The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-09-07


woman followed her, bringing fire and wood,
with which she lii fire and then retired. Z he
young messenger was loaded with bottle Of
wine, small loaf nd the wing Of fowl,
wrapped up in piece Of newspaper She
placed the whole near the old man, and then,
kneeling down, arranged the fire and stirred il
up to blaze.
The old man by degrees recovered his senses;
he was presented with food in small quantities,
and in short time animation was restored
Too weak to thank his benefactors, he could
only express his feelings by looks Of the most
touching gratitude, particularly when they
rested on the young girl, still occupied near
the hearth. To the stri.ngcr she appeared no.
thing else than charming and mysterious vi
sion. Who could this young creature be, who
SO earnestly and effectively devoted her time
to work Of charity, when her own attire gave
every indication Of privation and penury E
Gold as the weather was, the bonnet which en-.
circled her delicate and beautiful features, was
oil black straw thin silk gloves, mended in
several places, served to cover her hands, but
certainly not to guarantee them from the cold,
An old cashmere, worn to the last extremity
was thrown over faded gown Of dark silk,
and her whole appearance betokened the alb
sence OF any warmer garment. The young
man would undoubtedly have been struck by
Inc extreme beauty Of her features, had there
been no other charm to attract him, but there
was about her, that indescribable something.
which pleases man more than mere beauty;
and that is, union Of goodness and elegance.
which is, indeed, but seldom to be met with,
but when seen, is irresistible. At last, her self
imposed task was over |; she approached the
old man, and STOPPING down towards him, nod
ded her head kindly as she uttered the words,
i will soon return
She then took up small case which she
had put down on her entrance, and, saluting
the stranger, she left the room, and descended
the narrow stairs with rapid step.
The young man gazed at her for mo-
ment, then turned towards the invalid. Il,
on the contrary, shall not return, for | leave
Paris this evening; but you shall soon hear
from me- tie then pressed the old mans
hand and departed. When he emerged from
the gateway of the house into the street,
though hopeless of seeing his young assis-
tant in the work of benevolence il which he
had been engaged, he still could not avoid
looking if by chance she was still in sight
As chance would have it, she was standing
as if undecided, at the door of jewellers
shop at some distance. At last she appeared
to have formed her determination, for she
opened the door and entered. Without ex-
actly Analysing the cause Of his curiosity, the
stranger approached the window Of the shop,
and observed what was going on within He
saw the young girl take off her glove and
whilst he was admiring the dazzling white
ness and aristocratic form Of the hand, she
drew, with some emotion. a ring from her fin
ger, and presented it to the person at the
counter. He took it, examined it carefully,
rubbed and tested the stone, and then metho-
Ideally took out small pair Of scales, and
having ascertained the weight, offered his
customer price, which it was easy TO- see
she accepted, from the movement of assent
with which she bent her head. The jeweller
opened a drawer, and counted out some mo-
ney, which he pushed over the counter and
having written down in his book her name
and address, he cast the ring into another
drawer, amongst heap of jewels of all forms
and colors. The girl then departed, and in
minute afterwards the young man entered the
shop.
In short time afterwards she turned into
plain looking house, in one of the streets of
the Rue St. Honore and opening the door
Of room on the rcsde chaussee, she entered
hastily, crying, Here am dear mother.
You must have been uneasy at my long abb
sence y
Madame Revival, the person to whom these
words were addressed, appeared infrm,
though more from trouble than from years.
She was stretched on a sofa, and appeared
in delicate health. Her features, usually
PALE assumed an appearance Of animation
when her daughter entered, and then i'm
mediately became more sombre than be-
fore.
Dear Anna said she, | have an unplea-
SAINT piece of news to acquaint you with il
was this perhaps that rather made me fear
return, than take note Of your prolonged alb
sence.'
Anna, having cast on chair her shawl
and bonnet, Immediately seated herself on a
low stool near the end of the sofa which sup
ported her mothers head, The latter passed
her hand aflectionately over the dark hair Of
her daughter, and then continued:
You know that your father had promised
your hand TO the son Of M. Barsac, of Bor-
deaux, his Oldest friend. The death Of your
father, the heightened illness which has so
courage. as long as could live in the hope
Of seeing you one day rich and happy, under
the protection Of a worthy husband This
very morning the scafloldng Of happiness,
which loved so much to build up for you,
fell to the ground. This letter addressed to
our old habitation, ought to have come 70
hand yesterday. Here read it your yourself
Anna took the letter which her mother held
out TO her, and looking at the signature, re.
marked, : Ii is from NJ Jules Barsac HIMSELF
She then read the contents aloud
Madame-As long as fortune. smiled on
me; thought with delight on the alliance
which M. Revival and my father had contract