The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-21

90 oho tOOk inc package from tne nuDu OF tine
girl, said $50 you have finished the work tD
and began slowly inspecting each article, with
q scrutinizing eye, while the sweet eyes of
Fanny, dimned by incessant toll eagerly watch
ed her every motion, and the pale thin hand
grasped more tightly the elegant chair against
which she was leaning. No wonder those eyes
were dim and faded, if one short week had
seen the commencement and ompletion of the
almost innumerable stitches now passing un.
der the eagle gaze of Mrs Lisle
Pretty we'll" ct last she slowly articulated
carrying depreciation in her very tone; for it
will not do to praise her, or she will slight the
work" thought the eeonomising woman.
The pale lip Of Fanny trembled, as she SIM
ply answered I" / tried to suit you, madam
"What is your price?" said she, in tone,
o so oppressive to the poor xnd dependent
| Eight shillings for the 6ss ones was
obliged to sit up two nights in order to finish
them" the timid girl ventured to add
Eight hiRingsi will pay you SIX, said
the lady, in a decided voice, not moreo
A bright flush spread DER Fanny's pale
cheek, and her eye moistened, as she faltering-
ly replied, al have always had eight you said
you did not mind the price, and believed you
would give it me-"
81 said" returned the lady, never mind
the price, will pay you we'll and will Six
shillings is paying you well--all the work de-
serves, and all shall give you can 90 :" and
Mrs Lisle waved her delicate hand, and sunk
back on the soft cushions.
Fanny hesitated and looked imploringly at
her, and her lips moved as il to speak.
You can Co." said the lady, in quicker
tone, and with knitted brow 81 cannot pay
you today tits not convenient
| FANNY furpad with var,n, sto.o .ni,,i. .
silent prayer went up from her bursting heart,
90 God haze mercy on the orphan.p
o! was it iittie thing, and was her heart
at ease who had thus saved few shillings
God knows.
But to return to Milly She meets Mrs.
Vane with a cordial salutaton, and, after a
few fiattering preliminary remarks proceeds
I" am to-day soliciting, from the particular.
friends of our beloved Rev. Mr. Hamilton and
wife, money for the purchase of q rare old
painting (you know how very fond he is of
paintings)-only two hundred dollars an ele-
CANT portfolio, with gold clasps-only fifty; and
lovely statue;te, which Mrs. Hamilton fell in
love with the other day at Brusk's-only thir-
ty; and bijoux for her sweet little boudoir
twenty or twenty-five more and we felt suren
said the crafty lady, "of your ready assist
ance, knowing your beneyOlence and ample
means"
81 think you mistake in attributing so much
benevolence to me" ingenuously returned Mrs.
Vane, Gas rarely give to such objects. There
fore, must refuse you aid, cognizant rs am
that Mr.. Hamilton's study is now we'll filled
with valuable paintings, and that he possesses
a portfolio Of beauty and capacity sufficient for
all his purposes; and believing Mr.. Hamilton
would prefer our bounties should flow in chan
nels that would serve moro useful end"
Chow mean" said Milly to herself, as she
passed into the street; Sand to talk as though
she was doing SO much | should like to see
her good works manifest
All, Milly, Let not thy right hand know
what thy left hand doeth % I" and thy Father,
who seeth 10 secret Himself shaii reward thee
openly"
The elegant articles were purchased and pre-.
sented-"To our Beloved Pastor and Wife,
name stands first Even the kind minister and
his gentle wife cast looks of doubt on Mrs.
Vanes beneyolence. So truly, man seeth not
az God seeth."
One cold wintry day, Mrs Hamilton set
forth on errands Of love, for she was truly a
servant of tho Lord, visiting tho sick and needy,
and ministering to their wants
After vending her way through several dark
and narrow streets, sho paused ut poor, mis-
cradle diIapidated dwelling, the abode of Fan
ny and her aged grandmother, her only friend
and relative; and Fanny supported that loved
one in her helpessness by unmitigated toll
But alas meager pittance she gained and
cold, cold winter was staring her in tho face,
accompanied by its train Of terrors and She
poor girl knew that by her incessant labor her
hours were shortening and she might soon
leave her helpless friend to an Implying world
| But she dared notlook to the future twas dark
o how dark Present food and shelter she
must gain, and leave the rest to God
Mrs. Hamilton besitated, for she heard a
voice, in no pleasant tone, saying, They are
all wrong you must alter them /" when Fanny
meekly replied, 81 made them like the pattern
you gave me-
"Well they are wrong any way, and must
have them completed this week" sharply re-
turned the lady.
~ cannot finish thcm this week, as | have
work engaged which will occupy oil that time,
for which am 10 have the money; and we
need it, madam-oh, we need it, said Fanny,
in n choking voice, for our rent is due next
week, and If we do not pay We shall be turned
away
81 must have them this week or | will 80.
cure the services Of some other person you
can do as you please" coolly replied the lady |
Fanny was silent for a moment; then casting |
a glance at the poor, lone being shivering at
her side, she felt she must not lose il, though it
would bring but little.
al will do it for you,0 she replied. while she |
forced back the tears that were trimming her |
eyes
Mrs Hamilton had stood riveted to the spot, |
for she had recognised the voice Of Mrs Lisle, |
she no lavish of her smiles and gifts she was
shocked and grieyed. One bright star in her |
galaxy of friends, fallen 10 rise no more she |
felt that charity had never been an inmate of
Mrs Lisles heart. But there was destined q |
star to beam on her pathway whose shining |
she. had never seen, for a silver cloud had |
screened il from her vision; but the star was
there She turned from the door, for she could
not meet Mrs Lsle Mt such moment and |
strollcd down tho street, till she saw the rich |
furs and silk Of the lady floating IN an oppo-
site direction. Then she retraeedSher steps
but the gentle voice and loving heart Of Mrs
vane had entered before her, and again was
che an unwilling listener.
After Mrs Lisle left, Fanny burst in a food
of tears. She who had always been the COM
forter in their numerous trials was nov over
whelmed for she knew she could not complete
the work engaged, (which was Mrs. Vane's,)
and she must take the few dollars she had by
little and little reserved for warm shawl, to
protect the shvcring form OF her grandmother
through the bleak, cold blasts OF winter, TO exc
out the little she had accumulated for rent
The aged woman tried in vain TO console her,
by bidding her rely on the God Of the father
less as she had always done; till at last feel
ing the poor girls trust in Heaven had failed,
she said, Dear child perhaps Mrs. Vane will
advance your money, she is 30 kind
~ cannot ask her, exclaimed Fanny, al
cannot 40 intrude on her generosity, who has
10 blessed us, saved us from death; no, can
mott