The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-01-16
For the Girls and Bows,
The Black Lace Veil.
A TRUE STORY.
ny MRS. M sAR6ENT.


consclenliously performed, & the humbles
individuals may render themselves respecta
bile in any station in which God sees prope
TO placet hem, ifthey choose to do so. Blu
Mrs. Homer, had other reasons, my love, 70
the grief you noticed. She thinks herself nc
cessory to shortening the poor girls life; ant
ityoy W I'VE me your attention few min
utes II viii tell you the circumstances which
have caused Mrs. Homer such lasting regret.
Ut was cold, bleak morning in the month
?. OF January that poor woman, was seen lead
ing girl of fourteen through the principal
streets ofthis city, who stopped before the
mansion of Mrs. Homer She came to place
The little girl at service, and whilst they stood
waiting in The hall, until Mrs. Homer, could
DE notified of their arrival, the mother spent
the interval of the walters absence in inn
pressing upon the mind of her child the re-
sponslbilties other new station.
You will mind what / have said to you,
Anna dear she said for the twentieth time,
while with the hack other hand she dashed
away the tears that would come. you will
be good girl, am sure, and will please the
lady who has been so kind to u.s.
The little dialogue was overheard by Mrs.
Homer, who was in small room adjoining
and when she came forward, she assured the
mother her child should he kindly treated
and well attended to. Anna had bur partial
ly recovered from an attack of measles, but
the favorable change in her situation soon re-
stored her to health again. For three years
she continued to give entire satisfaction 10
her employer, while Mrs Homer began to val
he her services so highly she treated her
rather as an equal than in the light of de-
pendant.
One day Mrs. Homer purchased very ell
egant black veil. Anna was sewing when
she brought it home, and opening the parcel,
she spread it before her. Mrs. Homer, laid it
over the white counterpart to exhibit the
richness otthe work, and placing it in various
ways of viewing it advantageously, asked
Anna ifshe ever saw anything so elegant.
''Fis very pretty Anna modesty replied
the lady still looking admiringly upon it.
Pretty reiterated Mrs. Homer, contemp-
tuously; why you could not say less were it
my old one. 'I'is splendid. Lay down your
sewing and look at it, e aa
Anna did as she was desired. Piuued at
the GOODNESS Of her praise, Mrs. Homer
caught up the veil and threw it playfully over
her heav. Anna was pretty girl. She stood
IN front of mirror that displayed the
whole of her figure. and as her eye glanced
upon the veil as it partly shaded her features,
look ofpleased surprise was observable to
Mrs. Homer
IT'S beautiful she said, deeper crimson
sutfusing her cheeks; very beautiful
Satisfied, Mrs. Homer now folded up the
veil, and laid 1t away in a bureau drawer
That night her little boy took suddenly III,
and for many days he continued in a very
precarious condition. Anna gained an in
crease offavor from the unremitting attention
she bestowed upon MIN. h was about u
week after the child's corvalescence, that
Mrs. Homer discovered her veil had been
stolen, and though every means was institu- |
ted for the detection of the thief, she was I'M |
able to obtain the least intelligence respecting
it.
Greatly as it panied Mrs. Homer, to impi- |
cate Anna, she thought it justice to the other
servants that she also should undergo al, ex-
animation with them, although she privately
assured her of an entire beliefin her limo
cence; but from this period the girs's spirit
dropped, and though every kindness was
shown her. with the same confidence as be- |
fore, she gave notice to Mrs. Homer, of her
intention to leave, and at the end other month |
departed. t.4.. EH.t
Three years had expired, when one day ms
Mrs. Honer,was seated in her costly drawing
room, surrounded by the luxllries and com
forts which wealth can always purchase, the |
waiter informed her a hafstaryed looking
wretch, accompanied by an elderly woman,
requested to speak with her.
Mrs. Homer's was a heart open as day to
melting clarity She bade the waiter admit
them. Never, had her looks rested upon SO |
miserable an object as one of them. Her eve
was sunken, her skin shriveIled away, so that
the bones seemed coming through it. Invol-
unfairly Mrs. Homer, covered her face. 10
shut out the sight her. This was Anna
with her mother Throwing herselfupon her
knees. with her long skeleton arms extended
towards Mrs. Homer, she exclaimed, ft'
tVp,y IfN f,yt,1 r.
the sinful wretch who comes to impore your
mercy.' " ...,.
The tones ofthe voice seemed familiar.
Can it be Anna? asked Mrs Homer.
you know me then, at qast,' she replied,
deprecatingiy; yes, tits Anna, whom reinorse
has thus blighted stole your veil, Mrs. Ho-
nler, and here it's she added, drawing il |
from beneath her mothers cloak, good as
the day Satan tempted me to take it. Many's |
the time have determined to bring it back
to you, butt could not get the courage to en-
counter your reproaches. Mother says you
will forgive me, for have suffered deeply |
for my crime: but dare not hope it. Yet I |
could pray for mercy to my offended Maker;
ifyou would just say you do forgive me-
Mrs. Homer, was unable to speak, and the |
distressed creature continued
Indeed madam, though came not here to |
accuse, but humbly to throw myself upon
your mercy, you were TO blame ia tempting
poor, ignorant girl, like me so sorely. You
knew not the feelings You stirred up when
you threw the veil around me; ] looked so
well to myself and the veil was SO beautiful. |
But did not think to take it, till one day I
tried it on me again, and then l could resist
no longer. What | underwent afterwards,
when you spoke to me so confdentiaily of
my innocence, you will never conceive. al
wanted to die and at one time almost deter