Year: 1870

IT was q cold December night, and
nothing was stirring in the village street
but the wind. This trespasser did moi
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 its scrutiny and having no re-
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 flame
blazed in steady defiance of the powers of
the air, shedding 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 1t was rare he did not know
cold, hunger and discomfort.


"You must see, Tom," urged the for
mer, g. that the offer is capital one for
you. The child will be boarded, clothed
and educated in a very different way from
what she now is You have not the
means to provide for her. l do not
understand how you can hesitate for q
moment"


"Thank you humbly, sir" said the old
man, and in truth the reverence and hui
mility 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
and unanswerable, yet he was not con-
vinced He turned in dull perplexity to
the Postmistress.


Remember" she said, kindly guessing
his thought, I" 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, "I'll
speak to Dot"


Suppose" suggested the Postmistress,
1--WE 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 a
profound obeisance 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 scanty 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.


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 q
brilliant career, nor were his circum
stances the most enviable. To beggary
was added neglect and il-usage, to these
were united the suffering of bodily de
formitY and the sum total of misery pro
duced rose to fearful amount How hG
contrived to scramble from boyhood tt
manhood, heaven knows-if, indeed, 9
creature may be digniied by the name oi
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 sou
was not without his ambition. His high
est aim had been to attain the rank o.
cobbler; he could conceive no greater
happiness; and his desire was fulfilled. II
the service of harsh, parsimonious mas
ter, in a dark back room, he cobbled, anC
was content; but he was doomed to los,
even this qualification. His eyesigh
gradually failed, and he was compelled t.
give up work. He yielded not only with


ing accustomed to receive thankfully, bu