Year: 1864

/


"He offered me shilling for doing this job,
and-and' the mans voice grew very hoarse,
'times have been very hard with me@-sickness
and no work have kept me pretty low and am
glad to earn an honest penny whenever l can,
sir"


"Thats all right; but want to shut up my
self, and | can't wait until you get through
You must 60 home'


"But then" and the man stopped His voice
could not trust itself in words.


"But then what2" said Brent beginning to grow
cold and Impatient.


81 wa going to say, sir, that should have
notbinatG eat until morrow; l was to go to
Porters house on my way home, and get the
| shilling; and would not go andask for it before
my work was done"


"Do you do this for money to buy something
to eat 2"


"That is all, sir"


"Here is your days earnings" 4" handing him as
he spoke, dollar. ''Let the lumber go. will
see to that in the morning"


''All this for me? am working sir, not beg
ging;" there was flash of independent dignity
in his eyes that Brent liked to see


~ hired you was the cool business answer,
| ITO pay you as do other men whom l have to
work. l would give all more if couldafford it;
certainly would be heather to give man
who has a family to support in a city like Bos-
ton anything less than six dollars a week. I
like you-I believe 1 can trust you This is to
be your place, and your master until you get
a better master somwhere else butI mustlock up
and you must go home"


Who shall describe that home made glad by a
few comforts to which it had long been a
strager All the way to Beacon street, Hamil-
ton Brent thought of it, and after he sat down
to his own dinner, pictured the supper table in
Davis room, the very centrepiece of the alter
OF thankfulness. To his matronly houskeeper,
whose heart was ever open to deeds of charity,
he told the sad story, and promised to find the
next day where they lived, that from the boun-
ties he had been blessed with Giles Davis home
might be yet happier and pleasanter. The next
morning he did not forget to ask Giles where he
lived, and after dark the housekeeper and her
son paid ST. Nicholas visit to the room desig-
mated, leaving the basket upon the platform in
front of the door, with nothing to show from
whence it came, but the two letters "H. B."
burned upon the handle.


Early and late was Giles Davis at work, and
the ragged "charity hand " that at first the men
IN the yard had Stunned, grew to berespected by
all, from his employer down to Tip, the little
fellow who made fires and did the errands ofthe
office. The old housekeeper after having been
caught in her second visit la st. Nicholas, used
to go in and chat with the little woman whose
hand and life grew marvelously strong as the
better time coming cleaned upon her.


Hope on her its heavenly radiance shed


And waved It's silyery pnions o'erh head"


The winter went on and March came-the month
of winds, SHOWS, ofhals and rains-of DAYS that
are cheerle5s and nights that are gloomy even
to the gayest heart, and still master and man
stood as firm and as high in each others conf
dence as ever. Often as he sat alone Hamilton
Brent conceived an imperfect knowledge of his
proverb shining upon him, in the kind effort of
Giles Davis bpt the full time had yet come for
him to see Tafter many days the wealth of its
promise.


Upon one Of these stormy days you and have
seen in March, came an order for ship timber,
which Brent must attend to himself All day
long he stayed in that drenching and chilling
storm That night his walk home seemed longer
than usual-the house cOlder-the matronly
housekeeper "crusty." His great visions were
sad ones-his dreams more spiritual visitations
than like visions that we love to think linger
around and above us in our sleeping moments


The next day at this Office passed sadly and
drearily, until it grew nearly night when heart
and flesh failed him, and he fell faintng to the>
floor. In the hour of excitement that followed
Giles Davis stepped into the position Of coun-
selor and nurse. Every one in and around the
Office gladly followed his directions or asked
his advice. He it was who they agreed should
support Brent home and stay with him. During
the illness of many weeks thatfollowed this rash
exposure, Giles strongarm was the one on which
the good old housekeeper leaned for help and
guidance. The quiet little woman was brought
from her humble home to the grander one of ner
employer, to assist in the onerous du-
ties of nurse. The sick man whose friends
with the exception of an invalid aunt, who lived
with her daughter in Maine) had all gone to
the esprit land, looked in moments of con-
clOusness the gratitude he could not speak, eve
ry day, as Giles would go to the Office to con-
suit with Porter andreport favorable to his en-
ployer.


1t was not until April showers had brought
May iowers that Hamilton Brent took his old
seat IN thc c.sice and Giles his accustomed place
in the lumber yard. But the strongest tie that
can bind humanity together, united their hearts
and never forgot that, under Cod he owned his
after prosperity to the "charity hand' During
The summer evenings when his bachelor home
grew silent, he would think with a lingering
regret of pleasanter one in a quiet street. and
devise some plan to insure that one as a part of
his own. 1t was not until Christmas that his
plan was perfected. Then, when the other |
hands received slip of paper "a Merry Christ |
mas written on it, and dollar note pinned to
It, Giles received little package, and opening
t in his pleasant home, found it to contain the |
one-fourth interest in the lumber yard, provided |
hat Mrs Davis would consent to occupy the |
home in Beacon street in company with her |
Hamilton Brent, and her old friends,
he matronly housekeeper and her son. She !
vas not unreasonable She went carrying with |
Ter nothing save the sweet smiles that made her
rumble home paradise for husband; and as
hamilton Brent enjoyed the pleasantness of the
sroup that ligneredin the moonlight of his an
estral manson, his heart understood at length |
he blessedness of the command, |Cast thy bread |
Ipon the waters, for thou shalt find it aftermany
lays"


A gentleman asked Dennis Doyle, who some
ears ago was a member of the old Tammany
Iall Nominating Committee and famous for his