THE WILD-DUCK SHOOTER.
for her door. The young nobleman informed her that he had had such a severe cold he could not come and see her before. 'He spoke as free and pleasantly,' she observed, in telling the story, 'as if I had been a lady, and no less! and then he brought a parcel out of his pocket, "and I've been over to B———," he says, "and bought you a book for a keepsake, and I hope you will accept it." And then they all talked as pretty as could be for a matter of ten minutes, and went away. So I waited till my master came home, and we opened the parcel, and there was a fine Bible inside, all over gold and red morocco, and my name and his name written inside; and, bless him! a ten-pound note doubled down over the names. I'm sure, when I thought he was a poor forlorn creature, he was kindly welcome. So my master laid out part of the money in tools, and we rented a garden, and he goes over on market days to sell what we grow; so now, thank God, we want for nothing.'
This is how she generally concludes the little history, never failing to add that the young lord kissed her baby.
'But,' said my friend, 'I have not told you what I thought the best part of the anecdote. When this poor Christian woman was asked what had induced her to take in a perfect stranger, and trust him with the best clothing her house afforded, she answered simply, Well, I saw him shivering arid shaking, so I thought " thou shalt come in here for the sake of Him that had not where to lay His head."'
Now I think we must all have read many times of such rewards following upon little acts of kindness.
