The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-07-21

he comprehended all. Scarcely y mo-
Incnt had his glance been removed from
the countenance or form of Mr.. Everett
while the latter walked, with uneasy
steps, the floor of his Office.
AS the afternoon waned, the brokers'
mind grew calmer. The first excite
mept produced by the loss, passed away
but it left sense of depression and dis.
appointment that completely shadoweC
his feelings.
Intent as had been the lads observa.
ton of his employer during all this time
it is little remarkable, that Mr.. Ever,
EFT had not once been conscious Of tho
fact that the boys eyes were steadily
upon him. In fact, he bad been, Il.
was usual the case, too much absorbed
in things concerning himself, to Doticc
what was peculiar to another, unless the
popularity were one readily used to his
own advantage.
"John," said Mr.. Everett, turning
suddenly to the boy, and encounteriug
his large, earnest eyes, " take this note
around to Mr.. Lcgrand,"
John sprang to do his bidding re-
ceivcd the note, and was off with unusual
feetness. But, the door which closed
upon his form, did not shut out the cx
preston of his sober face and humid
glance from the vision of Mr.. Everett
In fact, from some cause, tears had
sprung to the eyes of the musing boy
at the very moment he was called upon
to render a service and, quicker than
usual though his motions were, he had
failed to conceal them.
A new train of thought now entered
the brokers' mind. This child of his
old friend had been taken into his Office
from a kind of charitable fceling-though
of very low vitality. He paid him a
couple of dollars week, and thought
little more about him, or his widowed
mother. He had too many important
interests of his own at stake, to have his
mind turned aside for a trifling matter
like this. But, now, as the Image of
that sad face.-for it was unusually sad
at the moment when Mr. Everett looked
suddenly toward the boy-lingered in
his mind, growing every moment more
distinct and more touchingly beautiful,
many considerations of duty and human
ity were excited. He remembered his
old friend, and the pl, asant hours they
had spent together, in years long since
passed, ere generous feelings had hard
ened into ice, or given place to an all
pervading selfshness. He remembered
too, the beautiful girl his friend had
and how proudly that friend
presented her to their little world as his
bride. The lad had her largo, dark,
spiritual eyes-only the light OF joy had
faded therefrom giving place to strange
sadness. .... ....
All this was now present to the mind
Of Mr.. Everett, and though he tried,
once or twice, during the boys absence
to obliterate these recollections, he was
unable to do so. ,... .
How is you mother, John :" kindly
asked the broker, when the lad returned
frem his errand.
The question was so unexpected, that
it confused him.
"She's well-thank you, sir. No
not very well, either--thank you, sir.
And the boys face flushed, and bis
eyes suffused.
Not very we'll, you say" Mr..
Everett spoke with kindness, and in
tone of interest "Not sick, | hope ?"
"No, sir not very sick. But"
" But what, John, said Mr.. Everett,
encouragingly. .. !
" shes in trouble" half stammered
lhe boy, while the color dcepened on his
ace.
"Ah, indeed' I'm sorry for that.
What is the trouble, John :"
The tears which John had been vainly
striving to repress, now gushed over his
face, and with boyish shame for the
weakness, he turned away and struggled
for time with his overmastcring feel
ings.
Mr.. Everett was no little moved byl
80 unexpected an exhibition. lie waited,