Saturday morning visitor., 1848-12-16


house door but so vividly came Back the
image Of little Lizzy, that he stopped sud
denly. The conflict, even though the
spending Of a single penny was concern
ed, now became severe; love for the child
pleaded earnestly, and as earnestly plead
the old habit that seemed as if it would
tahe no denial.
1t was his last penny that was between
the cobler's fingers. He'd there been two
pennies in his pocket, all difficulty would
have Immediately vanished. Having tho't
of the orange, he would have bought it
with one of them, and supplied his pipe
with the other. But, as affairs now stood,
he must utterly deny himself, or else deny
his child
For minutes the question was debated.
Il will see as come back" said Claire
at last, starting on his errand, and thus,
for the time, making sort of compromise.
As lie walked along, the argument sill
" ent on in his mind. The more his tho'is
acted in this new channel, the more light
came into the cobler's mind, at AL times
rather dark and dull. Certain discrimin-
atlons, never before thought of, were
made; and certain convictions forced
themselves upon him.
"What is pipe of tobacco 20 healthy
man, compared with all orange 10 SICK
child?" uttered half aoud, marked at last
/ the final conclusion Of his mind; and as
this was said, the pipe, which was sill
held in his fingers, was thrust determined
edly into his pocket.
AS he returned home, Claire bought the
orange, and in the act experienced a new
pleasure. BY u kind OF necessity he had
worked on, daily, for his family, npon
which was expended nearly all his earn
ings: and the whole matter came SO much
as thing Of course, that it was no sub
ject Of conscious thought, and produced
10 emotion of deligh: or pain. But, the
giving up oi his tobacco for the sake Of
his little Lizzy was an act of elI-denial
entire y out OF the ordinary course, and It
brought with it lis own sweet reward.
When Claire got back TO his home, Liz
zy was lying at The bottom of The stairs,
waiting for his return. He lifted her, as
usual, in his arms, and carried her up 10
his shop. After placing her upon the
rude couch he had prepared for her, he
sat down upon his bench, and as he look
cd upon the white shrUnken face cf his
dear child, and met the fixed, sad gaze pl
her large earnest eye, a more than usual
tenderness came over his feelings. Then,
without word, he took the orange from
his pocket, and gave it iuto her hand.
Instantly there came over LizZy's face
a deep flush of surprise and pleasure
A smile lrembled around her wan lips
and an unusual light gliltered in her eyes,
Eagerly she placed the fruit TO her mouth,
and drank its refreshing Juice, while ev-
cry part of her body seemed quivering
With a sense OF delight.
Is il good, dear ?" at length asked fac
father, who sat looking Oh with new
feeling nj his heart.
The child did not answer in words but
words could not have expressed her sense
Of pleasure SO eloquently as the smile that
lit up acd made beautiful every feature OF
her face.
While the orange was yet at the lips Of
Lizzy, Mrs. Claire came up into the shop
for some purpose.
''An orange" she exclaimed with sur
prise. "Where did that come from 7"
"Oh, mamma! il is so good!" said the
child, taking from her lips the portion that
yet remained, and looking at 1t with hap
py face.
"Where in the world did that come
from, Thomas :" asked the mother.
''I bought il with my last penny" re-
piled Claire. 81 thought il would taste
good 10 her."
"But you had no tobacco"
"lll do without that until tomorrow, :"
replied Claire.
"lt was kind in you to deny yourself
for Lizzy's sake"
This was said in an approving voice,
and added another pleasurable emotion to
those he was already feeling. The moth
er sat down, and, for few moments en-
joyed The sight Of her sick child, asswiih|
unaba,ed eagerness she continued 10 ex 4
tract The refreshing juice from the frnit.
When she went down stairs, and resum-
ed her household duties, her heart bead
more lightly in her bosom than il had beat
en- for long time.
Not once through that whole day did
Thomas Claire feel the want Of his pipe \
for the thought Of the orange kept his
mind in so pleaseda state, that mere
sensual desire like that for a Whit Of TO-
bacoo, had no power over him.
Thinking Of the orange, Of course, brat
other thoughts; and before the day clos
ed, Claire had made acaIculalion Of how
much his beer aud tobacco money would
amount to in year. The sum astonish-
ed him. He paid rem. for he little house
in which he lived, two pounds sterling al