Year: 1870

TT was cold December night, anl
nothing was stirring in the village street
but the wind. This trespasser did not
content itself with the public highway
but invaded the private houses without
the slightest cOmpunctiOn. 1t roared
down the kitchen chimneys, rushed
through the public rooms, and even forced
itself into the chambers of the sick, MAX
ing them shiver in their beds. 1t was so
utterly destitute of good breeding, or the
slightest sense of honor, that not corner
escaped it's scrutiny and having no re-
spect for persons, it burst into the Post
masters parlor, driving the smoke imper-
tinently into the eyes of his wife, ON pur-
pose to make her sneeze. The former
august parsonage stood with his back to
the fire, appearing to be in perfect luxury
of mind, body and estate. The fame
blazed IN steady defiance Of the powers CT
the air, shedding a ruddy glow on the
carpet, curtains and carefully polished
mahogany: also on the features Of an old
man standing behind the table who re-
turned the POstmaster's smile unenvious-
ly. although it was rare he did not know
cold. hunger and discomfort


"YOu must see, TOm," urged the for





you The child will be boarded, clothed
and educated in very different way from
what she now is. You have not the
means to provide for her. I do not
understand how you can hesitate for
moment"


"Thank you humbly, sir" said the old
man. and in truth the reverence and hu-
miity of his manner could rot have been
greater to the Queen herself


"Thank you very humbly."


But the tone expressed something be-
sides Difference. The argument was clear
aud unanswerable, yet he was not con-
vinced. He turned in dull perplexity to
the Postmistress.


Remember" she said, kindly guessing
his thought, Z" it will not be parting from
the child you shall come as often as you
like to see her-every day if you fancy.
And what pleasure it will be to watch
her growing up, so well cared for and
happy"


Persuasion had more power than rea-
sOning; yet neither was strong enough TO
convince him. There remained some hid
den objection, which words would not, or
could not, reveal. His helpless silence
reused the Postmaster's impatience.


"Sir." said the old man at length, "Pll
SPEAK 10 DOt.


"Suppose," suggested the Postmistress,
eve leave the matter for the present.
Think of it to night, and let US know to-
morrow. There is no need to hurry your
self in deciding"


Tom assented gracefully, and with
profound Obesance left the room. Once
out in the open air the wind met him face
to face, and shook and buffeted him until
he thought he had never known how
threadbare and scapty his coat really was.


He was feign to draw it closely around
him, to prevent the blast penetrating to
his very heart, thereby proving itself to
be not merely unscrupulOus, but unfeel-
ing.


The struggle with the unseen enemy
was desperate, but not so fierce or violent
as the conflict within, in the heat of which
the chills of the outer world were forgot
ten.


Fortune had not bestowed upon Tom a
brilliant career, nor were his circum-
stances the most enviable. To beggary
was added neglect and ill-usage, to these
were united the suffering of bodily de-
formity and the sum total of misery pro-
dueed rose to fearful amount. How he
contrived to scramble from boyhOod to
manhood, heaven knOws-if, indeed, q
crea: ure may be digni6ed by the name of
man, who can only be so called In the
sense Of his being a few degrees higher
than the beasts of the field, and many
lower than the angels. Yet this poor soul
was not without his ambition. His high
est aim had been to attain the rank of
cObbler; he could conceive no greater
happiness and his desire was fulfilled. In
the service of barsh, parsimonious mas
in 10 IL boo oIx ho ta1 nd
was content but he was doomed to lose
even this qualification. His eyesight
gradually failed, and he was compelled to
give up work. He yielded not only with
out murmur, but with cheerfulness, be-
ing accustomed to receive thankfully, but
to ask nothing. A few tmall shopkeepers,
out of compassion, employed him on er-
rands, and by this means he picked up a
livelihood In such circumstances it is
difficult to conceive any room for happi-
ness-any lOop-hole through which hope,
comfort, or Joy could enter. The cripple
seemed to have no heritage ip the delights
of beautiful world. Yet to the very
lowest there is always heaven at hand.


One bitter night he was returning home.
AS he passed under an archway he saw
child seated upon step, her eyes closed,
her face and hands blue with cold. He
bent over her. For the first time in his
life he recognized link between himself
and a fellow creature She was also cold,
poor and lonely. They were equally mis-
erable. Seized by sudden Impulse he
lifted her in his arms and carried her
through the streets To his wretched garrett.
Then taking off his coat he wrapped her
in it, and commenced rubbing the icy
hands and feet After some time the child
opened her eyes, and from that moment
the strong bond between them was sealed
forever.


She never left him. He soon larished
upon her all the devotion of an undying
nature. In return, the poor little heather,
who had never entered church ia her
life, thought nothing on earth so wor-
shipful as Tom, and adored no other
Deity. A new life had dawned upon
them both, great mine of wealth had
been opened. They were no longer poor,
lonely, desolate. Call it infatuation, on
what you will, it was a wonderful power
which could thus transform want into
plenty, cold into warmth, comfortlessness
into luxury-one of those fe " inexplicable
r,Ou>prs which c.sunhat and rouuuer Deafh