The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-30
THE NATIONAL, ERA WASHINGTON d. c., JANUARY 80 1851.

Letty's head looked, to use Dicks expression.
"almost like new one"
She had just finished when Dick, who was
on the watch, announced his mothers an
proach, and Mrs. Lester came in to meet her.
and mollify her anger, if necessary She met
her in the door with some Joke about the plots
Of young heads when the mother was away,
but her words were completely drowned BY
little Dicks shouts, as he capered around his
mother, crying
"See, here, mother! we've learned the Sc
cret--we've caught them," pointing to where
the last golden rays slept on the wall "and,
hurrah there they are again, mother :" he
continued, as he caught sight of their reflection
from a pail of water on the wall overhead
where they danced and quivered like living
things. 80 and we did il all, mother-Abba, and
Lefty, and l."
Mrs. White stood silent for some seconds,
looking round her with puzzled air, while
Mrs. Lester Observed
Lefty had a fancy for house cleaning to-
day, and as Abba and she had made some bar
gain about helping one another, thought
would let them have their own way; and, be-
sides, thought it might as well be done when
you was away, as your nerues are so bad"
Mrs. Lester thought she saw some slight
signs of storm gathering, and put in the last
clause of the above sentence as a kind of con-
ductor, knowing that Mrs. White was disposed
10 be particularly gracious to any one who had
a due regard for her nerves 1t was not with
out effect; her brow cleared up. and she sighed
out, as she sank into her usual seat
You were quite right. | should have
done it myself, but my nerves have been so
bad ever since poor mas DEATH didn't think
Lefty had SO much consideration Well,
must say ii does make the room seem consid-
cradle larger, and almost as light as yours"
"And see here, mother" cried Dick, pull
ing at her gown, "we have taken the old bar
rel and the heap of rubbish away, that darkened
the window, and now Abba says Lefty will
have sun enough for her rose; and we are
going TO have garden, mother, and | am to
spade and plant, and Mrs. Lester will give me
some beans and potatoes, and -
We'll, well, child pray don't dealen me
now. BY and by will hear all about it,"
said his mother, intenupting him.
"The next step must be TO get them all out
to church, Abba" said Mrs. Lester that night.
as she sat talking over the events of the day.
while she smoothed the white locks Of little
Nat
A year and half has passed away, and
now, dear friends, let us take one more peep at
the Whites. The snow lies deep without, for
il is Cbrisipas dsv, but all is.21@sss;:.:, :aed
cheerful within and the room, to use the ia
vorite expression of Mrs. Lester, is "neat as
wax" That good woman and her children
have been taking tea with the Whites, and as
she sits near the well polished stove, with her
snowy handkerchief spread across her lap TO
guard against the possibility of soiling her best
gown while she pares an apple, her round
face fairly shines with pleasure, as she gazes
round the room, and mentally contrasts ii with
what it was few months before. Mrs White
still occupies the same old rocking chair, but
her face has lost that wretched, forlom express
sion, her dress and cap are neat and becoming,
and, though her hair does seem to be some
what given to tumbling down, she is upon the
whole right comfortable looking woman.
Their talk runs chiefly upon their provisions
for the coming winter, and the sermon to which
they have both listened that morning.
Yes, it was very beautiful" says Mrs.
White, "what the minister said about Gods
taking care of us Just as he does the little birds
and when he spoke of His raising up some
one to help us in the hour of need, | thought
of you and Abba, for surely he must have put
it into your hearts 10 help us just at the right
time and then | could not help thinking,
though mayhap it is wrong to think about such
things IN church, OF our potatoes and cabbages
and beets and beans, all raised off from that
bit of waste ground, which we should never
have thought Of cultivating if your Abba had
not driven us into it. Surely she has been
good angel TO u.s."
Mrs. Testers eyes rest fondly on Abba, as
she replies
81 must say that Abba has willing heart
and a ready hand to help any one, though a
good deal disposed to do it in her own way -
then, as if willing to change the topic, she
asks, $50 you have no fears about getting
through with the winter2'' P
- Not, if we are well With what Lefty
earns with her needle, and what John Dinby
pays me for taking care of his baby, we shalt
get along nicely, and be able TO pay Dicks
schooling"
But John Digby's baby-we must not for
get TO say that they have had charge of it ever
since its mothers death, and there it is in Let
ty's arms, Growing with delight, as she Jumps
it forward until its chubby, out stretched hands
almost grasp the gay needle cushion which
Abba Lester holds up before it-Letty's Christ
mas gift to her. Abba's plain but agreeable
features reflect the pleasure in her mothers
face and Lefty, in her neat-6tting dress, with
her brown hair glossy as silk, is fresh and
graceful as her own pet rose in the window.
Dick is personating bear out in one corner of
the room, TO the great amusement of the young
Testers, and, as his mother turns to caution
him against soiling his Sunday Clothes" she
excaims--
"There, Lefty; there is one thing | had
well nigh forgotten-Dick's trowsers. Hand
them here, and will just draw them up little,
so that they will do TO put on in the morning."
We see that Mrs. Lester has not quite over
come all her old habits, and we are afraid that
it will take her long time to do so but for
Dick and Lefty we have more hope Encour-
aged by the kind words and example of the
Testers, they are growing up with orderly,
industrious habits, and, what is better, they are
fast learning the great secret Of liCe-that there
is a sunlight far more bright and beautiful than
that which they hailed with such delight in
their humble home few months before--the
sunlight Of cheerful, truthful heart.