Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-11-29

From Arthuf's Home Gazette.
The Pearl;
Or which was the IIappiestl
BY L. A. MACK.


risen beams through the rich damask
curtains that shaded The windows of a
\ Sluxuriously furnished room, near the cen
II tire Of which stood two young girls, ap-
parently nearly of an age. They were
both beautiful; but the expressions d
their finely-moulded features were diff.
/. ferent. Helen, the younger--as she
y sent her gay, joyous laugh out at inter.
vals--told The observer that she appar.
emily 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 a
tall elderly gentleman entered.
Grandpa! Dear grandpa!' they both
eagerly exclaimed, as they sprang to.
ward him; and leading him to seat,
gently put back his silvery locks and
imprinted a kiss upon his time furrowed
brow.
sAh, said Mr.. Ellis, sGod has given
me much Of this worlds goods. and
many blessings for which should be
thankful; but none do prize more than
the affections of these my dear grand
Children and he bowed his head as If in
grateful acknowledgement.
= Rising soon afer, he took from his
pocketa beautiful pearl; and holding il
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 happiest. :
How kind of your they both replied,
But grandpa said The light-hearted He
len, do you not think that may be the
surest Of it, for am not always happyY
and burst of her merry laugh rang
through the room.
You may think so now, my dear, but
what call happiness you perhaps may
yet know little Of and he cas-, an inqui-
ring look upon Mary. She made no re-
mark, but just then a 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, DIR.
M 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 fe-
yer, which now had reached its height,
and appeared unwilling to quit its hold
till death should come and close the
scene.
'Mother-dear mother' exclaimed
Helen, .how can | bear TO see you thus!
!. Sister what shall we do?' and she clasp
cd her hands with agony.
Submit humbly to the viii of God
was whispered in an underione, as lielen
was borne iainting from The room.
| The clock ON the marble mantle-piece
had chmed the hour of twelve, when
Mrs. H motioned to her friends to
approach nearer. They did so; and she
requested them to call her children. Ma
ry and Helen then approached their dy-
ing parent, and bedewed with tears her
feeblv extended hand. Mrs. H
raised her eyes to heaven
May God bless and protect my hus-
band and our children" she gently whis-
pered-then suddenly her hand relaxed,
aud fell dropping on the snowy coverlid.
Her eyes closed-their long silken LASH
es drew over them-she was dead.
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,
10 adjust a iruant curl which had escaped
from tile bondage of the comb, and was
roguishly sporting upon her fair cheek.
She had just consigned to il safer kee-
ping when the heavy fall of book, as
it struck the floor, caused her TO break
the silence.
I Come now, Mary, said she, 'let that
little accident induce you TO lay asid.
your reading for The day, and join with
me in thinking of the anticipated pleas
ures of the evening; for cannot drive
the plensing idea from my thoughts of
our attending together such fashiona-
bic and splendid party. Only think
since our dear mothers death, we have
been out but little, but tonight we shall
be highly entertained; and il will give Ia
aher, too, SO much pleasure to see us
once more gay and cheerful. You viii
go, most certainly said she again, ad-
dressing Mary.
may, sister, may not 60 tonight,
she answered. have other pleasures
to look after, and other scenes to make
upmy time
More proftably, suppose Interrupt
ted Helen. well, then, l will go alone
and without waiting for any further re-
mark. she abruptly left the room.
They did not meetagain till tea-time;
soon after which an elegant carriage
drew upto the door, and Helen, richly
aAired, was assisted in. Away whirled
the vehicle upon the stony pavement,
and as the sounds died away in the dis
tance, Mary cast one half-sorrowins
look in the direction it had taken--thcn
drew togciherthe folds Of the curtains to
exclude the departing rays of the sun, as
If wishing to shut out all save her own