The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-04-04

the finished workmanship upon the tray
as his wife entered; and he turned his
gra,ifed gaze from his completed task,
with mournful inquiry and affectionate
solictude, upon his drenched and misera
BILE wife.
You are wet and cold. Mary, and
there is no fire TO warm you, said the
husband mournfully, as with deep sigh
he glanced at the few white ashes strewn
over the broad hearth, as his wife diyest-
ed herself of her shawl and bonnet. 81
wish you had not gone. though God knows
we have Kept off the parish till the last!
Would they do nothing? Well, it is not
for myself care-for my stay here is
getting very short-but for you and"
1.-The Lord be good to u.s." exclaimed
the wife with sudden grief. "If havn't
lost the money the Squire gave me, and
the order for the flour! Oh dear, oh deari
What a foolish creature am. But I'll
GO back directly and look for it. know
must have dropped them when fell. .
And wiping away the tears that gather
ed In her eyes, she began 10 refiX her wet
bonnet. Back again trudged poor Mary
Western to the scene of her misfortune,
and though ,he order for the flour was
found lying in puddle, no traces of the
lost silver could be discovered. This was
a great DISAPPOINTMENT, as she had fully
calculated on this money to procure some
tea and other little luxuries for her sick
husband. She, therefore, came home in
tears.
"Never mind it, my dear, for you know
ii was not your fault. Look here, | have
Il IL l.. sc IL, H. ~
knows they are no use to US, for nobody
here will buy them; but am sure the
wish had to finish them, and Your conf
dence, has kept me alive all the year
How do you like it now? That is the
Christian king" and with sad voice, and
momentary CLEANS Of pleasure in his hol-
low eye, the mechanic placed The last of
sett of chessmen, that he had designed
and executed himself, in her thin hand
making the two armies consist of CHI.
tian and Saracen host, each piece being
perfect figure, armed in respective cos
tune, and executed with the utmost truth
and delicacy.
A turner and wood-carver by trade,
Robert Western had long meditated com
pletlng series of chessmen that should
supersede the uninterestng figures in gem
eral use, and give martial air to a purely
military game. But while in health and
constant employment, he had never found
an opportunity Of doing more than select
ing choice pieces of wood, and making
drawings of the several men; for Western
possessed natural genius for the pencil,
and could depict the human form in all
It's attitudes with ease and grace. His
long illness, however, had untitled him for
the more laborlous work of his trade, and
he had from time 10 time, as occasional
convalescence would enable him, worked
at home upon the beautiful figures which
composed his new and beautiful design
The task, though long, had been to the
poor workman one full of interest, and he
began TO love the little warriors, as each
grew into shape and martial bearing, un-
der his cunning fingers, with feeling lit
tie less than flial. And now, when he
placed the last completed piece in his
wife's cold hand, a tear of regrelful sad
ness glistened III his eye, as the sweet So
lace OF so many weary hours was brought
to perfect end
"Oh, how very beautiful it is, Robert"
exclaimed his wife, with real delight con-
templating the mail-clad king, and brush
ing tear from her long eye-lashes, at
is more beautiful than all the rest! Shall
/ wrap it up and put it by. Robert?''
-''When you have lit the fire and dried
your gown, you shall put them all out on
the table, and let me look at them once
more. 1t is very foolish, but have grown
so fond of them, and | should like TO see
them all together for the last time, for
know that shall never look at them
again. Don't cry, Mary dear, don't cry,
or you will stain it with your tears. Light
the fire and warm yourself. Oh, God,
help us!''
HE will. He will, Robert, if you will
not despair" calculated his affectionatc
wife, as she carefully set down the carved
figure, and wiping her eyes, addressed
herself to chop the wood and light the fire
from the fuel oPporlunely and charitably
given them by neighbor almost as poor
and comfortless as themselves. Having
completed her task, and given a more
cheerful aspect TO the dreary chamber by
the ruddy flame from the ignited wood,
she spread her wet garments before the
blaze to dry, and seated in a.corner of the
chimney, recounted to her husband as
briefly as possible, the accident that had
deprived her of the little pittance given
her oy the good Squire; and ended by tel
ing HIM of the wish expressed by Mrs.