Year: 1871

a hundred lights glancing out from the


windows of the new building cast their


broad glare down the snowy road and Lit


up the garden and grounds with blaze of


light. The host had no reason to regret


the liberal hospitality, as standing at the


wide doorway, he welcomed the throng of


rich and poor, young and old, who, at


tracted by various motives, had come in


response TO his invitation. Squire Jessup,


arrayed in his best suit, with high collar


and brass buttons, was everywhere among


the guests, looking happy and proud as


one who has discharged an important


trust. And still the throngs flowed in at


the doorway, and Mr.. Thompson had q
| kind word for each; and then, finally, the
great house was full of people.


Just when the buzz of conversation and


the noise of many feet seemed at their
| height, there came sound of some one
| rapping to secure silence, and, looking


around to discover the cause, the guests
| saw Mr.. John Thompson standing on a


chair in the center of the hall, evidently


desirous of saying something. "Sh-
sh-, sh-," when round the assembly.
"Quiet, there" shouted some. and amid a
| silence hardly to have been anticipated in
such crowd, the queer old man began to
speak, though in voice which seemed no


longer sharp and testy, but softened and
tremulous with emotion


"My friends" he said, zone and all,
who have come to visit me this evening,
and, hope, to enjoy yourselves, l would
ask your patience and forbearance while
/ relate little story. On this same night
good many years ago, so many that l
scarcely care to count them, there passed
along yonder highway, through driving
OF o,,I al


man, leading by the hand little boy of
how, matters not in my story. She was
destitute, hungry and broken-hearted, but
she saw the lights in yon village yonder,
and was pressing on with a fierce energy
toward hope and help in the distance.
Alasl wearied nature could bear her up no
more, and she sank down under the dark
shadow of tree by the roadside. Even
then not forgetting to shield her poor
child under her thread bare scanty gar
ments from the cutting blasts. They fell
asleep. She is sleeping still in the dear
old church-yard yonder. The little boy
whom she warmed in her last embrace
was spared by Providence to grow up to
be the old man who now stands before you.
God sent me kind and benevolent friends
from among you in those terrible days of
adversely. For my life, my education, my
whole character l have to thank those of
you land there may be some here who re-
member the incident) who took me in
their keeping, and provided for me until,
in an ungrateful day, stole away to make
my way alone in the wide, wide world.


My friends, it has been a hard, long
journey for these forty years. l have seen
disease carry me to the verge of tomb to
which l had previously consigned all
whom loved. Storms and war and other
misfortunes have, time and again, left me
all but impoverished. Yet, have come
out unscathed, carrying with me through
it all the remembrance of that unpre!end-
ing tombstone in yonder churchyard, and
the consciousness of one solemn impera-
tive duty to be done before 1 die. That
duty, by Gods will, / shall tonight dis
charge. Nevermore, if I can help it, shall
and want by your roadsides Never shall
your poor, your sick, your aged want for
comfort, food and shelter. Seei this
building which have caused to be erected
do you know what it is for? For me,
do you think? l expect neUer to enter it
again. 1t is for your poor and sick and
destitute 1 have built it" and here the
old gentleman nervously pulled docu-
ment from his vest pocket. "Seel here
is copy OF deed by which L have trans
ferred this house and ground entire to the
proper authorities for this purpose. In
doing this act realize the dream, the am
bition of the greater part of my life.
thank God that he has enabled me to so
realize it. And now, in conclusion, my
good friends, will say that you will find
music all ready in the other room for an
old fashioned dance, and good supper
when you want it. Make yourselves as
happy as you can, but / doubt whether, at
the height of your glee, there will be one
among you who is half as happy as old
John Thompson"


Amid tears and cheers, and countless
wriDgings of his withered hands, the old
gentleman descended from his chair, and
was lost. in the crowd. He came to the
surface once more in the first jig, dancing
at furious rate with the prettiest buxom
lassie in the room, and then disappeared.
The feasting and dancing went on until
morning; but when the daylight stole in,
and the guests began to ask for Mr.
Thompson, to bid him goodbye" nobody
had seen him-he had shot away behind
some jingling sleigh-bells in the night, and
has never since been back to W.