The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-10-24
NJ Z S c LA NE 0 US
From ArfhuT's Home Gazette.
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OR
WHICH WAS THE HAPPIEST2
BY I. 4. MACK.


THE sun was Just shedding his newly
risen beams through the rich damask
curtains that shaded the windows OF
luxuriously furnished room, near the centre
of which stood two young girls, apparently
nearly of an age. They were both beau
tiful; but the expressions OF their finely
moulded features were different. Helen,
the younger,--as she sent her gay, joyous
laugh out At intervals--told the observer
that she apparently enjoyed much. Mary.
the eldest, seemed more 10 have caught 4
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 a tall, elderly gentleman entered.
"Grandpa! Dear grandpa y they both
eagerly exclaimed, as ihey sprang toward
him; and, leading him 10 a seat, gently
put back his siivery locks, and imprinted
kiss upon his time furrowed brow.
"Ah," said Mr.. Ellis, God has given
me much OF this worlds goods, and many
llessings tor which | should be thankful;
tut none do prize more ihan the atlec-
son of these my dear grandchildren" and
re bowed his head as il in grateful ac-
Anowledgement.
Rising soon after, he took from his
pocket a beautiful pearl, and holding II
before them, said.
knowing that should be absent some
time from YOU dear children, have Pur-
chased this pearl, to besiow at my return
upon the one that is the happiest."
"How kind of you ~ they both replied.
.sBut, grandpa said the light-hearted
Helen, .-dv YOU NOT mink that may be
the surest of it, for am not Arrays hap
pv?'' and burst OF her merry laugh rang
ihrough the room.
oYou NAV think so now, my dear. but
what call happiness you perhaps may
vet know liule Of and he cast an inqul-
ring look upon Mary. She made no re-
mark but just then tear escaped from lis
hiding place, and came gliding down her
heck.
Mr.. Ellis raised her hand to his lips;
hen gently letting it fall, replaced The
pearl, and, bidding them good morning,
left the room.
Some few weeks from this time, DIR.
NJ was shown into the same apart
ment, where now lay, in almost dying
agony, the mother of these girls. She had
for several weeks suffered from fever,
which now had reached It's heigth, and
appeared unwilling 10 quit lis hold I'LL
death should come and close the scene.
"Mo,her-dear mother ~ exclaimed
Helen, show can | bear to see you thus
Sister, what shall we do 20 and she
clasped her hands with agony.
submit humbly TO the will of Cod
was whispered in an under tone, as Helen
was borne fainting from the room.
The clock on the marble mantle-piece
had chimed out the hour of twelve, when
Mrs. H motioned to her friends to
approach nearer. They did so; and she
requested them 20 call her children. Mary
and Helen then approached their dying
parent, and bedewed with tears her Geebly-
extended hand. Mrs. H raised her
eyes 10 heaven
MAJ God bless and protect my hus-
band and our children - she gently whis-
oered--then suddenly her hand relaxed.
and fell dropping on the snowy coverlid.
Her eyes closed--their long silken lashes
drew over them-she was dead.
Some two or three years from the date
OF this event, the two sisters were sitting
alone toqether. Helen's hand had straycd
from the KEYS of her piano, TO adjust
truant curl which had escaped from the
bondage of the comb, and was rogulshly
sporting upon her fair cheek. She had just
consigned it to safer keeping when the
heavy fall of book, as it struck the floor,
caused her TO break the silence.
Come now, Mary" said she, ''iet that
little accident induce you to lay aside
your reading for the day, and join me IN
thinking of the anticipated pleasures OF
the evening; for cannot drive the pleas
ing idea from my thoughts of our attend
ing together such fashionable and splen-
did party. Only think, since our dear
mothers death, we have beer out but lit
lie, but 10 night we shall be highly enter
tanned; and It will give father, too, SO
much pleasure TO see US once more gay
and cheerful. You viii go, most certain
lyl" said she again, addressing Mary.
may, sister, may not go tonight,
she answered. "I have other pleasures
TO seek after, and other scenes to take up
my time"
more proftably, suppose" inter