40. CHAPTER XL.
RICHARD PERSISTS IN TRYING TO DO GOOD.
He kept up his Ragged School, and did his best to tame
the Wild Olives. And in this charity he chanced upon two
singular and very unexpected co-laborers. These were none
other than Captain Creamer and Tunny. The Captain had
become reduced in estate and in feeling, — so much so, as
to beg small favors in money from Richard, whom he had
both patronized and abused. This tested Richard's Christian
principle. Would he assist a man who had so annoyed
him? He did, — he was kind to the Captain when
others abandoned him. The Captain became peevish and
dejected, as he was deserted and despised. Under these
circumstances, Richard not only helped him, but was able to
secure his help. He told him there was work to be done in
the Ragged School, and prevailed with him to unite in that
enterprise. But how should Tunny be there? The Green
Grocer had fallen, too, — failed, and, like Richard, was
crushed. Worse than the mice, whose inroads he so pathetically
described, the vanity and folly of his wife had undermined
him. He was reduced to what “the law allowed,”
— less then than now; everything else, even to his credit
and good name, fled. It was rumored that he gambled; —
and this hurt him.
Richard visited him in his bereavement, and his wife in
her despair, and was a comforter unto both. It was a sight
to melt one's heart, to see Mrs. Tunny in her faded kitchen
dress, without a curl in her hair, or a bow on her bosom.
Richard found employment in the Mill for Theodoric, their
son. The Sailmaker, who had married their daughter
Faustina, and between whom and Mrs. Tunny alienation
never slumbered, Richard reconciled, and persuaded him to
commiserate his mother-in-law, and take her to live with
him. The husband he summoned in his train of beneficence.
These three men, sufficiently miserable themselves, yet
found a lower misery to which they could minister. It
made Roxy smile to see Richard start off for the Point, of a
Sunday afternoon, with his two fellow-missionaries, on
their work of mercy. Mysie was the sexton of this Church,
— she opened the house, swept the floor, and lighted the
candles.
There was a little pleasant reäction in Richard's favor.
Captain Creamer repented him of the wrong he did to
Richard, in refusing to testify before the court of females at
Whichcomb's. He knew it was his authoritative injunction
that caused Richard to stay in the chamber with the Old
Man and orphan girls. He would make reparation. Unknown
to Richard, who would not have suffered it, he went
to Miss Freeling, — a sort of flame of the Captain's earlier
and better days, — and reported the facts. This lady
repaired immediately to Miss Rowena, whom she knew particularly
well, and repeated what she had heard.
