The Columbian fountain., 1845-11-18

Fl
length she asked.
Which Of the girls was it that saw
here, just now ?'' n
That was Mary
Do you know anything of Anna ~
Yes. She stands in store in Secc.d
street.o 9l
And Ellen ~
@Married to drunken, worthles, fellow,
who abuses and half starves her But THAT'S
the way; pride must have Gi!'
Where do they live ~ pursued Mrs
Harwood.
"Indeed, and that's s6ore than know
Mis- replied, tossing her head.
Unable to gain any further information,
Mrs. Harwood l6 the store, well convinced
that the richly>Wrought cape, for which she
had paid Ms. ---- fifteen dollars, had been
worked by the hapds Of Mary Graham, for
which she received but mere pittance.
Poor Mary returned home disappointed
and deeply toubled in mind. She had about
three dollsrs in money, besides the two
which Mrs. - had paid her. Ii the six
she hal asked for had only been advanced,
as sLe fondly hoped would be the case, the
aggregate sum, eleven dollars, added to the
three which Anna had saved, would have
enabled them to purchase coat and hat for
their brother, who would be ready in few
days to go out. They were anxious to do
this, under the hope, that by providing him
with clothes Of more respectable appear
ance than he had been used to wearing, he
would be led to think more Of himself, seek
better company, and thus be further removed
from danger. At her first interview with
Mrs. --, Mary's heart had failed her---and
it was only after she had left the store and
walked some squares homeward, that she
could rally herself sufficiently to return and
make her request known. 1t was refused,
as has been seen.
Did Mrs. --- grant your requestW
was almost the first question that Anna ask
ed of her sister that evening, when she re-
turned from the store.
"No Anna, was positively refused"
Mary replied, the tears rising and almost
gushing over her cheeks.
"Then we will only have to do the best
we can with what little we have. We shall
not be able to get him new coat; but we
can have his old one done up, with new
collar and buttons,- priced a pair Of pan
falcons at one Of the clothing stores, in Mar
ket street, as / came up this evening, and the
man said three dollars and half They
looked pretty well. There was vest, too,
for dollar. heard one Of the young men
in the store say, two or three days ago, that
he had sold his old hat, which was very
good one, to the halter, from whom he had
bought new one-or rather, that the halter
he'd taken the old one on account, valued at
dollar | asked him a question or two,
and learned that many hatters do this, and
sell the old hats at the same price they have
allowed for them. One of these will try
to get,-even if good deal worn; it will
look farRetter than the one he has at pre-
sent"
In that case, them" Mary said, bright
ening up, " we can still get him fitted up re-
specially 0, how glad ] shall be Don't
you think sister, that we have good reason
to hope for him 70
sIny to think SO, Mary. But my heart
often trembles with fearful apprehensions
when think of his going out among his old
associates again. 1t will be little less than a
miracle if he should not fall"
"Don't give way to desponding thoughts,
sister. Letus hope so strongly for the best,
that our very hope shall compass its own
fruition. He cannot, he must not, 60
back % 89
Anna did not reply. Her own feelings
were inclined to droop and despond likewise.
One reason for her saddened feelings arose
from the fact that she had painful con-
sciousness that she should not long be able
10 retain her present situation. Her health
was sinking so rapidly, that it was only by
the aid Of strong resolutions, which lifted
her mind up and sustained her in spite Of
bodily weakness, that she was at all enabled
to get through with her duties. This she
was conscious could not last long.
On the next morning, when she attempt-
ed to rise from her bed, she became so faint
and sick that she was compelled to lie down
again. The feeling Of alarm that Instantly
thrilled through her bosom, lest she should
no longer be able TO minister to the wants
of her mother, and especially Of her brother
at this important crisis in his life, acted as
stimulani 10 exhausted nature, and endowed
her with degree OF artificial strength that
enabled her to make another and more sue
cessful effort TO resume her wearying toll.
But so weak did she feel, even after she