The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-12-17
From Fraser's Magazine.
IIhe PnrIrhif-

The Portrait.
" Well, my dear mother, this is happiness ~
cred Walter Morton, drawing his chair still closer
to HIS mother, and taking her hand between his
Three whole years since / left you, and yet you
do not look day older than when we parted and
! deCIare You are handsomer than ever
The happy mother smiled She was proud OF
her sailor son, proud Of his handsome face his gal
liant bearing, his true and noble heart. He was
her only son, and she was widow. She was but
young at her husbands death, and many were the
difficulties with which she had struggled in order
70 educate her child, and prepare him to make his
way IN the world. Her efforts procured him
situation as mate in large merchantnau; and he
had now returned from his third voyage, laden
with honorable testimonials Of the high estimation
~ which his employers held him.
" have often thought, said Walter, " that YOU
m.ast Se very oueiy when | away. Why
should | leave yoU again, mother ? We have
enough now for our two unambitious selves and
It is but tFIling with own happiness to part
when we might be together. l will not 90 to
sea again
" And when you marry, Walter" said his mother
smiling, &" we must think OF that probability
"Ob, yes, of course. But will marry an heir
es, that difficulty is settled. But you have
told me no village news yet. How many mar
rlages have taken place in my absence ''
" Three | believe Helen Warner is married
to her cousin; Emily Burton to John Morris, the
brewer and your old acquaintance and favorte
DuL "hdl aus you my GEAR
" Nothing, mother, go on! So Amy Sinclair is
married t'
&" No, my dear-no such thing What put that
irto your head | have something to Tell you of
Amy; but was going just now to tell you that
y,mr old favore, Tom Purne had succeeded in
winning the village haiTess, with fortune Of a
hundred pounds paid dolDH, and wOndrons wealth
~ prosT .ctve. We had such bell-rngng, and
b1u,Gr-s, and white favorsl And poor Tom, in
The midst Of his happiness, 60 ned my heart by
wishing Master Waller was here" "
" Wei done, Tom! But about the Sinclairs,
mother 20 said Walf'r somewhat mpatiently.
"hh, Walter, they have had much trouble since
Won were here, About year ago Mr.. Sinclair
,ed, leaving his wife and daughter, 10 our surprise
in much pecuniarV distress. Mrs. Sinclair was
overwhelmed at first, but Amy, that noble girl,
what strength Of mind she showed in her sorrow !
we must leave this house, said she to her mother ;
we must part VIII all the eegances, and some OF
the comforts Of life, and live III poverty and secu
SION yet let us stay here, dear mamma, here in
this village, where no eyes will look unkindly on
us in onr altered circumstances Her mother was
passive a child, and ag1ted to all that she pro-
posed a simple cottage Fas taken, the simplest
articles of furniture Were ImOved into it from the
manor r-hOuse, and Amy brWght her mother 10 her
humble home Poor girl ~ have seen her tears
rail- silently, bit how sadIl es she prepared the
cottage for her mothers rectDtion Not word of
complaint repiTing, not an hour wa4Ged in sell
fish grief yut one could her heart was &C ing.
,,tra@s es comfor able as So r,,ar nsce romld he
made Bnt there was something more 10 he done
She f,pnd the nirrance that remained when hsr
iatheT's deb's were paid tOr she insisted paying
them alb small as barely to suffice for the
common uacessaries Of lif., Mrs sinclair we in
had hpaIth. neeIinr many Iiule com(orIs thnt she
l,d not means to procure. Again Amy exerfed
herself You remember her talent for naintinp f"
a. Yes, yes, replied Walter, hurriedly and with
omODiOn.
His mother was. perhaps. too much inf ,rested
ln the subject on which She was srgaRing. to Oh
e,,rv,, that his voice trembled; and the dark OF
evening prevented her seeing the agitation his
,.uuntenamce BETRAYED She continuea-
"WeIl. one month after Mr., Sincair's death.
went verv early to the cottage. thinking if ANY
we're up might see her alone. and do nv bssl to
tneer her knocked softly and she nT med the
door, and led me into her own HrtIe room, Her
,lrawing materials were on the able. and hall
finished miniature was with them.