Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-09-21
1G1scnLLANHous sHLEor1oNs.
lRRoa CHAMBERS EDINBURGH JoURSAL.l
ssITS ONLY A DROP"


1t was a cold winters night, and though the
cottage where Ellen and Michael, tho two sury-
wing children Of old Ben Murphy, lived, al
ways neat and comfortable, still there was q cloud
over the brow Of both brother and sister, as they
sat before tho cheerful fire; it had obv iously been
spread not by anger, but by sorrow. The silence
had continued long, though il not bitter. AT
last Michael drew away from his sisters eyes
the checked apron she had applied TO then, 81 TIA
king her hand aifectionately within his own said,
cit isn't for my sake, Ellen, though the Lord
knows shall be lonesome enough The long winter
nights and long summer days without your wise
saying, and your sweet song, and your merry
laugh, that can well tremendously, since the
zine when our poor mother used to seat US on the
new rick, and then, in the innocent pride of her
heart, call our father to look at us, and preach to
us against being conceited, at the very time she
was making us proud as peacocks bv calling us
her blossoms of beauty, aud her hearts blood, and
her king and queen.
"Cod and the blessed virgin make her bed in
heaven now and for evermore, amen, - said Ellen,
Mt tho same time drawing out her beads, and re-
oeatIng an ave with inconceivable rapidity-
"Ah Nike" she added, that the mother, and
the father, too, full of grace and godiness.'
"True for ye, Ellen; but that's not what Pm af
Their now, as you well know, you bushing little
rogue of the world; and a word IN say a
gainst it in the end, though it's lonesome I'll be
on my own hearth stone, with no one to keep me
company but the old black cat, that can't see, let
alone hear, the craythurm
snow" said Ellen, wiping her eyes, and smile
ing her own bright smile sieve off; ye'er ISL like
all the men, purtendIng to one thing, whln they
name another; there's dale Of desafe about
thcm-all-everv one of ihem-and so my moth
or often said. Now, you'd better have done,
maybe I'll say something that will bring, if not
the color to your brown cheek, dale
warmth TO your warm heart, than would be con-
vanient, just by the mention of one Mary-Mary!
what putty Mary it IS, isn't Tits Il
common name too and yet you like it none the
worse for that D'you mind the old rhyme?"
"Mary, Mary, quite contrary"
Well, I'm not going to say she is contrary-Fm
sure she's any thing but that to you, any way,
brother Mike. Cant you sit still, and don't be
pulling the hairs OF Pusheen cats tail, it isn't
many there's IN il , and I'D thank you not to nm
ravel the beautiful English cotton stocking Pm
! nn.' ,a u .pHs RI Ml s more Than evea
my ine fellow! Indeed, poor ould Pusheen,
she continued, addressing the cat with great gray
sty, "Rever heed what he says to YOU: he has n"
notion to make goa either head tail To the house
no, he no wont let you be without a mistress to
give YOU yer sup OF milk, or Yer bit oil sop; he
won't let you be lonesome, my poor pnss; he
glad enough to swop an Ellen tor Mary, SO h'
is; but that's sacret. avourneen don t tell II t
one"
..Ary thing for your happiness" replied tn
brother, somewhat snkv; but Your bachelor Ia
a worse fault III ~ ever had, notwiihs, anling al
the occurring You kept On 10 me: ne HAS tu'
for the drop, Ellen, you know he has
slow spetulv YOU said that's replied Ellen
sand it isn'r generous I" spake OF II when he
not here IT, dcleud himself"
.Yon'n not let IA word 90 against him. sal
Michael.
"N.." she said, 81 will never let i'll be spoke
of an absent fr,cnj, know he has tarn f
,he drop, hut I'll cure him.
sAfter he's marrrcs!,' observed Michael, n
verv C"nd-nat urcd!N-
.N,.'' she answered, 'before | think g'r
chance of happiness is not worth much who trns
10 ofter-n,rr,. re reformation. / 'front.'. Didr
reform yot Mike of the shnckIn habit YOU II
of putting ry thing otf 10 the last ana after l
forming "a brother, VIII" knows what ! may
with a lover! Do YOU think that Larry ; heaf'
harder THAI yours, Mike? Look what me Ve
etabes we have in our garden now, all planted
your own hands when you come home from we
planted during the very time whch you US
TO spend liz ieanIrg against the door cheek,
smoking yonr pipe, or sleeping over tue "fe, y
at the money you got from the Agricultural
..Thn,'s vonrs, Ellen" said the generous-hear
Mike; an never touch a penny OF IT; ou'
you never should have had II; III never '''
it,"
cvery peunv out, 50 that when the Young bl
comes home she'll have such house OF CONT
as are not to be found in the parish-white Il
cloths for Sunday, little store OF 'ay and su
soap, candles, starch, every 'hins goou' anu
~ OF H."
INV own dear generous sister," exclaimed
young man. -,
81 shall ever be your sister, she replied,
hers too She's good colleen, and worthy
own Mike, and that's more than would sa.
,ere another in the parish. wasn't in ear
when said you'd be glad TO get rid of me
pu, the pouch, every bit of IT, off yer hands
face And hush!-whish,! will ye! there's
sound Of Larrv's fno,step III the bawn-hant
the needles Mike" She braided back her
with both hands, arranged the red ribben,
confined its luxuriance, in the little glass
hung upon nail on the dresser, and, after
posing her arch laughing features INTO an eS J,
sion of great gravity. sat down ana sppneu
.elf with singular industry to take up the st
her brother had dropped, and put on look OF
maidenly as,onshmen, when the door opened
Larry's ood-humored face entered with the
tation of "God save all here" He popPe'
head in first, and after gazing round, press
oor.on IN their view: and pie;