The Columbian fountain., 1845-11-18

hui sb felt that it would be useless---and
, wopa, perhaps, provoke remarks deeply
w<inding to her feelings. She paused,
4erefore, only a moment, with bowed
head, to receive her rebuke, and then passed
quickly, and with meek, subdued air, to
her station behind the counter. There were
some Of her iellow-clerks who felt for and
pitied Anna-there were others who expe-
rienced a pleasure in hearing her reproved.
All through that day, with only the respite
of some ten fifteen minutes, when she re-
Tired to eat alone the frugal repast Of bread
and cold meat that she had brought with her
for her dinner, did Anna stand behind the
shopman's counter, attending to his custom
ers with a cheerful air and often smiling
countenance. She spoke TO no one Of the
pain in her breast, back, and side; and none
of those around her dreamed that, from ex-
treme lassitude, she could scarcely stand be-
side the counter.
To her, suffering as she did, the hours
passed slowly and heavily away, It tseemed
as it evening would never come-as if she
would have to yield the struggle, much as
she strove to keep up for the sake Of those
she loved.
But even to the weary, the heavy laden,
and the prisoner, the slow lingering hours at
length pass on, and the moment Of respite
comes. The shadows Of evening at last be-
gan to fall dimly around, and Anna retired
from her position Of painful labors, and took
her way homeward. But not even the an
ticiipatlon of speedily joining those she loved,
had power SO to buoy up her spirits, that
her body could rise above its depressed and
weakened condition. Her weary steps were
slowly taken, and it seemed to her that she
should never be able to reach home. Many,
very many depressing thoughts passed
through her mind, as she proceeded slowly
on her homeward way The condition Of
her sister Ellen troubled her exceedingly.
About one-third of her own and Mary's
earnings were required to keep her and her
little ones from absolute suffering; and Mary,
like herself she too plainly perceived to be
rapidlyssinking under her burdens. 5a
"What is to be done when we fail, heaven
only knows!o she murmured, as vivid con-
sciousness Of approaching extremity arose
in her mind. -
As she said this, the idea of her brother
presented itself, with the hope that he would
now exert for them sustaining and sup
porting energy--that he would be to them
at last a brother. But this thought, that
made her heart leap in her bosom, she put
aside with an audible
"No,-no,--Do not rest on such fee
ble hopen'
At last her hand was upon the latch, and
she lifted it and entered.
81 am glad to see you home again, An
na," Alfred said, with an expression of real
pleasure and affection, as she came in.
"And ] am glad to see you sitting up and
looking SO well, brotier," Anna replied, her
gloomy thoughts at once vanishing. "How
DO you feel now ~ 9
90, feel much better, sister. In few
days 1 hope I'shall be able to go out. But
how are your 1t seems to me that you do
not look welln o
81 do feel very much fatigued, Alfred"
Anna said, while her tone, in spite Of her
effort to make it appear cheerful, became
sad. "We are not permitted in our store to
sit down for moment, and get so tired
by night that can hardly keep up'
"But surely, Anna, you do not stand up
all day long"
eyes. Since | left this morning, have
been standing every moment, with the ex-
ception of the brief period took to eat my
dinner"
| This simple statement smote upon the
heart of the young man, and made him
silent and thoughtful. He felt that, but for
his neglect Of duty-but for his abandon
ment of himself to sensual and besotting
pleasures, this suffering, this seE-devotion
need not be.
Anna saw that what she had said was
paining the mind of her brother, and she
grieved that she had been betrayed into ma
king any allusion to herself To restore
again the pleased expression to Alfred's
countenance, she dexterously changed the
subject to more cheerful one, and was re-
warded for her effort by seeing his eye
again brighten and the smile again playing
about his lips. s"
Instead of sitting down after tea and as
ssting Mary with her embroidery, as she
usually did, Anna took book and read
aloud for the instruction and amusement of
all but most for the sake Of Alfred-that
he might feel with them reciprocal pleas
ure, and thus be enabled to perceive that
| there WAS somathinr o,,l,sfoutial IN fall hack