Year: 1879

the 'front.' ydru; no graceful narmOnHlnS
touch of creeping vine or waving curtains
about the old red homestead; and yet it
had quiet, substantial, matter-of- fact
physiognomy, that somehow made home
feeling about your heart.


| think it must have been this uncon-
scious feeling which decided the course of
the girl who stood at the point where the
road diverged and ga2ed wistfully about
her that afternoon.


She seemed very tired, and her coarse
straw bonnet and calico dress were COW
cred with dust. If YOU had looked in
her face you would have not forgotten it..
1t could not have seen more than fifteen
summers. 1t was very pale, and sweet,
sad beauty, made YOU think of nothing
but summer flowers drenched with sum
mer rains.


Her eyes were of that deep moist blue
that rolls out from under the edge of April
clouds, and her lips, which were ripe and
full, had that touch of sorowfulness
about them which tells you always that
the heart beneath is full of tears.


The girls hand clasped tightly the lit
tie boys by her side. The resemblance
between them would have told you at
once that they were brother and sister :;
but his life could not have covered more
than a third of hers.


The little fellows eyes were full of
tears, and the bright curls that crcpt out
from under his hat were damp with
moisture.


A few minutes later she opened the
broad back gate and went to the kitchen
door. Farmer Keeps housekeeper-an
old woman, with yellow nightcap and
check apron tied over her linsey wool skirt
answered her knock.


"Do YOU want any help, or do You
know any one around here who does ;:
timidly asked the girl.


The old lady pccrcd at her with dim
eyes


NO" said she. There ain I but four
on us-Farmcr Keep and the two hired
men, and me. It's harvest time just now,
though, and reckon you'd find place
in the village


Thank YOU. Bennie here, my little
brother, is tired. for we walked from the
depot. Can you let US come in and rest
awhile;'


"Sartin YOU can


The sight of the child touched the
heart of the woman, and they went into
large kitchen and sat down in the flag
bottomed chairs, while with glowing
check the girl cast about in her mind for
the best manner in which to present her
petition for food


Before she had decided, the master OF
the house suddenly entered the kitchen,
for it was nearly dinner time. He was a
large, muscular. broadchestcd, sun burned
man, with a hard, gloomy expression on
his face, where fifty years were now be-
ginning to write their history.


He stood still with surprise, gazing on
the new occupants OF the kitchen; and
the boy drew close to his sister, and the
girl threw up timid frightened glance
into the gloomy face.


You don't know Of anybody round
here that wants u little help, do ye farm
err" asked the woman. Here's little
girl that wants a place and she's walked
from the depot told her she might
come in and rest bit before she went NJ
into the village to try her luck


NO" shortly answered the farmer
Dinner ready" And the rich man
turned away without one gentle word oI
kind look for the homeless children whom
God had brought to his door.


Lucy, Lucy. don't stay here; I'm
afraid" And the little boys lip curlcd
and quiyercd as he turned his face from
the farmers.


"Lucy. Lucy" how those little trem.
bling tones went down, down, down, into
the mans heart. How the dead days Of
his youth burst out of their graves anc
rushed through his memory at that low
broken, Lucy, Lucy" He turned anc
looked at the girl; not sourly, as before
but with a kind and eager questioning
interest.


Whats your name


Lucy Wheeler, sir


He staggered back and caught hold o
the nearest chair.


"And what was your mothers


"Lucy Reid. She used to live a
Meadow Brook. So | came here to ge
work. She told me to before she died.


At that moment the angels looked
down and saw the seed that had lain 70
two score years in the hear of JOSEPH
Keep spring up and the flower blossom II
the wilderness.


He strobe across the kitchen to the be
wildered girl. He brushed back he
bonnet and turned her face to the light
He could not be mistaken. 1t was thu
one framed and hung in the darkenet
room in his soul. The blue eyes of Luc!
looked again in his own. At that mo
ment the little boy pushed in betweel
them and gazed wistfully in the man
face. Farmer Keep sat down and tool
the child in his arms. He tried to speal
but instead great sobs came and heave(
his strong chest. The trio in the kitchel
pazed at him in mute astoniShment.


"Lucys children, Lucy's children h'
murmured at last, in voice whose ten
derness was like that of mother. "GoC
sent YOU to me. For her sake this shal
be your home. For her sake | will be