Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-08-30
AUGUST 80, 1854.
WHAT MAKES THE D1FFERENCE.

house filed with many tenants, sat pale |
but handsome lady-for lady she was. tho
all around her told of poverty-busily en-
gagged in writing. She was carefully copy
| ing law paper, by the light of one tallow
candle; but while she diligently copied eve
ry word from one paper to the other with
out mistake or blot, she knew not what she
wrote, for her thoughts were busy with 9TH
er things and other scenes.
/ Sometimes she would stop writing for al
moment, and press her hands npon her fore
head and eyes, while the tears oozed slowly
through the white and delicate fingers, from
which all but the wedding ring had disap-
peared. Then wiping away the tears, she
would again apply herself to the task. She
did not know that all this time a pair of
bright little eyes from the low trundlebed
were fixed upon her face, or that the gentle
little one, who was lying awake there, was
wondering what could be the cause of man.
mas grief
AS the old town clock, which was near,
slowly tolled the hour Of twelve, the lady
rose and left the room. And little Alice
crept from the bed and followed her. She
walked the whole length of the large. un.
carpeted, unfinished, and desoIate-looking
hall, I'LL she reached the front window, which |
she threw open, and leaning out she looked
long and earnestly up and down the street,
tor the bright moon shining upon the snow
made 1t almost as light as day. Sometimes
foot-step would be heard approaching the
house. and the lady would draw in her head i
bat when it passed she would again lean out
aud look up and down the street. At length
she closed the window, and heaving a deep
siga she turned to go back to her room,
when for the first time she became aware Of
her little daughters presence.
Starting, she exclaimed, why, Alice,
darling what are you doing here 2
| saw you leave the room, mamma, and
came to see where you were going
But you should not do SO, love; you
will take dreadful cold;' and taking the
child up in her arms, and laying her own
thin cheek to hers, she carried her back and
laId her IN her little bed by the side Of her
httle sleeping brother, and resuming her seat
at tue table she again took up her pen.
Mamma, are you not going to bed? 1t
IS very late; I heard the clock strike twelve
1 cannot go yet darling must finish
this wiring before morning.
But you get up SO very early, mamma,
you will have no sleep at ALL Mamma,
where is fathers?
i n,tzkaess.ttr I cannot write = as''s'
When the paper was finished, the little
bright eyes were still open, and so the moth
er came and laid herself down beside her
little daughter on the low bed, and laid her
cheek 70 hers.
Mamma, tell me this is it true or have
Oily dreamed it, that we once lived in a
beautiful white house, ard had pretty things,
and you had people to work for you, aaC
did not have TO work so hard as you dc
now?
Yes darling that was So
: Is not this Christmas Eve, mamma? I?
FChrstmas dav has begun, sweet, ant
these little eyes should be closed in sleep.
Well, just tell me this, mamma; did no
we used 10 hang up our stockings on Christ
mas Eve, and did not you ard papa pu
beautiful presents in them?
Yes, DEAR
Dear mamma it is very different nov
What makes the difference?'
The tears of the mother falling on be
little oue's cheek were the only answer I
| this question. 1t was one which the ~molI
3 er could not answer 10 her child.
! Ah, what makes the difference in so man
I homes, once bright and cheerful?
1 What makes the difference in so mar
;, faces, once blooming with health and ha
piness
l. What makes the difference in SO maj
: hearts, once filled with peace and joy9
Alice was TOO young TO suspect the tru
Is out she saw that her question had caus
her mothers tears 10 flow afresh, and S
.. said no more.
Is When Alice awoke in the mornir
though it was scarcely light her mott
ii was already up and busy about the room
r Alice raised her head aud looked into
l large bed, and there she saw her father
= He was sleeping heavily, and SO he cont
" ued 10 sleep for long time.
20. Alice arose and dressed herself and
er little brother, as she was accustomed to
If, and then their mother gave them their s
Or. pie breakfast; and having left all thing
an a: order, and something ready for her hush
II II ia case he should wake and want it, she
rs rs on her hat and shawl, and taking the |
Jed die Of papers in her hand, she went out.
sa- After she had been gone for about
vas vas an hour, Alice heard rustling of the
,r1 ,,l1 clothes, and looking up she found that
S;s- father was awake.
ter Alice, where is your mother?
She has gone TO take papers home, p
Dale What papers?'
that 'Oh don't know, the-papers she v
and every night after we are all in bed
ex- Does she write every night, Alice?'
Re a Yes, papa, when ever she can get
,ars, writing TO do. She copies from one
the TO another and, last night l watched h
great while as she wrote. Oh. she
till long after twelve O'clock Papa
-, makes nanny press her hands over
tay snsy eyes, and what makes the tears trickle
Inns Iins through her fngersv
,uth, Do they so Alice'
apal Yes, papa. and last night when the
9 fell struck twelve, she went to the front w
not Of the long hall, and she looked u
! my down the street till we both got SO yer.
iI, ha. Who was she looking, for papa?
tes of NO answer.
Sc di- And [ asked her if we once live
beautiful home, and if we hung up our