New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-03-23

with which her fingers had been busy BY his 'ide
on the ses shore and thus Il was not very o1s
before she took 70 n seain-with something OF
human love for IT, as If It had been sentient and had
Known him and. sitting IN window. near nef
mothers picture in the unused nom 50 long de-
serted wore away the thoughtful hours
Why did the dark eyes turn 50 often from tins
work 10 where the rosy children lived hey were
not Immediately suggestive OF her loss tor they
were all girls four little sisters. But they were
unotherless like hsr-snd had fsther.
Il was easy to know when he had gone out and
was expected home for the elder child was always
dressed and waiting for him At the drawing room
window or IN the balcony snd when he appeared
her expectant face lighted up with JOY while the
others ST the high window, and always on the watch
too. clapped their hands. and drummed them on the
sill. and called him. The elder child would come
down 70 the hall and put her hand in his and lead
MN ep the stairs and Florence would see her al
erwari sitting by his side on his knee, or hang
ing cosxingly about bis neck and talking 70 him ;
and though they were always gay together. he
would o;tep watch her face as II he thought her like
her mother that was dead. Florence would some
times look no more at this, and bursting into tears
would hide behind the curtain as II she were right
ened. or would hurry from the window. let she
could not help returning: and her work would soon
fall unheeded from her hands again.
twas the house thst'hsd been empty years ago
IL had remained so for long time. AT last and
while she had been away from home. tbs family
had taken it and il was repaired and newly pant
ed and there were birds and flowers about II. and
il looked very different from its old self But she
never thought of the house The children and their
father We're Gil IN all.
When he had dineJ she could see them, through
the open windows, 90 down with their goyerness
or nurse and cluster round the table and IN the
still Summer weather, the sound OF their childish
voices and clear laughter would come ringing across
the street into the dropping air OF the room In
which she sat. Then they would climb and chamber
I'D stairs with him and romp about him on the sois,
or group themselves at his knee. very nosegsy
of little faces while he seemed 20 tell them some
story Or they would come running out INTO TN
balcony and then Florence would hide herself
ouickly. lest il should check them IN their JOY TO
see her in her black dress, sittinHthere alone.
The elder child remained with her father when
the res, had gone away, and made his tea Tor him
happy little hOusekeeper she was then and sat
conyersing with him. sometimes at the window,
sometimes in the room. until the candles came lie
made her his companion though she was some
years yOanger than Florence aud she could be As
.taid and pleasantly demure with her little book or
work box az a woman When they had candles
Florence from her own dark room was not AFRAID TO
look again But when the time came for the child
to say Good night, papa and 90 to bed Florence
would sob and tremble as she raised her lace 10
him and could look no more.
Though still she would turn, again and again. be-
fore going 10 bed herself from the simple air that
had luled him 10 rest so often long ago. and rom
the other low soft broken strain of music. back to
that house But that she ever thought OF II, or
watched it, was a secret which she kept within her
own young breast
And did that breast Of Florence--F Florence so in
senaous and true-so worthy of the love that he
had borne her, and had whispered In his last FAINT
words-whoss guileless heart was mirrored IN the
beauty other face and breathed, Ia every accent OF
her semitic voce-did that young breast hold any
other secret Yes. One more.
When no one in the house was stirring, and the
lights all extinguished she would soitly leave
her own room, and with noseless feet descend the
staircase, and approach her fathers door. Against
IT, scarcely breathing she would res, her face and
head and press her bps ia the yearning Of her love
She crouched upon the cold stone floor outside It,
every night TO listen for his breath and IN her
one absorbing wish 10 be- allowed 10 show hlm some
affection, 10 be a consolation to him, to win HIM
over to the endurance Of some tenderness from her
his solitary child she would have knelt down at his
feet, if she had dared, in humble duplication.
No one knew il No one thought OF it. The door
was ever closed, and he shut up,wthin He went
out once or twice and il was said in the house that
he wss very soon going on bis country journey
but he lived ia those rooms. and lived alone, and
never saw her, inquired tor her. Perhaps he did
One day. about a week after the funeral, Flo
renee was sitting at her work, when Susan appear
ed with face half laughing and halfcryins to an
nOunce visitor.
"A visitor To me, Susan !" said Florence, look
ing up in astonishment.
Well il Is wonder amt il now Miss Floy
said Susan: but wish yOu had ms many visitors,
do indeed. for you d be all the better for 1t, and
il my opinion that the sooner you and me goes
even 10 them old skettleses Miss, the better for
both. may not wish to live ia crowds, Miss Floy,
but still m not an oyster.
To do Miss Nipper justice. she spoke more tor her
young mistress than herself and her face showed II.
But the visitor. Susan, said Florence.
Susan with an hystericsl explosion that was as
much laugh sob. and as much sob as
laugh, answered. ....." Mr.. Toots =
The smile that appeared on Florence s lace pass
ed I, IN it in a moment and her eyes tiled with
tears But at any rate Il was smile, and that
gave great satisfaction to Miss Nipper.
Ny own feelings exactly, Miss fl0y, said 80
san putting her apron 10 her eyes, and shaking her
head Immediately ( see that Innocent IN the
Hall, Miss FIoy, burst out laughing first. and then
choked'
susan Nipper inyolsntsny proceeded To do the
like again on the spot In the meantime MIR Ioots,
who had up stairs after her all uneonsciouso Of
the effect he produced, announced himself with his
kpuckles on the door and walked Ia very briskly
I'm very well thank you how are youF
Mr. Toots-than whom there were few better
fellows in the world, though there may have been
one or two brighter spints-hsd laboriously in
vented this long burst Of discourse with the view
of relieving the feelings both OF Florence and him
self Bot finding that he had run through his pro
perty. as IL were IN an injudicious manner, ~
SOU, ndering the whole before taking chair or
before Florence had uttered a word. or beiore he
had well got in at the door he deemed Il advisable
to begin again
81 How dye do Miss Dombey'' said Mr.. Toots
Il N very well, / thank you how are you
Florence gave him her hand, and said she was
very well
Il m very well indeed said Mr.. Toots, taking
chair Very well indeed am. ] don't re
member said Mr.. Toots, after rejecting little
that was ever better, thank you
It very kind Of you 70 come, said Florence,
taking up her work. 90 am very glad 20 see you.
Mr. ToOts responded with chuckle. Thinking
that might be- too lively he corrected It with
sigh Thinking that might be 100 melancholy. he
corrected It with chuckle. Not thoroughly pleas
ins himself with either mode Of reply he bfeathed
hard
You were very kind to my dear brother said
Florence, obeying her own natural impulse 70 re
lieve him by saying 50. =" He often talked TO me
about you"
Oh, it's Of no consequence" said Mr. Iocts
hastily. Warn, amt IL"
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