The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-11-11
From Willis and Morris Home Journal.
Z Fl d 10 ST G Low Z {;
on, TEIE LADY's DRESS
..u ING MAID. f .

.. CHAPTER
A little girl was sitting in the September
sunshine that fell in checkered CLEANS across
the old wooden steps in front ola decayed
and tottering buidng,in ono of the by streets
ofthe Empire city. The sunlight seemed
! like pleasant visitor, MS il Crept from her lit
tie naked feet and ragged dress up over her
dimplcd arms aud shoulders and nestled IL
mid the shining curIs, hanging in dishevelIed
proftIsion around her sweet and childish face.
But us it grow more inquiS.,ive, aud stole un-
der her dropping lids, 10 discover the color
of her downcast eyes, it betrayed two bright,
sparkling, but sorrowit looking tears, just
creeping down the edge ofthosesilken lashes.
just M this moment, u young IMAM who
was passing by, stopped short in his hasty
| walk, to guZe for moment on tho sunshine,
the tears, and The beautiful little creature be-
fore him. lie was poet and Il puin;er and
struck by the exquisite grace Il beauty OF her
! face & attitude, perfect in their unconscious
aud unstudied lovelincss, he sought 10 inn
press the image upon his memory.
what II glorious picture l have stumbled
on said he, i must have that picture-tears,
sunshine and all. Il will win me fame The
| little maiden threw up the lashes glttcring
with moisture, and perceiving stranger,
with an urtless bur sad smile, held out her
hand aud said:
Please sir, just II siXpcnce for my mother
'I'he stranger looked at the lulc, pleading
hand and forgot the beautiful face. IL was
lust such hand as he had dreamed OF, had
sought for, bat had never before found. T.
ven though belonging to child, it's tiny pro-
PORTIONS were most eXqulsitiyely Developed
rounded, delicate, dmpled, tapcriug. perfect
IN the rapture of an artists JOY, the young
man caught the beautiful little hand in his
aud pressed it to his lips. The child looked
surprised and frightened, but she said, meek
iy:
Only siXpence, sir, in her childish mt
J steal voice.
Certainly, certainly replied the artist, for
the first time comprehendlng what she said,
and complying handful OF dimcs in her lap.
'Oh, thank you' said she, her large blue
eyes darkouiug with flash of delight you
arc very kind, SIR
, i should like to paint your portrait, pretty
one; and Will give you rs much more mon
, ey, II, when come tor you TO morrow, you
, VIII 20 lomo with inc, and let lie take your
likeness
What is that% asked the wondering child.
'Oh, will show you, to morrOw-sonc-
: thing very pretty
We'll, will 30, sir, if mamma will let me-
} The artist, all enthusiasm at his precious
discovery, stepped gniiy down the st Get, and
, the iiue girl bounded away III The opposite
, direction, to buy loaf Of! bread ior her sick
mother.
s see here, Mr. Ba<ern said she, joyiully,
: springiug into bakery where Il little, hard
featured man stood behind tho counter. i
may have the bread, no ", for m0lhcr-mayn't
Q IL and she held ont her little hand, grasping
G tight the shining pieces of silver
p 'Eh! where did you get that, little grip
: Ofcourse, you can have the bread, when you
# car pay tor it,.
j., Given to inc, sir
q llumph! on account of your bright eyes,
J. suppose. Catch me giving bread, or money
IS either to folks because they are pretIy;' and
laying out Il Ioafof bread, he took one OF hel
dimes in exchange. ...........
'Ohp exclaimed the child her eyes falling
on few oranges ranged in the window IN
take an orange too-it will please mother so.
Aud her dime was takeu:and with the Loaf
e of bread and the orange, she flew back to he
h comfortIesa and destitute home.
s. See here mother, what pve brought you!
re she exclaimed, gaily bounding into til,
d wretched apartment; but she stopped short
l. and letting ta! her treasures, sprung TO the
e bedside, where rpaie and motionless, Il wo
e man lay dying, alone aud unattended.
+ The ashy lids were closed over her sunkel
n eyes; her colOrless lips were parted, and tht
d breath came slow aud struggling from lie
= scarcely heaving bosom.
d My mother my poor motherp shrieked thu
9, child, winding her arms around the emucia
o ted form of her parent,and covering her cold
l. clanniy brow with kisses. .. a.......,i.. %.
is 'hly chiIdn said the mother fainlly-I all
n dying, my Stclla.'
c 'Oh rutherl sobbed the little girl. Ant
10 these TWO words. aud the tone in which the
ie were said, coming,as they did, from the hear
O. of IL child, woro traught with an agony OF
! grief and suffering.
I'd Stella continued the dying woman, fhi
y, ring with strong effort taking it from he
liz finger and giving it to The child keep it al
I'd ways--uever, never pnrt with tit ma
rs, sometimes bring you friends. Stella--Go
en- bless thee, my poor orphan;' and casping he
mt child convnlsvely to her bosom she heave
as adeep sigh, and sank buck upon her pillo'
n --deud ,.f .. " ......
Of All that night, the little girl sat alone o
ne the wooden steps, now drying her eyes
in look up at the sweet. bright stars. where sh
p thought her mother had gone; and again sol
q. bling and wang most tonchingly, till lust :
ry the rosy tint ofdawn crept over the gre,
ed city, from mere exhaustion, she fell asleep O
all her hard pillow.
C. That day the artist did not come. An n
he fair ofnportunce called him from the eli
ar for couple of weGks;and when he returne
of e. still full ofthc thought oflhe little maidc
nd went to look for her she was gone, and Il
old house was unicnanted.
MS A month attcrward, no sailed Tor goriol
by Italy.
lSt CHAPT ERII.
~ Eight years after this occurrence, on
HE pleasant evening of October, soon after su
W. set, gentleman was promenading throut
h2 Broadway. just in advance otbin. trippir
49, gracefully over the pave, was II young girl {