Year: 1868

"Well, then," return the old man, with
a sorrowful look, "since you can't keep
me over night, will you please give me
| something to eat and I'll 60 further"
The dame brought up piece of brown
bread, with an angry look, and was about
| to hand il to the mendicant, more for the
purpose, it would seem, of getting rid OF
| him, than from any feeling of compassion,
| but her miserly husband interposed, and
said sharply:


"I told you we hadn't nothin for you,
so travel on p


"I'll set the dog on you if you don't, you
old beggar!'' cried lad of ten. "My
| rich uncle's coming here tonight, and he
can't bear beggars; so you had better be
going while your bones are whole"


May Heaven be more merciful than
you," sighed the old man as he turned and
disappeared in the darkness.


Some half an hour later he knocked at
| the door of Stephen Barrett, and asked


for food and lodging.


at isn't convenient for us to keep you
| tonight" said the master of the house, in
| a mild, dignified tone. Besides, we don't
| like to encourage beggars. If you are
poor and not able to work, the parish to
which you belongis bound to support you.
No one. need starve in this country,
which the Lord, praised be his name, has
so bountifully blessed I trust am not
wanting in charity-as an humble follower
of the Lord Jesus Christ hope l am not
but what with the taxes for the support
of the Government and the poor, dona-
tons to benevolent societies and heathen
missions, it is as much as can do to live
and give my family respectable mainten-
ance Now, my friend, if you are poor
| and not able to work, (though | don't see
why you may not work as well as travel,)
you had better throw yourself on the
parish where you belong"


"But am tired, wet and hungry" said
| the old man, "and all the parishes in the


world can't do me any good tonight"
"But you should have thought of that
before you left home," now chimed in the
good housewife, with sanctifed air. ut
is sinful to tempt Providence, as it is
called; and whoever sins must expect
punishment. I never go away without
providing for the journey, and Of course
don't expect anybody to shelter and feed
me for nothing. 1t is a sin, too, to be idle
when one is able to work, and it is against
my principle as trne Christian, to encour-
age any one in SHINING"


"Then [ suppose that | am to under
stand that you refuse me both food and
lodgings" said the old man.


cas- to food" said the pious dame, glanc-
ing at her husband, "if you are very


hungry | suppose we can do something


for you in that way; but lodging'is out of


the question, for two mounted couriers


have been here to say that very rich


uncle of ours from India will be here very
lxo hot
he didn't like to have beggars about where
thing to offend him. True, we hardly ex-


pect he will come tonight; but then he
might, you know, and we wouldn't like
to run any risks"


"Well, then," said the old man, with a
sigh, II will take food, if you please, and
go on, even if l perish"


"Put your trust in the Lord, my friend,
put your trust in the Lord!" said Stephen
Barrett, solemnly.


eyes," echoed his wife, "put your trust
in the Lord that is what we do in
trouble. Sarah Jane, go down in the eel
lar and bring up couple of those cold
potatoes for this old man; they are very


good eating when one is hungry; [ like


them myself Yes, put your trust in the


Lord and don't leave home again without


means. By the by, while think of it,"


added the old woman, laying down cap


frill, on which she had been busily at work


while talking, and looking up with bright


twinkle of the eyes, II do believe you can


get a good nights lodging at Harry Bar


rett's, who lives only half mile from here


onlthe road south. He's great hand for


taking in strangers"


She looked at her husband, and they


both smiled knowingly, for both were


thinking in case the rich uncle should find


the beggar there, it might increase the


chance of Stephen Barrett of becoming the


fortunate heir.


Sarah Jane now returned and handed
the old man two little cold potatoes He
took them, turned them slowly over, ex-
amined them on all sides and murmured:


"They have eyes, but can they see? I
think not, for if they could they'd blushed
red, instead of keeping such dark color"
Then glancing slowly around the neat, IT,
dy, cheerful room, taking in three prime
girls and their pious parents, he quickly
tossed the potatoes into the lap of the as


tonished mistress, saying, as he did SO, "I


beg your pardon, madam, but l did not


intend to rob you"


ooh, you sinful, wicked old creature !"


exclaimed the good dame in holy horror,


as the disgusted old man turned and went


out, and shut the door with a slam.
In less than a half an hour the unfortu-


nate wayfarer was trying his chances at
the house of Harry Barrett.


Come in" said strong, hearty, cheer
full voice, in answer to this timid knock.
He entered large, plainly furnished


apartment, and beheld group of six per-
sons-father, mother, two sons and two


daughters-seated around pleasant fire,
with bright light on the table near them,


and all looking contented and happy. On
seeing his visitor was an old man and a
stranger, the master of the house arose
and invited him to walk forward and take
a seat, and all the others drew back re-
spectfully, to enlarge the circle and give
him the place at the fire.


II have called, said the old man, stop
ping and removing his hat from his white
head, "to ask if you would be kind enough


to give me some food and lodging for the


night"
"Of course we WILL my friend, and glad


of the chance to help poor fellow In


needp said Henry Barrett. "Sit down
| and make yourself at homel Here, give


me your hat? Come, girls, hurry up some


thing warm for the old gentleman, who is


wet, tired and chilled through, as can


readily see. You ought not to have been


out so long in this storm, father !"
mo, know" returned the old gentle


man, holding his trembling hands to the


fire, but the persons Iapplied to wouldn't


take me in"


4