The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1853-07-07
CHAPTER II.
A MAGNIFICENT LADY.

1ioSoouo vi d III ten of Twelve years O
age.
Il went to the common school, my deal
child, to witness the examination, ane
when the exercises were concluded,
waited to speak a word Of congratulatfor
and encouragement to the lad whom OBJ
tanned the gold medal
Are you acquainted with him, ma &
No, daughter; but | saw him on the
Common few weeks ago, and helped him
to raise a package of goods to his should
er You may remember, for [ think l
told you at the time, that proud little fell
low who was playing on the path near by
curled his lip with scorn, when the burden
bearer asked him to assist in raising the
bundle
%, yes, l recollect the circumstance
perfectly WE'LL
'These lads attend the same school, and
are classmates, and were the principal
competitors for the chief prize, and the
handsome Irish boy won the prize
4 am glad he was SO Fortunate cx-
claimed the young beauty.
1t was indeed singular coincidence,
and the best of the story remains to be
told. The father of the unsuccessful can
didate for medal, and the golden honors,
gave the winner Of the prize a cheek for
fifty dollars, to be expended in educating
him, and promise Of more funds when
needed
1T is nearly two o'clock; surely the
school did not remain in session SO long?'
observed the girl.
No, Agnes; the meeting was dismissed
at twelve, but made call, and was de-
tanned at the house I visited much longer
than I expected to have been. [ called
to see poor Mrs. Brown, the widow wo-
man, who calls here so frequently. un-
derstood she was i'll, and availed myself
of that opportunity to render her some
assistance
Where does she live ma? Will you
tell me all about your visit?'
Mrs. Brown, you know, Agnes, has
seen better days. The time was when her
husband lived next door to us on Beacon
street, but his ships foundered at sea, and
his stores were burnt with fire. He be-
came so immersed in debt, and his cred
itors were SO clamorous, and his pride SO
mortified, his embarrassment put speedy
termination to his life For long time
his amiable and accomplished widow
struggled against the eyer-advancing and
never-r retiring tide Of poverty. In order
to feed, and clothe, and educate herchild-
ren, she sold every article Of furniture she
cod possibly spare, andmoyed into plain
neat cottage, where she exercised the
most rigid economy.
Hereldest daughter was but nine years of
age at that time, yet the child was SO
thoughtful she urged her mother to allow
her to take music-lessions. SO that at some
future day she might become a teacher of
music herself. Sickness, and unforeseen
misfortunes, have lowered Ike vultures
over her path, from the time of her hus-
bands death until now. Sic has grown
poorer and poorer,-and but few of her
former friends have manifested the least
pity, or rendered the least assistance
When I discoved her place Of abode,
my heart sank within me. She lived in a
poor old house in an obscure court, sur
rounded by hives Of human beings in rags
and filth. A pale girl, perhaps ten or
twelve years of age, answered the rap at
the door, and in a very lady-like manner
invited me to walk in
WAS it Mary, who used to play with
me when l was little child?'
Yes, dear; she requested me to sit
down, at the same time giving me ricke-
ty chair, the creaking Of which seemed to
plead poverty, The floor Of the house
was clean as a platter-and the curtains
at the windows white as snow. Where is
your mother?' l inquired
Mother is sick,a-bed," was the reply.
is she dangerously ill?'
I fear she is, for she has no desire
to eat, and speaks with great diff
Guilty. ] sat up with her last night, and
the night before, and this morning call
ed on the doctor, just around the corner,
but he refused to come when [ informed
him we had no money. Step into the
next room and see her, continued the
child; ''for, although she is unwell, she
will be pleased to see such kind friend.
When / entered her humble apartment
saw the poor invalid upon the bed. She
recognized me at a glance, and in feeble
whispers thanked me for visiting her in her
affection It was with the utmost difficult
fty she spoke, but she managed to make
me understand that she was deeply in
debted to one of her neighbors for many
acts of Kindness. She informed me that
Mrs. Conner did her washing every week
called to see her every day, and fire.