Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-01-31

1t was his last penny that was between the
cobber's fingers. Had there been two pennies
in his pocket, all difficulty would have immedi-
aiely vanished. Having tho't Of the orange, he
would have bought it with one of them, and sup
piled his pipe with the other. But. as aifirs
now stood. he must utterly deny himself or else
deny his child.
For minutes the question was debated. twill
as come back said Claire at last. starting
his errand. and thus, for the time, making
sort Of compromise. Ash walked along, the
argume mt still went OH in his mind. The more
his thoughts acted in this new channel, the more
light came into the cobbler's mind, at all times
rather dark and dull Certain Determinations.
never before thought Of were made. and certain
convictions forced themselves upon him.
What is pipe Of tobacco to a healthy man,
compared with orange TO sick child?' utter
ed half aloud mark ed at last the final conclusion
Of his mind; and this said, the pipe which
still held in his fingers, was thrust determn-
edly into his pocket.
As he returned home, Claire bought the orange,
and in the act experienced a new pleasure. BY
kind Of necessity he had worked on, daily, for
his family upon which was expended nearly all
his earnings: and the whole matter came SO
much thing Of course, that it was no subject OF
conscious thought, and produced no emotion of
delight pain But the giving up Of his tobac-
CO for the sake of his little Lzzy an act Of
seif-d-niaI entirely out Of the ordinary course,
and it brought with il its own sweet reward.
When G. Iaire got back to his home, Lizzy was
lying at the bottom Of the stairs, waiting for his
return. He lifted her, usual, in his arms, and
carried her IN his shon After niaciuU her
upon the rude couch he had prepared for her, he
sat down upon his bench, and as he looked upon
the white shrunken face Of his dear child, and
met the fixed, sad gaze of her earnest eye, more
than usual te nderness came over his feelings
Then, without word, he took the orange from
has pocket and gave it into her hand
Instantly there came over Lizzy's face a deep
flush Of surprise and pleasure. A smile trembled
round her wan lips, and an unusual light glitter
ed in her ey@ Eagerly she placed the fruit to
her mouth, aud drank its refreshing juice, while
every part Of her body seemed quivering with d
sense OF delight.
lis it good. dear7' at length asked the father
who sat looking with a new feeling at his
heart.
The child did not answer in WIS; but words
could not have expressed her sense Of pleasure
eIoquentiy as the smile that lit up and 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 pur
pose.
AN orange,' she exclaimed with SURPRISE
w here did that come from?'
'Oh mamma. if is good! said the child. ia
king from her lips the portion that yet remained,
and look II " nanny face
Where in the world did that come from, Thorn
asl asked the mother.
though, it with my last penny replied Claire,
Il thought il would taste good to her.
But you had tobacco
sl'Il do without that unit! Tomorrow replied
Claire.
1T was kind in you to deny yourself for Liz
zy's sake
This was said in an approving voice, and added
another peasurabie emotion to those he al
ready feeling. The mother sat down, and for "a
few moments enjoyed the sight Of her sick child
! a with undated eagerness she continued TO ex-
tract the refre shng juice from the fruit When
she went down stairs and resumed her household
duties, her heart beat more lightly in her bosom
than it had beaten for a long time.
Not once through that whole day did Thomas
Claire feel the want OF his pipe; for the thought
f the orange kept his mind in SO pleased state.
that mere sensual desire like that for Whit of
tobacco, had no power over him.
Thinking of the orange, Of course, brought
other thoughts; and before the day closed. Claire
had made calculation of how much his beer
and tobacco money would amount to in year.
The astonshed him. He paid rent for the
little house in which he lived, two pounds ster-
! ling year, which he always thought a large
sum. But his beer and tobacco cost nearly seven
pounds He went over and over the calculation
IA dozen times, in doubt of the first estimate, but
it always came out the same. Then he began
/ 10 60 in his mind the many comforts seven
pounds per annum would give 10 his family; and
particularly how many little Injuries nigh,
be procured for Lizzy, whose delicate appetite
turned from the coarse food that daily set
before her.
! Blu, to give up the beer and tobacco in toto
possible. How could he live without them7
I On that evening, the customer whose boots he
had taken home in the morning. called i'm un-x.
pec,edIy, and paid for them. Claire retained a
sixpence of the money. and gave the balance Il
his wife. With this sxprnce his pocket, he
went out for mug OF beer and some tobacco &c
| repIenish his pipe. lie staid some time Longer
than he usually took for such an errand.
/ When he came back he had three oranges il
his poca-t-and in his hands were two fresl
bunns, and cup of sweet new milk. No bee
had passed his lips, and his pipe yet unsup
piled. He had passed through another conflic
With obi -hpe 60 Il:
came off as before, the conqueror.
! Lizzy. who dropped about all day, lying dowr
most Ct her time, never went to sleep early
She was awake, usual, when her father re
} turned. With scarcely less eagerness than sh,
had eaten the orange in the morning, did she nov
!. drink the nouri.hng milk and eat the swee
bunns. while her father sat looking at her, hi
heart throbbing with inc xpre ssibie delight
\ From that day. the pipe and the mug wen
thrown aside. IL coat n nroIon~>~1 a..