Only A Child

'Of ail poor men the" most to be pitied ís che poor rieh man. The man In absolute poverty can be helped; but for the man whoitpoor with liis coffers full of gold tJicrt is 110 earthly help - none, unless eometblag can ret way down loto liis heart ncl open the war for the incomingof sun ligbl :iul warnitli. Sueh a transforniatiou 1 once knew, and 1 will teil liow it was wioiiffht. It was done by ouly a little child. Ku f iis Grote was really and truly a miser, thnugh he liad prnbalily never acknow!-the fact to hlmself. At the age of fiiïty hc lived in a close, small, sbabby house, in a nnrrow street down town, though np town wht re the streets were bread, and where green trees grew, be owned a whnle block, the rental of wliicli yielderi wbat tuight have been amunifleent iin-oiiii' fur anv man. In early lite Rufus Grote fiad been ditappowtad; bo while yet a youngnian, he had sluit hiniself up withIn liis slirll umi throughall the years of liis manhood hc hidBteither askcd nor rucn love nor frienump. He took liis usance even txt the poniKi of rlesli. if it was due li ii ii by the bond, and hc was as ready to discharge all bonded obllgutions. One evoning just at dusk a coach sto]peifat Rufus Grote's door, and a lady dressed in black, and accompanied by a cliild, alighted theiefrom, mu piico ihc rusty ron knorker. The miser answered the .-uminons, and deinanded to know the applieanfs busii "Uiu'le Kiifu." said the woman, "I am Mai y Sa n ford and this is my child. W i 1 1 ynu urivr me shelter iintil 1 can li ii tl work? Man Sanford waa the oulv daaghter of Rufus Grote11 dead eister. He had heard of her husband's death and he had shudderlugly askecl him-elf more thau unce if t ntighl nut be possible that bis widowed nlece unuUl c-all op liim for assistance. And now the dreaded bjpw had lallen. Wh( was be tn dof Had he followeil tlie tirst impulse, be would have tiirned the woma.i and her ehild away with a word; bul that would have been inhumau. He caiijrbt in a trap. He had to open bis door wider, and let thein in. And when they Wefe in lie was torced, in common decency, to go out and bity a loaf of bread and Mime chee8e. Mary Sanfcjrd was thirty-tive; a slight pale-faced, pretty woman; and what of beauty she po-.-essed was due more to the reflex setíoa npon her face and mantier oí her native goodneas thau to any outward grace of feature. Her child - a jfirl of niiie years - wns called Flora. She was a plump, dimpled, sunny-haired and sunny-faced chfld, with the Ifcbt of a tender, loriDg heart sparkling in every feature. Slic wa i cally and truly a tliiii(; of beauty and a perfect joy. Atter eating the bread and cheese, and drinkinfr cold water with it, Mary Sanford KI to Kut us the stor.v of her husband's death - how he had Buffered long, and how he had left her in utter desiittl UOBL "But," she concluded, as she saw a eloud ipoa Iht uiiclr's face, "I am rot come to lc a burden UpOTJ JTOU. BÍT8. Maynard will m' in the city In a lew days, and will gire me dik. aUghl What kind of work 't" grunted lïulus. "1 sliall keep hciuse for her." Later tn the evening, by the dim light of i sin.üli' tallow eandle. Flora erept to the lil inan's siilc, and climbed up into liis lap. For the moment he had thoughtof putting lier away, M ha would of puütway an inlinuating cal, bal be dld not cío it. So she kept, on initil slic hal got Ijoth handx upou his shoulders. "Vou are my uuclc Rufus" slic said, w ith a (juivering, eager smile. "I suppo8e -o," answered the man forcin: out ttic reluctant words. "X haven't gol a papa any more. Mayn't I Uiss yon before I go to bed?" The little warm anus were around bis in ck. and the kiss upon hia cheek. The child waited a moment as thougli for a kiss in return, but nlie did not get it, and she gllpped down and went with her motherto the little dark room where liutus Gryte had given to tbeir use liis own hard. poor bed. For himself the host had phmned to Iprtad a lilauket upon 1 1 x tloor in the liviiif: room. He bad dept M before, and he could sleep M aain. The oil of Rufus Grote's heart was like the soil of other hearts. A seed once forced through the crust would liud root there- either good or evil. In all his mknhood'a lite mi mnn ¦ thlng as that ohildlih kiss had nut touelied liis cheek. He did not i hink of it so inueli until he was alone in the 'lensc darkness; and then when he could pee notliing else, he could see that siinny face, and the musical chirrup eil again in his ears. At first lic woukl have ben Klad to believe thiU the child's motner had lngtructed her in this, imt when h looked over all the cipcunutancea. he knew il could not have been; and hefore be ilept- he mi glad the ohlld had come tu him of her own swect impulse. Upon the hard Hoor, wlth only a single blanket for bedding, Kufus Grote did not Bleep so soimdly as was his wont. He dreamed, and In his dreams he saw a cherub and feit cherubio anus ibout his nuk, with kissea upon his check. And he said t lilmsclt' lu hi ¦ 'in-urn ¦ "Suicly, l can not be such an ogre if these sweet beings eau love me!" In the mornlng Rufos Grote wasup very early. He had thonght the nlght befo re tliat he had bread and cheese eiiough for breakfast; but af ter the night'a rest - perliapa alter the night'a dream - he took new thonghto. Without exactly cnmprehendIng the feeling the boom óf otter loneiiD6M and selnóhneM had giren place to a waruu t sense of companionship and fraternlty. He put his 'hand to the cbeek where the Impresa of the child's kin bad fallen, and a new resolution ciune iuto his inind. He. went out to a neighboringstreeteorner and pnrehased tea and sugarj and butter, and new warm breakiast rolls, and a .-mail can of milk. lic had ju8i depositad these artiolea npon the table when Jlrs. Öanford made her appearance. "Qood mornlng, Uncle Rnfus." Had the host canght that sound when he first a rose i t would have startled hlm but it feil very softly upon hUearanow. He had been exerclsing, and earned the salute. "Qeod roornlng, Mary," retnrned lïufus; and, so (Hld was it. thal the voy tonel ot his own voice Bnrprlsed him. "Wint can I ilo tor yon this morning unc-li .¦ ' llav l gei four breaknisl linvuu?" "3 will huihl u lire," said the man, "and then, if you pleaae, you may raake a cup ol tea." Tbc tl ie was built, and tlien he showcd wbcri' hig dishea itc. Mary Sanf-d was an accomplished hoiisckci'pejjj !rnd she could accommodate littl'Self to ciicuniManccs very narrow. Wlile she was bwty a tav of fresh smishine l)ur-l IntO the room, ligbtlngnn the dingy wali. and making golften with Itelightthe atmosphéreof the place. It was Flora, brigiit, joyous, umi jtibilaut. thinking only of love in the lirst hoor of her waking ftom refwebing sleep. Without a word - only a ripple of gladi:i.-ss dropping frotn her lips - she went to vrhew the old man bad just sat down in the corner, wid crept up again into hta lap. '1 carït reach your cheek, uncle," she laugheil, without gi-tting up,- you are so big and I am so little." And then she kisscd him as she had ilone die Iright bciorc; but not as on the nitrfit before licl Bufua Grote. With a movemciit almoet spasmodic - bo strange was it lor 'mm. bc diew tbc rliild back to liim, and imprinteda hearty kiss upou her round check. And the words- "God bless you little one!" feil from bis lips before he knew it. Verily the crost was broken. But had uny jood secd tallen upon the heart? What an odd scène tbr themiser's home! A really good breakfast- a table tastefinly laid - the fumes fram the teapot fresh and trajirant- and tbc Burrouudfnga cheeiful. A f ter breakfust Eufus Grote val torced to go away on business. And on that day he concluded arranjrements tor the leasing of ji building which was to ï-eturn him $10,OOOayear; and he had incant when the buginess was done, that he would be pooier than ever, and live on lesg than heretofore, so tlut he might lay up more. On this same day one of his house was vaeated up town - a dwellinff, on oi:e of the broad streets jvhere the green frees rcvr. He saw his ajrei:t, ind ordered him to let the house as quickly as possible. That evenin;, while Mrs. Sanford was out, Flora carne to Kufus Gróte's side, and looked earnestly up into bis face. "Uncle," she said, with quaint seriousni'ss, "don't you want me to fret up into your lap!" "Why do you ask tbat?" demanded the old man. "Mamma said I musn'fc öbe said you wouldnt likc it." . "Wliat made her thiijk f shouldn't like it?" "Because she aid you wam't happy, and sbe cried when she snit! that her little ÍTrl maant make lier Uncle liufiiB dislike her." "And what did vou ay to thaLi" asked Kufus Grote, with awakeninji interest. '1 tolcl mamma that I would put my armi around your nei-.k, and bug and kiss you, and see if I coultln't make you love me. And if you loved me. I knew you would let me sit in your lap." When Mary Sanford carne in, half an honr later, she foand her eblld In Uncle Kufus' lap, her sunny head pfllowed upon his bosom, and liis strong anus errtwlning her. The good seed had fallen, and liad taken root! Three days afterward Uufus Grote saw his agent, and told him that bc need not hun-v about fenting the empty house up t o w 1 1 . On théeveninfc of the same day Mary Ban ford catne ib witli a letter in lier hand, mil found Flora nestled away in her uncle's arms. -l nele Kufus," Bhe said, "1 have ifccived a letter from Mrs. Maynard. She will be at home day after to-inorrow." "And she wants you to take charge of her house?" Ves." "Very well. Walt till she comes.'' And the old man held the little child in his anus uittil it was time to go to bed. On the toilowinr mornlng Uncle Hufus told Mary that he wanted her to take a ride with him during the forenoon. Sbe sanl she would be at his service. And later a fine coach tlrew up before the door, and Uncle Kufus carne in and liadc .Mary make ready and to make Flora reatly also. They rode up town, and when the couch stopped Ku lus banded theni ut hefore a house with ireat chestnut trees growinir n the yard and upon the Sldewal. And lie led thcni into the house. And in the broad, handsome parlor be turned and gpoke, holding Flora jy tbc hand: "Mary," he said. "this little child has Fromised to make her old uiu-lc happy, and will not give her up. This house is mine. If you w ill come and help me to take care i!' it, I will live in t. What Mky you? What could she Bayf She saw the new light upon her unclc:s face; and when be took the child ia bis anus, ,-nul held the siiimy head close upon bis bosom, sbe s.iw the bleasing ol the COJOJOg time. öhesaid, wlth a burst of tears : "Dcar uncle, if Flora and I can make vou liapjiy, you may conimand U8 botb." Thcre WM wonder up town and there was wonder down town, wben KutusGrote tppaared i uell-drcsscd, sinilinti, happy man. AihI In the mansión bcneath the s)i:m!c ol' the great eheatuut trees, there wan peaoe and ioy. An angel, la the shape of a little child, aad touched a human heart, Lösg burled in ¦olil ilarkness, and brought it forth to love and ble?sing. One day Caj)t. tee btlldng wlfjt Spott.cd Tail and others about bollest people and the keeplng of one's word. "Therc's no such tTling as au honest man," laid the Captain, jokingly. "Thew uted io hc, however. In tonner tiroei honest men always uscd to have a hunch ot ifrowing in the palm of the right hand. I don't see but a tew bunohes in my hand ¦ Spolle.l Tail stepped up to hlm, and shakinir hands with him, said: "llow! How! 1 uscd to have a great big l„i,,,li ot bair in the palm of mv Hand, but it has all been worn off by shaking hands with the wbites."