr.. Arnold
III uutnO kidLltuut dHu uchi6Hh no tIto
red and golden fruit came tumbling
into her shabby skirt There. those
will keep you and the little one tast-
ing for a spell. reckon. ! might an
well give them away as to carry them
back home" no said to himself as an
eager crowd Of wiBened children
gathered to see the marvel OF apples
delivered without money or price.
Here. you kids any more Of you. want
apples?'
You bet we do. mister yelled one
little urchin,
Il found an apple yesterday, and
there wasn't but one little. tiny bite
took out of It," cried another, in whose
voice WAS the echo of semi starvation
Tears came very near Mr.. Arnolds
kind blue eyes. while he distributed as
much of his load as the children could
carry; and as he watched them with
their arms pockets and aprons full
scurrying toward their poor homes to
show their treasures and share them
with the mothers and sisters there. he
took ont his bandana and used 1t
vigorously.
He drove on to the next block, and
his face was grave as he passed out
the last apples to young girl whose
hollow checks and heavy eyes were
eloquent with need. THE Lord will
reward you. SIR" she said with a cour-
tesy unusual in the locality. Mother
and / were brought up In the country,
and we long for the country luxuries;
but we are too poor to buy them"
He took her number with some wild
idea of dumping a wagonload Of coun-
try delicacies there at some future
time, Of taking the mother and daugh-
ter home with him for months rest.
The bandana came into use again as
he drove on.
Hang, 1t. l don't know what mother
Xiu Gay. hut declare ii -la-thA- best
deal In apples have made in many
| a year." he said as the horses trotted
along with their lightened load. THE
| Lord la a good paymaster. and he pays
/ principal and interest right on the
), spot hagsnst--fcltr.v- so----Each- Tor
months"
49, -briThtthouxht- struck him even
before the horses hoofs struck the
country road. why not? Mother has
been a good. faithful wife, and she
deserves all that l can do for her"
1t was not SO long a drive back to
the bank where the savings OF years
were deposited. and when next the en-
couraged horses struck in b safe place
I In the wagon.
"Is that you. Josiah" called Mrs.
| Arnold al she peered out of the door
into the gathering gloom. We'll, hur-
ry right in. for supper IN just about