But Matilda Westlake did not forget the food. She took up the tin can
in which it had been brought there, and poured some of the still warm
contents into a cracked soup plate that stood on the table. Finding a
pewter spoon, she at once put her hand under the pillow, and raising the
old man's head gently, began to feed him like a child. Meanwhile Tom
Westlake took off his thick overcoat and spread it over the bed. Then
he went out, bought some sticks and coal from a neighbour, and,
returning, soon kindled a fire in the rusty grate.
The old man did not seem surprised. His face wore a dazed, yet
thoroughly pleased, look as he quietly accepted these attentions. All
the time he kept fast hold of Martha's hand, and smiled to her once or
twice. It was evident that he relished the soup. Only once he broke
silence to thank them and say, "Jesus sent you, I suppose?"
"Yes, Jesus sent us," replied Matty, thoroughly meaning what she said.
At that moment Death raised his hand and laid it gently on the old man's
brow. The hoary head bowed to the summons, and, with a soft sigh, the
glad spirit fled to that region where suffering cannot enter.
Oh, it was sad to witness the child-grief when Martha at last came to
understand that gran'father was really gone. And it required no little
persuasion to induce her to leave the lowly sordid room that she had
known as "home."
While his sister comforted the child, Tom went to the "authorities" to
inform them that an old pauper had gone the way of all flesh.
When at last Martha permitted her new friends to remove her, she was led
by Miss Westlake to the not far distant house of a lady friend, whose
sympathies with the suffering, the sorrowful, and the fallen were so
keen that she had given up all and gone to dwell in the midst of them,
in the sanguine hope of rescuing some. To this lady's care Martha was
in the meantime committed, and then Tom and his sister went their way.
Their way led them to a very different scene not far from the same
region.
"We're rather late," remarked Tom, consulting his watch as they turned
into a narrow street.
"Not too late, I think," said his sister.
"I hope not, for I should be sorry to go in upon them at dinner-time."
They were not too late. David Butts, whom they were about to visit, was
a dock-labourer. In early youth he had been a footman, in which
capacity he had made the acquaintance of the Westlakes' nursery-maid,
and, having captivated her heart, had carried her off in triumph and
married her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account