The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-03-28
The Weadins Hind.

eSaSfSt suSIc u D Wouidn Wdltlu2 10 see you uOWu
stairs-gc 70 her at once" =
!" La papa, dare say shesis in no hurry re-
plied the young lady, without rising from the easy
chair into which she was sunk. 81
My dear, do not keep her waiting the time Of
hwork-wOman i her capital, and You hsvs no right
{ "Def1udi papa; what hard words you use III
am sure always pay them their billsz-whst more
can they ask ?D ~ -s9
Her father had not waited Tor the conclusion Of
the sentence and Louisa, seeing he was gone, pro-
eeeded with her breakfast intending, when she had
done, to send for the woman, who she knew was
bringing her some artificial flowers to inspect
While slipping her coffee, her eye fell on new
publication which her father had been that day ex-
aiming. She seized upon il, and soon engrossed
IN It's pages forgot the artificial flowers, the artist
and her fathers admonition. An hour passed, when
she was interrupted by the entrance Of some Of her
young friends whose visit Of course detained her in
the drawing After great deal Of lively but
rather empty chat Of her visitors observed that
there was, woman in the hail. as they passed,
with a basket Of the most exquisite fancy flowers
she had ever seen She longed to examine them
all With slight blush, Louisa, recoIiecting her
father words rung for the forgotten trades woman
and the next hour was consumed by the Young Ia
dies in turning over the beautiful specimens con-
tanned in the basket wishing earnestly that they
could afford to purchase them. They were g6od-
hunlored, pretty elegant girls well and eypensively
dressed and they seemed just fitted to be the in4
habitants Of the apartment where this scene was
passing. -t
Ii was a handsomely furnished room, the walls
hung with paintings, the tables spread with costly
books, the consoles and costly bracelets covered
with tasteful ornaments perhaps the value Of Only
a few Of those China vases would form fortune 10
many poor family. The pleasant morning air
which bFeathed through the hight muslin curtains.
and waved the rich damask drapery,, was scented
with the perfume Of helio.rope and jeasamine, and
the gleam Of sunshine which fell the glass globe
where the goldfish swan, was reflected back upon
the rch-cut chandeliers, and made them look like
fragments of a rainbow. All was in keeping with
the gay girls who gazed at themselves in the tall
pieS glassesail except the pale anxious care-worn
face OF the owner Of the flowers. Dressed in wild
ow's weeds, which time had rendered shabby, al
though evidently preserved with care, he's look as
she handed out one graceful wreath after another,
V1s so sadly in contrast with her customers gay
ETY., that, had they bestowed one thought on her
they smnst have felt some pity. But they neither
looked at noticed her, except to inquire the,
price Of some beautiful specimen, exclaim at its
darkness, wish they could buy them ALL and declare
they would learn to make them, 1t must be such
charming work. Finally, after having disaTrzngsd
the whole Of her stock, one of them discovered II
was time to go TO the portrait painter whom ss
was sitting, as that gentleman never waited a mo-
ment, and she should lose the only hong he could
give her. Louisa made,some trifiing purchase, for
she had changed her mind on the subject, and de-
sired some other ornaments and the young party
hastily quilted the house, leaving the poor widow
to replace her injured goods, and return home at
her leisure.
Ijitleas these careless girls were diaposed to be-
STOW thought upon the artificial florist, it is onr
intention TO follow her 70 her own house, where,
faiigued and disappointed, she arrived about two
hours after she left the mansion of Louisas father
1t was low and narrow garret, lighted only by
window in the roof, which threw down eleam of
scklv sunshine
room .and lighted up an old cemfortess he'd, which
seemed placed there that its occupant might derive
some warmth from source which, az least, cost
nothing. Reclining on this bed, and supperted by
a broken chair back, slightly covered hy an old
shawl-for the luxury of pillows was beyond their
| reach-was much younger woman; but, like the
Il first mentioned, she too wore WIDOWS cap, and
such clothing as had borne the traces OF mourning
Her face wac wan and thin, and she was evidently
suffering from. some serious malady, which haf
drained away the springs of life. Her slendel
| hands were busy in fabhcatng some Of those bean
tful flowers her mother had carried abroad for sale
and their colors and gay groups made her pale
sickly cheeks look still more ghaslly from the cen
irast. A half finished wreath Of orange hower
lay near her, and the tale'it seemed to whisper
| love, and JOY, and hope-ef bridal spIend0r, aIiC
all the luxuries' Of the wealthy--was affecting
when compared with her own appearance and bel
evident poverty
"Ah, mother dear!" said she. as the elderly
widow entered, 81 thought you long in coming
but hope you have sold the flowers, and brought
me all wanted 20
Her mother silently shook her head, as she sci
| down her basket, and with fearful eyes gazed OF
her daughters disappointed face.
Nothing Have you sold nothing? q" inquired
| the latter again, in amazement and despair" How
could that be +" 4 thought that Miss FTizell anc
! Miss Dashwood had ordered them of yeu'
Miss FrlzelL detained me nearly two Hours ,
replied the mother, tossed over all INV things
| and then hOuUht pxya-a ahinr
was an hour after the time appointed Mrs. Dash
woods, she was angry, and would be pleased wit
nothing. Indeed, it is quite true, the flowers were
so much tumbled by Miss Frizell and her friends,
that until they have been all fresh done up, they
are hardly worth looking at"
| And Miss Singleton wedding wreath ? ~ said
the daughter. How can finish that unless
have the materials |, require? Only two shilinRs
for two hours walking and waiting All, mother,
| how little they know the value of time to us,l
Will You buy the white and green silk with that
| money!"
"I spent it, my child, in buying food knew
we had nothing in the house, and your boy will be
wanting his dinner presently. Is he asieepf"
Yes, see how soundly he sleeps answered
the young woman; and, removing slight cover.
ing, she exhibited on the bedside her small fai
| boy, apparently about a twelvemonth old who
peacefully slumbered in the happy indifference o
l infancy.
Both gazed at the child till tears brimmed ia
their eyes but, after few minutes, the young
i mother turned away and said, What can we do
This wreath must be finished, or in another week
we shall be houseless.n She paused moment,
| and a crimson spot which told of some internal
struggle, appeared upon her cheeks, while her thin
lips grew paler than before : then, drawing from
her finger her wedding ring, she held it out to her
mother f' 1t is but short time !" she murmured,
"and what matiers2 Why should feel SO bitterly
in parting with the symbol, when the reality has
been torn from me? For our ehild-tis childis
| sake--it must be done ! And what does il signify
what is thought of me? %" 1t was a sacrifice she
could not have asked, but which she saw to be in
evitable for they did not possess another super
fluffy. Silently, therefore, she took it and left the
room; while her unhappy daughter, when left
alone, catching up the orange flowers, exclaimed
"happy, happy girl! when you wear this wreath
how little will you suspect the bitter tears, the
weary fingers, and the aching hearts which have
accompanied its growth. And was once as happy
1 Who would have imagined thea the miserable re.
verse now present? But am | not giving away
to envy2 Because my prospects are, blighted
would wish hers to be dimmedl Heaven forgive
met" and sinking the bed beside her sleeping
boy, she continued silent and motionless until hel
mothers return.
The elder widow, meanwhile, with weary step.
and heavy heart, pursued her way to fulfil this pain
full errand, but so deeply engrossed in her owr
mournful reflections, that she scarcely noticed
where she was wandering, until she found herself
at the door of a large jewellers shop in fashiona
BILE street. She entered timidy, and waited til she
4 saw one of the shopmens sdisengaged, before she
ventured To explain her eFrandand exhibit the ring
1 In not Onf nractiea madam m httu safsnnd.