Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-12-17


per dragging every line Of her face into a sour
expression that had the sole merit of BEING in
strict keeping with her voice "try! | won.
der what That means, girl :"
Ihat would Try and get it finished fol
you, ma'am,' said May, simply.
"Dont be pert, MINK said the peppery
lady, ready to fire up at the least supposition
OF an insult; but g~lancing at the steady coun.
tenance ct May, and seeing nothing in its ex.
treme composure which could warrant the
idea OF intended impertinence, she paid her
the stipulated sum for the linen, and runr the
bell 10 have the sempstress dismissed.
such an unhappy temper would make
life miserable in even a prptlier place than
this" thought May, as she followed the ser
want through the bright and scented hall she
had SO lately admired. =" 1t seems almost 4
relief to get away from it, continued she to
herself as she stepped. across the threshold.
and took herself 10 the other house at which
she had to call.
1t was a small cottage, prettily situated in
the mids! of a large garden, and here, on a
sloping lawn, sat the master and mistress Of
the house, surrounded by their children; some
gamboling and frolicking about, tumbling
each other over and over on the grass; some
more soberly seated near their mothers feet,
making nosegays Of butlercups 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 cronp at a
sign from the lady, who took the bundle of
work, and began TO examine it, the little ones
all crowding round to have d peep at The con-
tents, she thought she had never seen such a
perfect picture Of happiness as this family
presented. The lady having approved of the
manner in which the needle-work was done.
paid May the money, and then asking her to
sit down on one Of The garden-seals, to rest
herself after her walk, she cut a slice from a
homemade cake that was on the table in an
arbor near, and told one of the children to Of
fer it to May. -
"Do take it-you can't think how nice it
is" said the little fellow, holding the plate
towards her, 3" there are pluus in it, and or
ange end lemon peel!' May kissed his
fresh rosy cheeks, and she took the cake and
thanked him, while she thought, " Surely, if
there is perfect happiness on earth, it must
be here, with such kir d, good hearis.'
But when May had eaten her cake, and
was preparing to make her farewell thanks
and curtesy, a nurSery-maid came running
from the house, saying to her mistross-"Oh!
pray come in ma'dm, pray come directly to
poor baby. He's much worse, Pm sure he's
much worse, than you flncied when you left
him ! can't help thinking it's the whooping-
he's got, instead of a slight cold, as
we thought at first"
The mother anXiously hurried away, the
father took his little girl up in his arms, and
her, the children dispersed, and amid
The general confusion, May took her leave,
md went out at the garden gate with a heart
Of sympathy for the distress of The anna
lie family.
On one side Of the lane on which the cot
age stood, there grew Il hawthorn hedge, and
Nay fingered for a moment 10 gather a branch
# the scented May blossoms to take home TO
Ter mother; then quickening her step, she
walked on fast, and with futtering breath and
heart, she thought over the agitating
of life, lis struggles, its endurance,
Is hopes, its mingled suffering and happi-
ness. "As well might | uselessly stop to
gsrct leaving this beautiful light" said May,
IS she turned for an instant toward the Yves
ern sky, which glowed with a last food Of
oaIe glory over the green masses of the Ken.
'lngton-garden trees, " as well might | shrink
rom turning to enter the dark city," said she,
preceding again on her way towards home,
'as finch from entering life with hope and
stout heart, because some drawbacks exist
II my lot, as well as in that of all other be-
ngs, more or less, it seems. If | can but
arm enough 10 support nay dear mother, aud
:heerfully help her 10 see things in as happy
light as possible, who knows but we NAV
'e able to- strew our way with spots as brirht
Is those glorious stars yonder." She raised
Ter young hopeful face to the blue Eastern
l~eavens, now deepening with the shades of
and just beginning TO disclose a
winkling star or two and as May gazed on
heir benign radiance, and inhaled The pure
Ter hand she felt strengthened and elevated
y NE NJ sga'' presence o. nature;
at eniovinr tbeiy IittIe fcast,nf r;co"n in. "sy
er May had told all she had heard and seen