Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-12-08

| peach tree, Tor was not tall enough to reach
the fruit, and after she had plucked it, and
had given her the largest peach disclosed the
plan which had devised the previous night.
She assented very cordially to my proposition,
and that afternoon, when | saw the brown sun
bonnet and the green cart coming out of the
front door, took my peach and walked bravely
down to the garden gate.
Little girl, said, but my voice was strange
ly tremulous, and Idoubt if it fioated beyond
the trunk Of the old oak that stood just outside
! the gate. essayed again. : Little girlH-
1t was spoken louder, but the rumbling of the
wheels must have drowned the words long be-
fore they reached the organs for which they
were intended! | resolved to make one des-
perate effort. Little GIRL | shouted at the
top Of my voice. All, she certainly heard me
then, Cor she stopped, and looked wistfully up
and down the street, and at last, shading her
eyes with her hand, she deserted me. Won't
you please to come across here q / said as
deferentially as could; I've got something
for you.'
She gave one fearful, deprecating glance
at Mrs. Gray's, but nobody was at the win
dows, and then she came across the road, and
behind her came the numbering cart and the
squalling Johnny.
l held out the peach. Grandma's had
one, said, and I've had one; so saved the
other for you.
A glad, eager light filled the blue Of her
eyes, and the muscles around her mouth quiv-
cred as she received the present. Thank
you,' she said, Just as grandma told me always
to say it.
Then came an awkward pause; but my first
success had inspired me with unusual conf
dence. opened the gate. My names An
ME Dale, and | live here with grandma |
said. Now what's your name, little girl z
Emma Lee,' she answered.
Well. Emma, like you very much, and
I'should be very glad to have you like me-
The next moment the cart handle was
dropped, and pair Of small arms were clasped
tightly around my neck, and Emma was strain
ing me wildly to her heart, while deep sobs
were almost convulsing her child-like frame.
Don't, Emma, DON'T l said, as l stroked
soothingly the long, golden curls. Why, did
you ever Pm crying too .......
In little time, we both grew calmer, and
l seated her on the stone by the wicket, and
put my arm around her, while Johnny played
with the fringe of the curtain, and, for won
der, was quiet
Emma asked, what made you cry, just
now,'
Oh, Annie y she answered, it seemed so
strange to hear anybody say they loved me,
that, | couldn't help it. Here drew up
closer to her. { didn't think | should ever
hear anybody say SO to me again nobody ev-
er speaks pleasant TO me now; nobody ever
calls me little Emmy, though | was only ten
last April, and before mamma died she used
to say it so sweetly, every night, when she
tucked me up in bed, My little Emmy, love
you, and then she would kiss me, and some
times dream I am lying in my chamber
again, and see mamma standing over me with
that sweet smile on her face, and hear her
speak Just as she used to, and then wake UP, and
find myself in Mrs. Grays dark, old garret,
and it's all gone Here Emma cried again,
and so did.
Emma, ] said, when we could talk again,
haVn't you got any brothers or sisters, or
anybody to take care of youl' .-y..
sIve got a brother, and his names Willy
answered the child. Oh, you can't begin to
think how loved him, and how happy we
used to be in our home before mamma died.
1t was such pretty house, Annie, with green
grass in front and great apple tree, where
Willy and played every highland there
was a brook little way from our house, with
mint that grew all around it, but mamma,
wouldn't let me go there without Willy, for
| he was two years and two months older than
/. Then you see, a great way off, there was
i hill could see it from our kitchen-window
and the top of it just hit the sky, and one
day told mamma if ever she should die,
would 90 to the top Of that hill and climb right
straight up into Heaven, and ask thefangels
to please to take me to her. But she smiled
just as mamma always did, and said the hill
was as far off from Heaven as our cottage was,
and that, | know, was a great way. But one
! day mamma was taken i'll with the fever, and
she grew worse and worse, and the Doctor
and the nurse whispered together very grave
ly, and Willy and wouldn't 60 to the brook
or to the appletree any more, and they wouldn't
let US see mamma. One morning the nurse
came and took hold of WHY'S hand and mine
and led us to her bedside, and her eyes had
grown SO large and shone SO, though her face
was winter than the pillow She said, Goo
is going to call your mamma home. He will
be your parent now, and you must love and
trust him Then she rose up and put hel
arms round US, so tight, and said, Oh it is Sc
hard to die and leave you here all alone in the
cold world; and her face grew whittier all the
time. Oh, how Willy and cried Though
my heart was breaking. But mammals heac
fell back, and then screamed for she looked
just as if she was dead, but she opened he
eyes again, and told Willy there was pape
in one corner of her bureau drawer, where sh
had written the name of our uncle, who ha,
lived in the West Indies a great many years
| IL .bo roada Willy nromiSe IN write IN hin