Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1843-06-06

hOrrid laugh that characteristics insani'
ty- .... t.
q am hungry am hungryH
Margarita had not a single article left
that she could sell; all her clothes, er.
ceplng those she wore, had been little
by little disposed Of; it was in vain that
she looked around for something she
could raise money upon, TO purchase pro-
visions for her suffering mother. Sud-
denly a bitter smile contracted her pale
features; she rose. and hurrying out Of
the house, directed her steps to the shop
of fashionable hairdresser, lately open.
ed in one of the principal and most fre'
quented streets of Madrid.
win you buy my hair said Margarita
TO the master Of the shop, taking out the
combiwbich held tit reached almost 10
her feet! .......
The hair>dresser had neve! beheld
such magnificent tresses-he expressed
hissurprise at their surprising beau
iy. -
e-ofered her price for them. Mar
garita, without hesitation, agreed 10 take
it. She was anxious that this, perhaps,
the most painful sacrifice that misery
had yet entailed upon her, should be
speedily accomplished.
The hair. dresser took a large pair of
scissors and was about to cut off the hair.
Margarita trembled in every limb-a con
demned culprit could not with greater
agony await the falling Of the axe Of the
executioner, than she did the approach
of those dreadful scissors.
'Tn the name Of the Holy Virgin ex.
claimed the poor young girl, 'for PHYS
sake be quick" .......-.-
1T would be great pity observed the
hair r,dresser, to cut off such hair, and TO
deprive so lovely face ofit.'
BE quick reiterated Margarita, 'fOr
mercy's sake
1T must be very painful 10 you, surely
to make so great a sacTifceG
'Dispatch, dispatch, or in a few mo-
ments my courage will abandon me-
Were to offer you,' continued the
hair dresser, "a means-by which you could
still keep your hair, would you not accept
il?'
Doubtless: If there he any, tell me
what it is, and my gratitude will be ev>
erlasting. But no! you do not know the
dreadful position in which am placed.
cannot undertake any sort Of work; my
poor mother is III, and deprived Of rea-
son; her state requires that | should BE
in constant attendance upon her.
The price should give you for your
hair, would not enable you TO support
yourself and her more than one week a:
farthest, and what would you do after
that-what would you have recourse to
thenT
Margar;ta raised her eyes 10 Heaven
in despair.
well, if you vii! accept the offer | am
about 10 make to you, yoUr mother will
for the future, be preserved from waLt.'
Il accept at once your proposals, and
without knowing what they are.'
81 will pay you ten dollars a month;
with this sum you will easily find ser.
want TO attend upon your mother who
will take care OF her, and do all which
her situation can require. The remain
der of your salary will be sufficlentto
procure for the old lady all the comforts
you can~desire.' .
"And what must do 10 earn this mon
eyr ..ss d
Become my shop woman .s
There was no time for hesitation. 10
the profound distress in which she was
plunged, such an offer appeared 10 Mar
garita miracle from Heaven.
Il accept your PROPOSAL she replied;
Il will become your shop'woman.'
The hair dresser did not attempt to
conceal the satisfaction her answer had
afforded him.
Il will prove 10 you that | am no mig.
gard-there is the dollar to bind the bar
gain: come to. morrow morning, and sign
the articles Of our agreement, and l will
pay you one months salary in advance
With heart full Of gladness and graf
itude, Margarita leftthe shop Of this be-
Revolent man; for the first time, since
the death her father, did she return
with hope and iosTO her miserable ar
dode. .s -.., ....,
That night she slept more soundly and
more comfortably than she had done for
many weeks; she went early the next
|, morning to the hair dresser. He had the
contract regularly drawn up by lawyer
and read it to Donna Margarita; but she
listened TO il withia divided attention;
: she was eager TO sign il, that she might
receive the ten sparkling pieces Of mon
$ ey which lay shining upon the counter
;. All that she understood of the document
$. was, that she bound herselfto remain il
" the hairdresser's shop from eight o'clOCl
I, in the morning until twelve o'clock a
night.
,e This was certainly laborious duty I,
Al c.IelI ued onSh an offer haan mhda Il