Litchfield enquirer., 1847-02-25
Tho Black Lace Veil.
a TRUE srORr-Br MRS. \, sAaeENr.

/ Mother" said Ellen Rulhfo.d, a It'll
girl of ten years old >" why did Mrs. Ho
mer cry SO when Ann Spencer.was buried
She was only servant.o "
i True, my child, Ann was servant blu
She was good one, 10 Ellen, Her dutie.
were all conscientiousIy performed, and the
hnmblest individual may render themselve,
respectable in any station which God see,
proper to place them, ifthey choose to do So
But Mrs. Homer had other reasons, nv
love, for the grief you noticed. She thinks
herself accessory to shortening the poor
girPs life--and ifyou will give me your a t.
ttention minute, will tell you the circum
stances which have caused Mrs. Homer
such lasting regret.''
'lt was a cold bleak morning in the
menth Of January, that poor woman was
seen leading girl of fourteen through the
principal streets of this city, aud stopped
before the mansion of Mrs. Homer. S he
came TO place the little girl at service, and
while they stood waiting in the hall until
Mrs. Homer could be notieed Of their arri.
val, The mother spent the interval of the
walters absence in impressing upon the
mind Of her child the responsibility of her
new station. N'
You viii mind what said to you Anna
DEAR she said for the twentieth time, while
with the back Of her hand she dashed away.
the tears that would come. You will be
a good girl, am sure, and will please the
lady who has been so kind to MS.
The little dialogue was overheard by Mrs.
Homer, who was in room adjoining, and
when she came forward, she assured the
mother her child should be kindly treated
and well attended to. Anna had but par
tally recovered from an attack Of the mea>
sizes, but the favorable change in her situa.
ton soon restored her to health again. For
three years she continued to give entire sat
isfaction to her employer, while Mrs. Ho-
aAs@A pS60a ~ SoIuS hSi SCtNiCSS SO AlSHlY
she treated her rather as an equal than in
the light of dependant.
One day Mrs. Homer purchased very
elegant black veil. Anna was sewing when
she brought it home, ahd opening the par
eel, she spread it before her. Mrs. Homer
laid it over the white Counterpart TO exhib.
it the richness of work, and placing il in
variousways of viewing it advantageously
asked. Anna if she ever saw any thing SO
elegant. u.s.
y otis very pretty" Anna n,odestly repli-
ed-the lady still looking admirably upon
| il.
Pretty" reiterated Mrs. Homer, con-
temp,uously-"why, you could not say less
were il my old one. TITS splendid. Lay
down yonr sewing and look at it,
Anna did as she was desired. Piqued at
the coldness Of her praise, Mrs. Homer
canght up the veil and threw it playfully
over her head. Anna was pretty girl
She stoodsin front OF a mirror that display
ed the whole of her figure. and as her eye
glanced upon The veil as it partly shaded
her features, look Of pleased surprise was
observable to Mrs. Homer.
",1'is Beautiful she said, deep Grim
. son suffasing her cheeks--s'very beautiful"
Satisfied, Mrs. Homer, now folded up the
veil, and laid il away in a bureau drawer.
That night her iirtle.boy took suddenly ILL.,
! and for many days he remained in very
precarious condition. Anna gained an in.
crease of favor from the uhremitting atten-
ton bestowed upon him. 1t was about a
week after the child's convalescence, thai
Mrs. Homer discovered her veil had
been stolen, and though every means was
I instituted for the detection Of the thief, she
was unable to Obtain the least intelligence
respectingit.
Greatly as it panied Mrs. Homer to i'm.
plicate Anpa, she thought il justice to the
other servants that she also should undergo
an examination with then, altho she pri'
yaiely assured her Of an entire belief in hel
innocence--but from this period the girl:
spirit drooped, and though every kindness
was shown her, with the same confidence al
before, she gave notice to Mrs. Homer o
her intention to leave, and at the expiration
of her month she departed.
Three, years had expired, when one day
Mrs. Homer was seated in her costly draw
/ ing room surrounded by the comforts ane
Injuries which wealth can always purchase
the waiter informed her half-starved look
ing wretch, accompanied BY an elderly NO
man: requested to speak with her.
Mrs. Homer's was q heart " open as th'
day 10 melting charity" She babe tn
vaiter admit them. Never had her look
; res.ed upon 50 miserable an object A. one Q
them. Her ye.was sunken, her skin shriv
eled away, SO that the bones seemed coming
, through it. Involuniarily MIS-. Home
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