Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-08-26

you re mol going 10 STAY out so late, trederick,
as you did last night, it's shameful TO keep the
servants up so late every night, and
Not every night answered the other voice,
besides, don't want them TO sit up, send
them 10 bed, III take the KEY
But you know. Frederick, that terrifes me
out Of my life. III sit up myself and YET.
Pm fit for nothing without my nights rest
said sharp voics in wailing key, then, as
the door was pulled open with an impatient
hand, it exclaimed Frederick, Frederick
siav promise me that
But Frederick seemed determined 10 listen
no longer to shrewish remonstrance, for. burst
ing forth angrily, muttering, and passing
straight across the hall to the street door, he
went out slammng il after him with vic.
lence that made all the fowerpots dance on
the green stands, as il they rejoiced and jun
ped for JOY at his departure.
The lady, who had approached the parlor
door in her eagerness TO detain her husband,
now perceiving May, beckoned her 10 come
into the room.
so you've brought the work home at last.
child said she, with snappish emphasis, |
thought you promised to lei me have it home
yesterday evening You said Tuesday, did mt
you?'
| W,
ed May, 4 said would try and let you have
it on the Tuesday, but feared it would be
Wednesday
TRY and let me have it, tryl echoed the
lady, with cross tart voice, and i'll temper
dragging every line Of her face into a sour ex-
preston that had the sole merit of being in
strict keeping with her voice, try! wonder
what that means, girl p
THAT would Try and get il finished ioryou
ma'am,' said May simply.
Don't be pert, MINK said the peppery lady,
ready to fin up al the least supposltion Of an
Insult; but glancing at the steady coun,enance
of May, and seeing nothing in its extreme
composure which could warrant the idea OF
intended imperinence, she paid her the stipu-
lated sum for the linen, and rung the bell 10
have the seamstress dismissed.
MAY then visit another family with his
work y
Ii was small cottage, PRETTY situated in
the midst Of large garden, and here, on sop-
ing lawn, sat the master and mistress OF the
house, surrounded by their children, some
gambong and frolicking about, tumbling
each other over and over on the grass, some
more soberly seated near their mothers feet,
making nospgays of bulter-cups and daisies
while one little blue-eyed girl was climbing
on her fathers knee, and coaxingly begging
him to tell her a story.
As May approached the merry group at a
sign from the lady, who took tie bundle Of
work, and began 10 examine it. the little ones
all crowding round TO have a peep at the con
tents, she thought she had never seen so per
feet picture of happiness as this family pre-
scented. The lady having approved OF the man
ner in which the needIework was done, paid
May the money, and then asking her 10 SIT
down on one OF the garden-seats, 10 rest her
self after her walk; she cuta slice from home
made cake that was on the table in an arbor
near, and told one of the children to offer ii 10
May.
DO take it-you can't think how nice it is,
said the little fellow; holding the plate towards
her; there are plumbs in it, and orange and
lemon peel?'
!, May kissed his fresh rosy cheeks, as she
took the cake, and thanked him, while she
! thought. Surely, if there is perfect happiness
on earth, it must be here, with such kind.
good hearts'
But when May had eaten her cake, and
was preparing TO make here farewell courtesy,
a nursery maid came running from the house,
saving to her mistreSs-'Ohl pray come in
ma'am, pray come directly TO poor baby
He's much worse, than you fanced when
you left him, and can't help thinking IFS the
whooping cough he's got instead of a slight
cold, as we thought at first
The mother anxously hurried away, the
father took his liule girl up in his arms and
followed her, the children dispersed; and
amid the general confusion. May took her
leave, and went out of the garden gate with a
heart full Of sympathy Tor the distress OF the
amabe family.
On one side of the lane in which the cottage
stood, there grew hawthorn hedge, and May
fingered for a moment to gather branch ofthe
scented May blossoms 10 take home 10 her
mother, then qulckenlng her step, she walked
on FAST and with fiuttering breath and beating
heart, she thought over the agtating question
of life, It's struggles, its endurance, its hopes,
its mingled suffering and happiness. AS
well might uselessly, stop 10 regret leaving
this beautiful light said MAY, as she turned
for an instant towards the western sky, which
glowed with a last food of pale glory over the
green masses of the Kensington-garden trees
las wei! might shrink from turning to enter
the dark city, said she, proceeding again on
her way home sas finch from entering life
with hope and a stout heart because some
drawbacks exist in my lot, as well as in that
oil all other beings, more or less, il seems. If
can but earn enough 10 support my dear
mother, and cheeriully help her TO see things
in as happya light possible, who knows but
we may be able 10 slrew our way with spots
as bright as those glorious stars yonder."-
She raised her young hopeful face TO the blue
eastern heavens, now depending with the
shades Of evening, and just beginning to dis
close twinkling star or two; and as May ga
zed on their benign radiance, and inhaled the
pure scent Of the hawthorn buds on the bough
in her hand, she felt strengthened and elevated
by the gentle presence Of Nature.
"My dear May" SAID her mother. as they
sat enjoying their little feast Of rice milk, after
May had told her all she had heard and seen
during her absence al Bayswater, IT is but too
true. In the most enviabe lot Of life there is
always something TO destroy its perfection,
and make US feel that our own is not so very
hard in proportion as we had perhaps imag
ned ii. Courage and constancy will do much
towards making even a seamstresses liie a
contenied one"
"And cheerfulaess and hope. dear mother;
do not forget cheerlulness and hope!" May
had placed the branch Of hawthorn in glass
Of fair waller on the supper-,able; she drew II
towards her as she spoke, and hanging iondly
over is delicious clusters. she repeated
"cheeriulness and hope! Those TWO make
us look al life as at that hawthorn Dough il
has lie thorns sharn and deem wonndinp huf