Year: 1875

been consigned to him. As he e,
pected, when he approached Il
house, no lights we've to be seen
the lower story, except the hall ligh
which was still kept burning.


"Well | am glad to be 70 nes
home" he said to himself, in th
complacent tone of a man who kne
that here at least he might look fG
every comfort and also a cordial We
come. "The wind is searching that
q fact! shouldn want to be Ou
in it much longer. However, it on
| ly lends increased attractions to home
1 wonder if the children are asleep
Little rogues I dare say they will b
awake early enough to morro'
morning to see what gift the New
Year has in store for them"


With these thoughts in his mind
Stephen Tory reached his front step
and commenced ascending them.
He did not at first observe the up
per step was already occupied
and came near stepping on the pr IS
trate figure of hero. But his eye
caught the dark outline just in time
to avoid it.


"Bless my soul! What have w
here" he exclaimed.


So saving, he leaned over, and b,
the light of the hall lamp which
shone through the door windows OF
either side OF the door, he perceived
that it was a poor boy.


"a young vagabond,' thought he
and was about to disturb the slum
bers of our hero in 10 gentle manner
aud roughly bid him begone. Blu
humanity stepped in to forbid thi
hasty step.


"Perhaps he had no other place t.
Sleep" thought the merchant, com
pa.sionately' "lf he had he woult
scarcely have made choice of so hare
a couch as this. Let me look at hin
more closely"


He did 80, opening the door gentl,
so as to let more light in upon thu
sleeper.


Herbert, luckily for himself per
haps, for good looks after all are no
without their effect upon any one
had an attractive face. He had
frank, good-humored expression, anc
half smile rested upon his face as hi
slept. -


"Poor, little fellow" thought Mr.
Tory, she seems just about the age
of my Charlie. How badly | shoulc
feel if he. were obliged to wander
about the streets in this way, sleep
ing on door-steps and not always Sc
cure from interruption there"


AS he spoke he felt ashamed o
the momentary impulse which he hac
felt to wake up the sleeper and seno
lin off.


as if such 3 child could do mt
any harm by simply sleeping on the
steps. hope prosperity is not hard
ening my heart"


Perhaps it was this feeling of com
junction which led him to the re
solution which he now formed.


At first his benevolence had only
gone 80 far as to induce him to leave
our hero undisturbed. But now he
could not help thinking that kindness
called upon him to do more. Why
should he leave our little hero t.
sleep on the hard stone out in the
cold, when there was more than one
bed in his spacious dwelling which
would be unoccupied? Why should
he not suffer him to pass one com.
Portable night, especially as it woul1
do him no harm.


But would not people think hin
Quixotic to throw open his house fol
the reception of beggars and vaga
bonds? This was the suggestion O
worldly prudence, but in momen
his sturdy independence asserted
itself, and he was ashamed of it. BE
sides he had taken another look a
this sleeping boy, and a feeling o
tenderness had arisen in his mind
Rather let me say in his heart, TO
the heart is the fountain of all goo'
feeling and impulses.


He according stepped gently owe
our little hero, and entering the bacI
parlor found that his wife had not ye
retired. He hastily explained to he
his purposes, and had no difficulty il
enlisting her hearty cooperation
| Women are as a rule more tender @
heart than men, or rather it may b
said that upon them the world ha
less effect in bunting their natura
sensibilities.


"Where shall We put him." sal
Mrs. Tory, hesitatiDgly.


"In the blue chamber"


"The best chamber"


eyes. For this one night,
least, the poor boy shall fare sump
louslv. | owe it to him for my M
mentary hardness ofheart.'


"What a pretty boy he is, an
how soundly he is sleeping!" sai
Mrs. Tory. '1t seems pity
wake him."


1T will not be necessary. | thin
/ can carry him up without wakin
T him. At all events, l will make tt
attempt"


The merchant lifted our hero gen
lly, and carried him carefully U
stairs.


Il wonder" he said, "if / could q,
take off his clothes without his wa
ing. He would sleep more comfort
: bly," =
"Perfaps if you are careful. I
seems to be very sound asleep. Z
r seems about the age of our Charles