Bread Upon The Waters

"Please, eir, will yod buy my chest nuis ? "Chestnuts! No!" reiurned Kalph Mo"iv, lonkiug carelcsny down on the up-turi:(d f co whose largo, brown eycs, sbadowed by tangled curls of flaxen hair, were appeaiiug so pitifully to bis own. "What dol want with ohestnuts?" "But, picase, sir, liuy 'eni ploadcd the üttlo one." r assuri tl by tbo i ough kindncBS of his toiiO. "Nobody scems to care for iIkiii, and - and - " 8he ísírly buist into tears, snd Mr.nre, vrlio bad been nu tho point of brushiug carolessly past bcr, stopped DatÏDOtive Ij "Are you vcry much in want of ibe 3 ''" "Indeed, sir, wo are," pobbed the cl.i'.d ; "mother st,Tit rae out, and - " 'N;iy, littie one, doo't et v in fucIi a hesrt-broken wuy," said Ralph, tmoothnp her h:iir down wit!i carelotss geutie11' 8 "i dun't want your c'jeoluuts, but brie s a quarter for you, if that will do j ou ai y guod :' 11e did oot stiiy to hrnr the delighted incoherent ihniiks the child poured out iliro' a raiiibow of nuiles and tears, but strode on bis way, muttcring between his leeth - "Thot cut off tny supply of cigars for tbo urxt tweii'y-l'otir bours. I don't fara though ; the brown cyed object really did ery u if it hadn't a friend in the world. Hang it ! I wisli I was rieli eoongh to bi;lp every poor cieature out of tbc sLugh of despond. Wtiile Ralph Mooie was indulging in these very natural reflections, ttie darkeyetl littie d;unsel whom he bad eomfnrttd v as dastiinu down the street with quick elastic footstops, utterly regatdIc-s ut tho basket of uusold uuts that dangled npnn her arm. Down an obscuro lañe bo darted, between tall ruinoua roKB of houses, md up u narrow wooden stnir-case to a room where a palé, nent lookiug wouiaa witb largu brown eyes like her own, was sewing as busily as if tho breatb of lil'u depended upon every stitch, and two littie ones were contoutedly playiutr in the sunshice that teinpoiarily upplied tho plaoe of the fire. "Mary ! back already ? Surely you havcnot sold your ohestnuts so snon ?': "Oh, uiother, niother ! sec," ejaoulmed the breatbless child, l'a gentleman gave me a whole quarter. Only thiuk, niother, a wholo quarter !" If Ralph Moore could ouly have seen the tapiuro which bis tiny silvtr ift diffused aroufid it in the poor widowV poveriy-Htrickeu home, he'would have grudged süll lees tho tcaiporaiy jirivuvatiorj of cigars to wbich bis generosity had subjected him. # Years came and went. Tho littie chistnut girl passed as eotirely out of Ralph Monre'a iuemiry as if pleading e) es had Bever touchcd the soft ïpot in hie beurt, but Mary Lee never forgot tb stiauger who had giveu her the ilver lieco. The crimson window curtains wore cloBely driiwn to i-hul out the xtorm nnd tempest: of a black Deoetuber night - tho tii e was glowing chuerily n the well tillad grate, and the diuncr table in a glitter with cut glass, rure oliina, and pohshed silyer, was only waitiug for the presenceofMr. Aooley, "What can it be that detaini papa?'' said Aira Audley, a luir, huídseme matrot) of about tbirty, as she glaucod at the dial of a tLy eriameled watch. ' Six o'cloi-k and he does not inuke hit appearauce 1" "Ther' a mau with hirn iu tho s!udy, mamma - oinie on bnñnew'said Rnbert Audlt-y. a pretty boy, eleven yeaia old, who was rcading by tho tírn. "J'll cali bina iigain," 6aid Mrs. Audlej , stepping to tlie door. Hut, ad she openid it, the brilliant gas Ujihl frll full on the faco of an bumble lonking man in worn and threadbarè ga i insüts, who wag Uuving the boute, hile ber bubiizid s'ootl iu the doorway ot his study, ap[ aretnly relioved to be rid uf his vibi or 'Chiirli p," said Mrs. Audlcy, whose chi ek had paiud sud üushed, whw is that man and wüat does ho want ï" "H8 uamo is Mooro, I believe, am he carne to sue it I would bestow upon him tbat vacant messenírership in the bank." :-A„ ! w;ü rou ?" "I don't kiuivv, Mary, I must think about it. Why, mj love?' "Jii-cause I a-k it uf you as a favor, and you havcsuid a thousand times you would nuver deny me auytbing." "Aud I will keep my word, Mary,' said the luver-husband, with an aífectinoftte kÍMi "Til writp. the fellow a noto tiiis oveuiug. I believe I'vo got liis adilress about mu si mcwherc." An hour or two later, when Bobbie, ': and Bugene weresougly tuckud io bed in tlio spacious uursery above stnirs, Mrí. Audk'y toid hr iiusband wby she wan so intereáted iu tbe fate pf a man vvhoiu sho hadjiot secu for twi-uty years. "That'a right, my little wife," replied ber busband, foldiog ber íondly to bis bieast, wlieu tbe simple talo was concludod, 'íiovor forget ona who bas beeu kiud to you iu the days wht'ii you üecded kindoeas luoet. Ealjh Mooro was sitting in his poor lodging, bosiiles bis ailing wifu's sick be3, wlien a liveriad servant broagKt a uote from tbe rich and properous baok-direütor, Charles Audley. "Good niiivs, Bertha !" ho exelaimed, as he read thu bi iei words. We chalí not titarve - Mr. Audley promissa me t!iü vacan t situalion." "You bavo drcpped somethinf; from the note, Ralph," said Mrs. Moore, pointing to a slip of paper ou thu floor. Moore stooptd to recover the cstray. It was a tífty dollar bilí ueatly folded in a pioco üf .apor, on whiob was writteri : "In gratefttl ictncmbranoe of a gilver quarler ihat a kind stranger bestowed on a little chestuul girl over twenty years ago." Italph Moore hd tbrown his morsel of bread on the waters, ind alter iiiany days it liad reiurnod to niim.