Year: 1879

Many years ago, during one Of the most
severe snow storms ever known i'm New
England an old man carrying huge va
lise was trudg1ng along toward the rail-
way station in N. Without any in
cumbrance the task would have been
heavy one, but laden as he was he could
scarcely make his way against the cutting
wind and driving snow. Once he stopped
and seemed to hesitate as to whether he
would proceed any further or not. But
the distance was short; and so. gathering
up his strength for final effort the travel
Ter again bravely faced the elements.


The storm. SO fierce and unpleasant to
age and nfirmity. brought excitement and
pleasure to lad, perhaps a dozen years
old, who Just then came up on his way to
school. He was accompanied by large
black dog. and harnessed to a sled. The
drifts as big as they were. did not stop
this couple. Ever and anon the boy
screamed with delight as he witnessed the
efforts of his companion III pulling through
the piles of snow, while the good-natured
animal. seeming as much excited as his
Young master, barked aloud in return.


Here, Buck, said the lad, as he ar
rived where the old man was standing,





luggage to the railroad station. You are
! going there, are yon not ?" he continued
addressing the stranger.


Yes. my boy, | am, but


Nay, sir, no butts. Won are too heavily
laden. You see Buck and run general
express this morning. He's a lazy dog
considering what he has to eat--ain't yon
Buck


The dog gave shrill bark, as if in
clined to dispute the point.


$50 let me have your valise, sir, and
we will whisk it into the station in less
than jjiffy.'' 8v w,TF
| Either Buck was little vexed at hav-
ing been called lazy, or was too anxious
to arrive at the place of destination with
the luggage, for, giving a sudden start
over went the sled in one direction, while
the valise went into a drift in another, the
dog at the same time going head OVER ears
into the snow. A scream Of delight burst
from the boy. in which the old man could
not help joining, as Buck scrambled up
whining and shaking his shaggy coat.
My horse is not well broken, YOU see,
sir. said the lad, as soon rs he could
speak :" but your valise is linharmed. We
must try it once more srfi


The luggage was again secured on the
sled, and this time Buck landed it safely at
the station, pulling his master Il part of
the way along with it.


There you are. SIR" said the lad to
the stranger as he came up, '.safe and
sound. and there is your check. You
must excuse the liberty | took. but really
| thought YOU were too heavily laden for
such II stormy day fsF


''But your pay ''' suggested the old
man.


"Oh. I'll charge that. Pay once in six
months. Come, Buck
The old man was too busy brushing of
the snow and undoing his muffier to reply
at once.


When he turned around both boy and
dog had disappeared. lust then the shril
whistle of the approaching train sounded
leaving no time to inquire who his little
| friend was. So he took his seat in the
cars and was borne on his way to his
/ home.
| MIR. Martin, for that was the mans
name, was a well-to-do trader in the city
some dozen miles away. He had come
out on the previous evening on a matter
of business. Having been detained long
er than he expected, the storm came on
suddenly. and he was induced to stop over
night. After breakfast. hardly being
aware of the violence of the storm, or the
depth of the snow which had already
fallen, he had attempted to reach the rail-
road station on foot. carrying valise in
his hand But, although. as has been
stated, the distance was not great. the
deep snow, made deeper where driited,
soon tired him; and here it was that the
events which we have Just spoken of took
place.


! 1t was not until after he was comforta-
| bly, seated and the cars Were in motion, that
! il occurred to Mr.. Martin that he had not
/ thanked his little friend, and had not even
asked his name. Everything had been
transacted so suddenly. that the whole
| adventure seemed more like dream than
reality. But then he knew it was not n
dream and he promised himself that he
would, ere many DAYS make another visit
to the village, and find out the name of
the clever express boy, and in some way
reward him.


But, amid the whirl of business, this
good resolution was forgotten, as many
others are. Our lives furnish us with
numbcrless opportunities for doing good
acts, and we very often resolve that we
will not let them pass away unimproved.
But we permit the good intention to wait
our convenience, to grow dim, to fade
away, and then to be forgotten.
Ii was several months before Mr. Mar
tin again visited the village to inquire after
| his little friend. He was too late. No one
knew of any boy who had large black
dog, and not one seemed to have any recol-
lection OF the events ust recorded; and so
Mr.. Martin returned home, earnestly re-
solved if he ever had another act of kind
ness shown him to reward it on the instant.
Did he keep this resolution?


More than two years passed by, when
one afternoon in summer time, Mr.. Martin
sat alone in his counting groom in the city
Through the window that separated his
office from the store he saw poorly
dressed Young man talking with one of his
clerks. He raped upon the counting
room door. after learning from the clerk
tliat he applied for employment.


You vish tor employment ~ MIR. Mar
tin asked. rs the young nisn approached
respectfully.


Il should indeed, like to find something