The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-02-23

/ self Oh God help Us !"
! lie will, He viii, Robert, if You will not dc
SPAR! ejaaulated his ailectunatc wife, as sh,
carefully set down the Carv-l figure, and wipinl
her eyes, addressed herself to chop ;he wood AN,
Light the fire from the fuel opportlhlcy and char
( ltably given them by neighbor almost as pool
and comiortlcss as themselves Having complet
ed her task and given more cheerful aspect t.
/ the dreary chamber by the ruddy flame from. the
ignlted wood, she spread her wet garments beforC
the blaze to dry and seated in the corner Of th,
chimney recOunted to her husband, rs briefly as
possible, the accident that deprived hen Of the lit
tic pttancc given her by the good squire anC
ended by telling him of the wish expressed by
Mrs. Chesterfield, to see her III the morning -
"And So Robert she went on, Il will take the
chessmen and show them To her.--Perhaps she
may buy them, though God knows would almos
a. soon sell myself, il it wefe not for the sake o
getting you something NICE to eat and some med
icne for your cough. And if take the men, i
won't look rs if went for charity, Robert
ado as you like. Mary though have no hope
Of your success. We have been 50 often disap
pointed"
"Oh, don't give way, Robert. | am sure better
days will come. No, no, don't shake your head
and look 80 sorrowfll--bctter DAYS for YOU, mean
SPAR So" and with confidence she scarcely felt
herself, she strove to instil healthier tone into
her husbands sanguine heart.
There must be something verv holy in yOur
confidence, dear Mary, for it has had the power
to keep Inc up for many months for without
your trustiul spirit, should have given way long
ago. God bless you for it,
Don't talk so, Robert, or You will break my
heart. If | don't sell these beautiful figures 10 do
you good, will never, never part with them, Oh
do not give up yet hope Il little longer, do, do
for my sake, and-But where is he Where is the
childl l. he asleep" she inquired, suddenly ris
ing and going TO the bed.
Weston slowly turned down the Ar,iggct n. he
approached aud exposed beautiful but pte-inced
boy Of two or three years old, nestled close by
hiS fathers side, and sleeping soundly,
"ltc cried at first when YOU went out, md asked
for dinner" said the husband, uourntully, us tie
mother kuclt down and kissed tho sleeping child
but had not strength I" get up and reach the
bread poor child SO told him some little store,
to divert his mind, and said that he should see all
the clossman tonight and then his little eyes
grew heavy AMI he laid his head upon my lap
and fell asleep, talking Of the soldiers, Oh, wht,
blessed thing is sleep to the poor and hungry
for, by it. they can cheat the craving stomach o
a meal or two. see, dear, he is awake"
But we must hasten on, and will but merely
direct the readers mental eye once more to that
abode Of sickness, want and cold but where sucl
l. the amclioratmg effect OF art aud beauty there
wa> much innate love and dclicacv Of soul. Upor
the farther extremity Of an old table drawn close
to the bed ranged in double files, stand the MIN.
c armies Of the chcssboar,l: and ON the nearer
end, the remnant OF stale loaf, n Jug of warm
milk aud water and knife 10 part the limited
allowance Of their food Father mother, ana
ch,Ii are seated On the led. with pleasure gazing
On the carved array--ani one, in mGmtinc costa
cy, holding out his hand to clutch the tempting
toys, and A. they admire, eating the husky bread
and drinking each in turn, from the sclfsame jug
the harmless Giluunt, while the wind and rail
howl and beat against the lonely tenement, and
the iitiul blaze from the alternate flush and fall
of wood embcrs, give momeutary light To- the re
past-making the raging winter that beats with
out, and the desolation trooding Within appear
more stern and terrible
True 20 her appointment on the morning. the
mechanics wife, with the priced chessmcn careful
ly folded in separate papers, and enycloped in 4
white napkin, repaired to the mansion Of Mr. Ches
teriCld, and was instantly introduced to the be.
| nevoIent mistress. lIrs. Chesterfield with tn,
| tact that women only know soon CLEANED from
the poor wife the concise history Of their long
rrIyations, touching with innocent pride on hcl
husbands ,kIl, and ended hy displaying before
the amazed eyes Of the lady the proofs Of 1t Sic
had brought.
Mr. Chesterfield was 10 mean Judge Of art
aud g8zed with admiration and surprise on the
costume, execution and Llu.tlesS symmetry OF ey-
cry figure, enhanced by the ivory whleness aud
beautiful texture of the wood in which thry were
wrought: and calling in her husband. participated
with him in his lavish delight and encomiums-
while the poor woman unable tosuppre,S her JOY
that her husbands merit was at least appreciated
sobhed aloud from excess of pleasure.
These are indeed superior specimens Of art, 81
observed Mr. Chesterfield after rigid scrutiny
uf every piece, What does your husband al,
for them"
"Oh sir," replied Mary, speaking through her
tears, 81 am very anxious tu sell them Just now,
and would take very little. NJ husband said he
would sell them for shilling piece, if YOU
would not think i, too dear anl there's the board
he made long ago
"a shilling piece Impossible My poor
woman you must be dreaming
We'll then sir whn, you please; for my hus
band is very i'll, and | want to buy Aim some med.
cine" she replied almost choking from revulsiun
OF feeling
"You mistake me- my good creature. mean
10 say they are too valuable to bc sold without
con,ideration and for fear should not be Just to
YOU, will consult some friends ns to what
should giye--for | mean to purchase them. For
the present here are ten soyereigus aud whatever
price is put on them by my friends, will pay YOU
again \ man Of your husbands gcnlu, must
not be left in obsc,,r,y anl want will send a
physician to attend him. And now 20 home, and
come back on Monday for what shall then he in
your debt. Your husband shall not be neglected
depend upon it,
Unable To speak her thanks, but graspns tho
gold in her hand with n nervous tcnucity, the be
wildcrcd woman was led out Of the room 10y the
hand Of the sympathi,ug Mr. Chesterfield; and
when ,hc found herself again in the road, it was
with the addition Of well filed baslio, Of wine
and provisions Casting her dimnrd eve, To hea
ven, and mut:cring apmycr Of thankiuncss, poor
Mary turned in the direction "f home" AMI ran
with the speed of AchHmrls TIL the battered do"r
and broken easement ot her abode stood bcior,
her The mNmyuf that moment u, she told out
her treasure, before the hectic husband. was worth
4 itcs pri,ation to cnoN The sick man. unable
To express the sense Of struggling happiness, bent
his head mcckly ON his chest, and groancd from
the runps- of his soul; while the wife folding hor
arms rounl his neck. pressed his mce to her bos
ON and between hySicric tears AMI laughter