Worcester daily spy., 1851-01-24
from Arthurs Home Gazettel
The Pearl; or, Which is the Happiest?
BY L. A. MACK.

The Pearl; or, Which is the Happiest?
BY L. A. MACK.
The sun was just shedding his newlyrisen
beams through the rich damask curtains that
shaded the windows OF luxuriously. furnish
ed room. near the center of which stood two
young girls, apparently nearly of an age
They were both beautiful .butthe expressions
OF their finely moulded features were different.
Helen, the younger-as she sent her gay, Joy
GUS laugh out at intervas-told the observer
that she apparently enjoyed much. Mary,
the eldest, seemed more 10 have caught a
glimpse OF the true design other being, and 10
have learned more of tie truly useful. They
lad not been long in this position before the
door slowly opened, and tall, elderly gentle
man entered.
Grandpa Dear granGpap they both eager
ly exclaimed, as they sprang toward him and
lending him to a seat gently put back his sill
very locks, and imprinted kiss upon his
time furrowed brow.
'Ah,' said MIR. Ellis, God has given me
much of this worlds goods, and many bless.
ings for which | should be thankful: but none
do prize more than the affections of these
my dear grandchildren and he bowed his
headsas if in grateful acknowledgment
Rising soon after, he took from his pocket
beautiful pearl, and holding ii before them
said
Knowing that l should be absent some
time from you, dear children, have purchased
this pearl to bestow at my return upon The
one that is the happiest'
How kind OF you ? they both replied. sBu
grandpa,' said the light headed Helen. dc
you bot think that I may be the surest of il
for am / not otaVays happy? !? and burst o
ear nappiresss; you; perhaps, may yet know
little off, and he cast an inquiring look upol
Mary.
She made no remark, but just then tea
escaped from its hiding place, and came glid
ing down her cheek.
Mr.. Ellis raised her hand to his lips !: ther
gently letting it fall, replaced the pearl, and
biddog them good morning, left the room.
Some few weeks from this time, DR.. M
was shown into the same apartment, where
now lay, in almost dying agony, the mother Of
these girls. She had for several weeks suffered
from fever, which now had reached its
height, and appeared unwilling to quit its hold
till Death should come and close the scene.
'Mother-dear moherp exclaimed Helen,
'low can bear to see you thus? Sister, what
shall we do 2 and she clasped her hands with
agony.
huDIIlll ~ tDc VIII Vi 0Oli, WAS
whispered in an under tone, as Helen was
bone 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
her children. Mary and Helen then ap-
preached their dying parent, and bedewed
with tears her feebly extended hand Mrs. IL
raiSad hor owns fo
MAY God bless and protect my husband
and our childrenp she gently whispered; then
suddenly her hand relaxed, and fell dropping
on the snowy eoverid. Her eyes closed
their long siken lashes drew over tllem-she
was dead.
Some two or three years from the date 0
this event. the two sisters were sitting alone
| together. Helen's hand had strayed from tn,
| keys of the piano, TO adjust truant curl, which
had escaped from the bondage of the comb
and was roguishly sporting upon her ta
| check. She had just consigned it to saf
| keeping, when the heavy fall ofa book, as
struck the floor, caused her to break the 81
| lence.
Come now, Mary said she, 'let that lttlt
accident induce yon to lay aside your readin:
forthe day, ard join with me in thinking 0
the anticipated pleasures of the evening; fo
! cannot drive the pleasing idea from my
thoughts Of our attending together such fash
onabe and splendid party. Only think, since
our dear mothers DEATH we have been on
but little, bat To- night we shall be highly en-
tertained; and il will give father, too, so mucl
| pleasure TO see lis once more gay and cheer
/ ful. You will go. most certainlyp said she
apain addressing Mary,
| Nay sister, may not go tonight she an.
swered. Il have other pleasures to seek after
and other scenes TO take up my time
| More proflably, | suppose, interrupted
Helen. well, then, | will go alone, and
without waring for any further remark, she
abruptly left the room.
They did not meet again ill tea-time T; soon
after which an elegant carriage drew up to
the door, and Helen, richly attired, was assis.
ted in. Away whirled the vehicle upon the
| stony pavement, and as the sounds died away
in the distance, Mary cast one halEsorrowing
look in the direction it had taken-then drew