Year: 1869

the FURNISHED row upon the shelves
and telling me at the same time about
her brother who had broken his leg q
week or two before, and whom she
had not seen since the accident. The
soft May wind, scented with early
bloom, came in at the open window
like the welcome breath of a dear
friend, and | could see beyond the
emerald meadows, musical with the
tinkle of sheep bells; my husband
was leaning over the gate of the farm
yard, talking with vagrant boy who
with bundle slung on a stick, car
ried on his shoulder, gave a pictur
esque effect to the sunset painted
scenes. l was TRANQUILITY happy, al
peace with myself and the world al
that moment, and out of my super.
abundance charitably gave permission
to Susan to 60 and stay all night with
her sick brother, and felt complacent-
ly happy. as though | had done some
commendable deed which involved
much sacrifice.


was still in this mood, looking
out through the vines which were be-
ginning to lose their dead, wooded
look, and were veined with living
green, when my husband approached
the window, followed by the boy ]
had seen him talking to. He was a
forlorn looking object, dusty and
travel. worn with a villainous looking
face, according to my way of think
ing; low forehead, with a profusion
of brown tangled hair above it and
keen suspicious eyes, that were fixed
on me with an intensity almost pain
full. He was barefooted, and about
fourteen years old and looked the
thorough tramp.


Mildred" said my husband "can
we keep this boy over night? he
wants a place and | thought he would
do for chores and rough work through
the season."


"Oh, no, no" l cried hastily, with a
gesture of disapproval that saw was
not lost on the subject OF it. "Susan
has just gone home, and there is no
bed that, Il looked at him again
"that | could put him in"


81 am sorry" said my husband
coming nearer, to take little Annie
who had climbed to the window sill,
and held out her arms to her papa
81 think | could make the boy useful,
and he really needs friend


'Don't think of it," | whispered,
che looks like an escaped convict; he
might murder US, or burn the house
over our heads"


/ am not sure but he heard me, SO
dark look overspread his face; but
he turned and strobe away without a
word. Then | knew he had OWNED
the import of my whispered suggest
ion, and felt rather twinge of con
science for my harsh dismissal.


II wish, Mildred" said my husband
gravely, "that you had a little more
charity toward the unfortunate of this
world"


Before | could answer, a man rode
up on horseback, and inquired fol
Mr. Clark, who was particularly want
ed to sit up with a sick man who haC
exhausted near attention. Much as
dreaded to have him leave me alone
! felt that it would be inhuman to ask
him not to 60. He entered the house
to make few preparations before
leaving and | urged him to take rol
of bills, amounting to nearly a thou
sand dollars, which he had received
as administrator of an estate ant
which was to be paid over the mex
day to the legatees. | felt much sui
er without the money, and had no fea
that | should suffer any other incon
venience during the night than tina
of extrene loneliness, which would b
somewhat lightened by the compan.
of my little three year old girl.


locked up the house after Nj
Clark was gone, and went up to m
bedroom on the second floor, brigh
CHEEKY room just over the garden.
could see, at the distance of half
mile, numerous white farm houses
and the public road ran very nea
our house and occasionally belate
team went past, and caught a frienc
ly nod from some farmer who was
neighbor.


AS the twilight deepened into nigf
and | sat by the open window enjo.
ing the warm, balmy air, little Ami
climbed into my lap to look at th
"pretty specks," as she called tt
stars, and amuse me with her artles
prattle, but | was not prepared ft
her frank question: Mamma, whs
did you send that poor boy out in th
dark for ?"


| tried to make. her understan
that | did not think it best he shoul
stay, when she gravely said:


"If he had a home, and a good kin
mamma, like me, you would have Il
him stay, but as he didn't have an


body, you turned him away"


| had nothing to say to this, an
the little teazer went on:


"But he did have somebody, aft,
E all; God went with him, mamma,


take care of him, didn't He 2"


I hope so," l answered earnestl


and there was long silence, in whit


Annie counted the stars, and | hope


the boy would find shelter for tt


night; and l was almost startled


Annie's little voice suddenly urging
IS Mamma I! let US pray for boy"


l did not pray; l had no words


heart to join in the sweet petite


that went up to heaven for the apoe


poor boy, that hadn't any home, al


mamma wouldn't let stay just o.


night; and would God spare one |


tie white angel to take care of hi
5 through the dark"


J. | saw that the child's tender hea