The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-08

Or, winch was the Happiest 4!

| The newly-risen sun was Just shedding his
| beams through the rich, damask curtains that
| shaded the windows of uxurousy fiirn shed
| room, near the centre Of which stood two Young
glrls, apparently nearly Of an age. They We're
| both beautiful; but the expressions OF their finely
moulded features were different. Helen the
younger-as she sent her gay Joyous laugh out at
ntervals-told the observer that she apparently
! enjoyed much. Mary, the eldest seemed more to
have caught glimpse Of the true design Of her
being, and to have learned more of the truly useful
They had not been long in this position before the
door slowly opened, and tall elderly gentleman
entered
"Grandpa Dear grandpa " they both eagerly
exclaimed, as they sPrang toward him; and, lead
ing him to seat, gently put back his silvery locks
| and imprinted kiss upon his tme-furrowed brow
"Ah, said Mr., Ellis, God has given me much
OF this worlds goods, and many blessings for W hich
| should be thankful; but none do | prize more
than the affections of these, my dear grand-chil-
dren,, and he bowed his head if in grateful ac-
acknowledgement.
Rising soon after, he took from lis pocket
| beautiful pearl, and holding it before them, said
Knowing that | should be absent some time
from you, dear children | have purchased this
pearl, to bestow, at my return, upon the one that
| is the happiest"
How kind of you - they both replied. But,
| grandpa, said the Iight-hearted Helen, do you
not think that may be the surest of it, for am /
not aE'"ags happy and a burst of her merry
| laugh rang through the room.
You may think now, my dear, but what
call happiness you, perhaps, may yet know little
Of, and he cast an euqurIng look upon Mary.
She made remark but Just then tear escaped
from its hiding place, and came gliding down her
cheek.
Mr. Ellis raised her hand to his lips; then gently
letting it fall, replaced the pearl, and bidding
them good morning, left the room.
Some few weeks from this time, Dr.. NJ was
| shown INTO the same apartment, where now lay, in
almost dying agony, the mother of these girls
She had for several weeks suffered from a fever
which had now reached its height and appeared
| unwilling 10 quit its hold till death should come
and close the scene.
"Mother - dear mother " exclaimed Helen
" how can | bear to you thus Sister, what
shall we do - and she clasped her haads with
agony.
Pered IN an under tone, as Helen was borne fanting
from the room.
The clock on the marble mantle-piece had
| chimed out the hour of twelve when Mrs. H
motloned to her friends to approach nearer, They
did so and she requested them to call her children
Mary and Helen then approached their dying
parent and bedewed with tears her teebly-extended
hand. Mrs. H raised her eyes to heaven
May God bless and protect my husband and
our children she gently whspered-then sud
denly her hand relaxed, and fell dropping the
snowy coverlid. Her eyes cIosed-thcir long silken
X X *
Some two or three years from the date of this
event. the two sisters were sitting alone together
Helen's hand had strayed from the keys of her
piano, to adjust truant curl which had escaped
from the bondage of the comb, and was roguishiv
sporting upon herlar cheek She had Just consigned
1t to safer keeping, when the heavy fall of book,
as 1t struck the floor, caused her to break the
silence.
Come now, Mary" said she, let that little
accident induce you to lay aside your reading for
| the day, and join with me in thinking of the an
ticiPated pleasures of the evening; for | cannot
| drive the pleasing idea from my thoughts of our
| attending together such fashionable and splendid
| party Only think, since our dear mothers death,
| we have been out but little, but tonight we shall
be highly entertained and it will give father too,
| so much pleasure to see US once more gay and
cheerful. You will go, most certainly " said she
| again, addressing Mary
| Nay, sister, | may not go tonight she an
| swered have other pleasures to seek after,
and other scenes to take up my time"
| len. "Well then | will go alone" and without
waiting for any further remark, she abruptly left
the room
They did not meet again till tea time; soon after
| which an elegant carriage drew up to the door,
| and Helen, richly attired, assisted in. Away
| whirled the vehicle upon the stony pavement and
| as the sounds died away in the distance, Mary cast
| one ha-sorrowing look in the direction it had taken
then drew together the folds Of the curtains to
exclude the departing rays of the sun, if wishing
to shut out all save her own reflections.
Now, thought she; as she surveyed the rich
| y-urnlshed room in which she sat- God has
| gwen me many blessngs-has surrounded me not
only with comforts, but with Injuries. He has
| gwen me health, and many facilities for acquiring
| knowledge. l am now young, with wealth at my
disposal; and what I wish | may do. If like
fI, GeI?n, | should mingle in the gayetes Of the