Year: 1861

20 WOe0 cur WafuroOe inpeiAtlNciy tdiitH lot
additions, Mrs. Jones would go out with the
money for six-penny print, and return with
something really handsome and valuable for
my wife and a nice remnant for Katy, and then
she would sit down and make them both up,
with all the skill Of an experienced mantau-
maker.


Susan handed nc some bills one day, that
she said we're left there by the collector, inclu-
ding one for our rent, and one for the last suit
of clothes which had been unwillingiy forced
to buy, in order to keep up respectable ap-
pearance. My face I fancy, fell some degrees,
for had no money to pay them.


Mrs. Jones was busting around the dinner
table, and she said,srather sadly, thai she felt
that she ought rot to he living upon US, and
perhaps she had better GO away,


"Never mind my good friend p said |, and
" Never" uttered Susy


assured her that would nol listen to her
leaving us-that trusted very soon to get
business, and that come to rs what would she
should share oar last loaf. The good old soul
hugged both at once, and then setting her cap
and wiring her eyes, she went quietly back to
her work. After dinner she vent ont, bat we
reiterated the injunction that she should not
seek another home as long as she could put mp
with ours.


I called around in the evening at the various
places from whence | had received the bills.
To my utter surprise the answer was that they
he'd all been settled. i inquired by whom, but
no one could reconect. They were all cancel
led on the various books l was thoroughly
amazed, for knew Of no one but Mr.. Russell
who conld do It for me, and hardly believed
it Of hin. Susy was as surprised as myself
but she rather inclined to the belief that it was
her father, so I quietly let her indulge in the
pleasant belief.


We got through the summer, but the winter
was coming on, and I actually trembled at lis
approach. Industrious as l was--prldent as
sdtsy had ever BEEHIVE coald not hope to go
through the cold season without both suffering
and toll and with debt superaded.


I had been in the Office all one gloomy No
vember day, anxiously doubling whether I
should 90 back to printing again. l consider
ed the why's and wherefores, counting the cost
of living, and could not find that the change
would benefit me a single sou. I was toiling
unramittingly now, and should have to do 50 if
l returned to printing, and with 10 more pay.
I became heartily discouraged II l had been
alone in the world could have patiently borne
it. Suffering and privation brought no terror
to me and the darker the prospect, the more
l shrunk from allowing Mrs. Jones to feel that
she was n burden. No, come wat would, the
good old soul should not be removed from the
circle in which she seemed to have placed all
her happiness She should remain; if we
were reduced to beggary, we should beg for
her, too.


I started up and paced the Office impatientIy.
It may seem strange that a strong, healthy man
should be so powerless, but 50 it was. I had
intended sending fuel home, but was disap-
pointed in receiving money, and 1 now dreaded
that there was a darkness on the hearth at
home was just locking up when boy came
to me with a folded paper. It read thus:
" Come to No, fremont street, about six
o'clock


1 saw no alternative but to go. The boy
had gone, 50 I had no excuse. 1 walked over
the damp leaves which the November blast
had that very hour shaken from the trees. I
went over the ground rapidly, for painted to
learn the errand and be away.


I rang at the number designated. 1t was a
neat brick house. with substantial steps, well
lighted vestibule with glass doors, and I could
see the whole front was lighted with gas I
heard little feet scampering through the hall,
but as the doors were Ct ground glass, could
see nothing.


A servant came to the door aid waited on
me to a handsome drawiugroom with plain
but good furniture. There was no plate on
the outer door, so could not even tell the
name Of the person wishing to see me. was
standing by the chimney-piece, when a little
child ran into the room. It was so like little
Katy that | would have called her so had not
the pretty embroidered robe and silk apron
looked 50 differently from cur children's plain
clothes. But another little head was paepiag
through the open door, and that was little
Charlie, only for the scarlet frock and neat
CATERS, and then the two made a long rush
over the floor and ran into my arms while
slowly aud majestcly sweeping in her ample
grapes and bombazincs, came portly Mrs Jones,
and behind her Suzy, smiling and blushing
like the dawn.


1 felt a sort of falutuess, and passed my band
across my eyes, to be sure l was awake. Suzy
laid her hand on my shoulder.


You owe it to your kind friend here, said
she gently. She has been trying you very
deeply


Trying me ~ I repeated.


"Yes, my good friend" said Mrs. Jones.
{" I was rich, and had none but selfish and in
tercsted people about me, who wanted my
money. l have long owned this house, and
lived in It when first met you but thougnt