Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-05-04

except the nurse-girl, and she has enough t
do with three children to mind. Could yol
come directly-to-day | mean %
Yes, ma'am, to-day if you like
Then followed the usual questions, and, o
course, among then-''where did you liv,
! last?"
''WTh Alrs. Smith, a,sa'a,s, No. 90, -
street"
Alas, alas. poor Mary!
| ''And can you have good character %
81 am sure [ can ma'am. | only left be-
cause Captain Smith was obliged to 90 with
his ship, and Mrs. Smith did not want two
servants any longer.''
''Well, wait here in the shop bit, while I
goand speak tony husband. ''James, James, -
she continued, calling from some stairs which
led to the bake-house, ~ want you.'' And
up there came q portly looking man, with
shirt sleeves tucked up, and his arms covered
above the elbows with -four and dough. The
Aliens were happy couple, well to do in the
world, and in good humor with it. An atten-
tive listener might have heard something
about, ''tidy-loolIing girl; think she'd lust
do; but here 1t is Friday; | am sure never
can get out for her character either to-day or
tom orrow."
''That's PITY said the husband
''If we could but be sure of her honesty,
wouldn't mind taking her, and then going for
her character next week. What do you say,
James ~
''AIy dear, how can we be sure -
s'She wouldn't be so stupid as TO say she
could have good character if she were not
honest" replied the wife, whose mind seem
ed veering very much towards trying her
''That's true" replied the baker, as if a
new light were let in on the subject.
''COne and see herr said the wife.
There were two or three customers waiting
in the shop, but during Mrs. Aliens short alb
sence, her second child, little girl of about
three years old had made friends with Mary,
and was clinging to her hand, and looking up
into her face as # she were an old acquain-
lance. It may be that this was the feather
which pleased the parent, and turned the scale.
The feelings with which Mary learned that
she was to be received in this unusual man
ner, and that the falsehood which was plan
ned, would not be acted for three days TO
come, at least, were something like those we
may imagine q culprit to entertain when he
receives respite Of his sentence. A dim
hope would make itself felt; dim hope that
something would occur to prevent il being
carried into execution.
With what wonderful activity Mary set to
work, or how anxiousiy she strove 70 please,
words cannot easily tell. But the lie was a
haunting presence that seemed to Danish even
the hope of happiness. The honest baker
and MS wife we evidently well satisfied with
their new servant. The advantage, by which
she had profted, ofliying in family belong
ing to higher station, enabled her to do many
things IN q superior way; and the Aliens
were people to appreciate all this. And the
neat and nice manner in which she served the
Sundays dinner, ofwhich couple Of friends
partOok, was duly commented on. The chill
dren ''took to hers amazingly, and the cir
cumstance Of her discovering half sover-
eign which had strangely escaped from the
till, seemed 10 give them the most perfect
confidence in her honesty; so that, when on
the afternoon of Tuesday, the appointment
having been duly made with the fictitious
Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Allen was equipped in a
silk dress, ready to go ''after Mary's charac-
ter" she almost felt that it was mere form,
so certain was she Of the girls requirements
and integrity.
This was a dreadful moment to Mary
She felt as if her quickly-beating heart sent
the blood to the crown of her head; and that
the next instant it receded, and LEFT he. ready
to faint; while all the events of her troubled
career, rushed IN strange distictness before
her, even to the history she had learned Of the
bakers former servant haviag been discharg-
ed for telling a falsehood. But then he had
SdiU ~ Z HOuiu iidsS forgiven mex II SLC
had not persisted IN III
BY an uncomfortable impulse, as Mrs. Al
len was leaving her parlor, Mary seized the
skirt of her dress, and throwing herself on
her knees before her, exclaimed amid pas
sionate torrent of tears-''H as yo1sr goodness
that has saUeI met oh, hear me, hear me 20
And then in broken phrases she poured out
the story of her trials and temptations.
Sad was it to see the altered looks Of her
benefactOTs, and 10 hear the cold and mourn
full tone in which Mrs. Allen said, $50 you
have deceived me, after all; you would have
cheated me with a false character; and the
on her chair, overcome with the surprise.
eve cannot help you" said the baker,
sternly.
ssAfercy, mercy!'' exclaimed the poor girl,
and weak from recent scanty fare-for she
had been too wretched to eat during even the
few DAYS that abundance had been before her
she tainted outright. When she came to her
self, she was stretched on a sofa with master
and mistress both leaning over her. There
was pity on their faces and tears rolled down
Mrs. Aliens cheeks. In lossening her dress,
in their endeavors to restore her, they had
come upon packet Of pawn-broker's dupli-
Gates, the dates Of which, and the nature of
the articles pledged, were a touching confr-
nation of her story. From the ''cornelian
brooch so easily dispensed with, to the nee
essary cloak and prayer-book, the mOurnful
chain was complete.
''We viii not turn you away" said the ba-
ker, '.just yet; we viii try you little long
En-"
g Your goodness has saved mel" was all
the stricken girl could utter.
"But,' continued he, my wife will 90 i'm
mediately to your real mistress, and hear her
version Of the story. Certainly your confess
sion is voluntary, and / do not believe you
are hardened in deception"
Mrs. Allen set off, and the distance being
considerable, she was gone upwards of two
L. ] IL