The Lord Sent It, If The Devil Brought It

In my younger days I was what people cali a "wild chap," and I rather think was something of a high boy. Anything like fun stirred me from the bottom, and the way I went it," someiimes, when I was stirred, leople said was rather curious. 1 believe my respect for Religious people was not quite so high as it should have been - not so high as it is now. This grew out of two things - a delective education and thoughtlessness. Ten or fifteen years added to my mortal lift: bas sobered me somewhat, and al this present writing, I own to a proround respect for religión. I state this that neither the gay nor thoughtful reader mny misnnderstand me, if the story I ara goingto relate should seem to deal with sorae levity in matters held sacred. I think the rebuke I got, often as I laughed at it since, put tbc laurh cornpletely on me and my companion. Tliere resided in my neighborhood a poor widow, whose meansof support were exceedingly limited. Between nursing herself for rlieiiinatism, and spining and knitting, most of her lonely time was past. I am ashamed to say, ihat, on one or two occasions, I joined some wild young cliaps in playing on tricks upon her, such as making uousual noises about the house at night smoking her almost to death by putting a board over the top of her low mud built chimney, and such like doitigs, tbat we tbought rare sport ; but for which we deserved a liitle wholesoine cliastiseinent, ifthere had been any one authorized to adminisler it. One night, soon after dark, it happened that I was rcturning home in compauy with a merry fellow about my own nge, and had to go by old Granny Bender's cottage. I had been into the 'own, and was bringing hoine a couple of baker's loaves," of which some of our folks were as fond as city people are of getting now and then a good taste of county " home mad;." " Torn," said I, as the old woman's cottage carne in sight at a turn in the road, " suppose we have a little fun with Granny Berider .3" " Agreed," was Tom's answor, for he was always ready for sport. We liad not fully decided upon vvhat we would do, wben we carne up to the cottage and paused to settleour mode of annoyance. Tlie only hght within was the dim fiickering of a few small sticks burning on the hearth. As we stood near the vvindow, listening to whst was goingon inside, we f'ound that Granny was praying, and a little to our surprise, asking for food. " As she expecls to get bread from heaven," said I, irreverently, "I suppose she wil! have to be accommodated." And, turning from the window. I clambered up noiselessly, to the top o'f her chimney, a feat of no difficulty, and turnbled my two loaves down. Wben I reached the window again, in order to see what effect this mode of supply would have upon Granny Bender, I fbund the good old creature op her knees, piously thankiog God for having answered her pravor. " That's cool," said I to Torn ; " now isn't it ?" " I rather think it b," replied Tom. 11 And is the oíd woman really such a fool as to think that the Lord answered her prayer, and sent her vvell baked loaves of bread down the chimney ?" " No doubt of it." " It won't do to let her labor under this mistake; no, never in the vvorld," said I. " Hallo ! Granny !" And I threw open the window, and pushed my laughing face into the room. She had risen from her knees ; and was about putting a piece of bread into hermouth. " Now, Granny Bender !" said I, " it is'nt possible that you believed tliat bread carne from heaven ? Why, you old sinner you ! I threw it down the chimney." By this time the old woman's countenance was turned fully towards me, and by the dim ligbt of the feeble fire, I could see there was tears of thankfulness upon her faded and witbered face. The expression of that face did not in the least change, though there was a deep rebuke in the tones of her voice, as well as in the words she uttered, as she said - "The Lord sent it, if the devil brought U !" You may be sure that I vaniahed instanter, while Tom clapped bis bands and shouted. " Good ! good ! Too good ! Oh, dear ! but the old lady was too inuch for you that time !" With sundry other express!ons of like tenor. I tried to laugh with him as we went off home, and did laugh, perhaps, as loud as he did, but somehow or other, the laugh didn't appear to do me any good. Al'iur lliat I let Granny Bender alone.