Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-10
CHAP. Y
Lisette aud her Father.

Lafefia, DC.
CHAP. III.
Lisette aud her Father.
II IL seven in the evening, or thcroabouts.
Martin is in the great armchair, underneath
the ancient spiders cob-wcb. u has boen
night in the den since four o'clock. The fire
on tho hearth has long since ceased TO fiame,
and. like himself gives only the slightest sign
of vitality. Ha has seen it gradually dwindie
away, without stirring TO rerovate It, He has
also felt the darkness thicken around him, until
il seemed to settle on him like q heavy weight
pressing him on all sides; yet be sat IN that
great armchair perfectly still. For the last
three hours he has been in n blank reverle--a
state of stnpor, in fact He holds, tightly
yrasped in one hand, small tin box, contain
ing sundry pieces Of a dark substance iesem-
bling cayendish tobac,o 1t is cut up into
souares, smells bitter, and is clammy to the
touch One Of these he conveyed into his
mouth rather more than three hours ago. He
locked the door Of tho den first, and then set
tied himself in the great chair, as if for doze.
The stupor soon came on, and he Is still under
its influence. At length he heaves deep
sigh, and, after conyulsve stert or two, he
stands up and stretches himself, signing again
His eyes must be keen % q cats; for he goes
straight into the inner den, avoiding the obsta-
Giles in his way, and takes down from fhelf o
candle, which he lights with d match. He sets
the candle on the table indulging In another
stretch, when gentle knock ia heard at the
door Who can it be? Visiters 30 late He
is half inclined to put out the light, and not to
answer; but the knock is repeated, still gently,
and a young voice outside Gays:
Papa, won't you let me in Z"
One bound across the apartment, and in an
other moment the speaker is EMBODIED in his
arms, in a close embrace
What brings thee here tonight my dar-
ling y Asks Martin.
How differently he speaks to her! His tones
are not the same as when he was heard IN the
morning, addressing Gactano How gentle his
manner, too, and how tenderIy no assists her
over the obstructiops in her way to the fire.
~ have stolen an hour to pass with you,
papa says the musical voice.
She acts down her basket, and, CHANGING
around, smiles somewhat sadly, and shakes her
head reproachingly ut her father.
q No fire, papa! And the apartment all lit
tered, a. usual, SEQ You arc ineorrigible,
indeed indeed
She has great deal to tell him, ~ she bn-
sses herself about the place. In D tricc, the
is re-arranged on the dog irons, and one or two
dry pieces Of wood arc added from q basket
full Of chunks in tho corner. A very little
coaxing, and with the aid Of the old bellows
the fire is soon re- kindled, and begins to oraokle
away merrily The next operation is to clear
a small space on the table, Martin assisting
ciumsiy but with great amount of good
will. There are heaps of dust to remove, and
some skill is requisite in arranging the papers
and books 40 that they shall not topple down
again; in which department Martin particn
larry distinguishes himself A clean napkin
from her basket IL spread out over tho space
they have cleared. and Martin fetches two
pIates--ono Clipped, and neither clean-with a
knife and q fork. from the inner closet. The
owner or the musical voice. which has all this
time been filing the den with its melody, soon
restores them to q condition fit for immediate
service, placing them ON the table when ready
"You have not such thing NJ dish, papa,
have youfn
Martin laughs. A dish Could she expect
him to baye one. No! He has not such u
thing
aThcn we must contrive with a sheet Of pa
peri she says.
He has got that He takes it out Of
drawer, and il liz doubled and placed on folio
volume which she selects from heap Of others;
the first that comes to her hand.
Is not it a beautiful pate, dear papa 7" sho
says. And it il quite new. Feel it IL is not
cold yctaD
2No? Really it is not How nice! And
how savory il smellsw And Martin draws
back sep or two TO look at il, and then
drass closer to it. to rcgale his nostrils with its
odor. Cheese too, and frnit?"
I" think I've come to the bottom ex ,laims
the musical voice, with an arch look; for ste IL
stooping and has her hand in the basket still
Fibbor," calculates Martin.
IL IL bottle Of Min oriinaire. Has he no
glasses! Yes, one That viii do They can
drink together But where is the waterloo
csntcrl She SUPPOSE, though, it il Of no nee
asking hm. He conftsscs that 10 true. There
il pitcher in the closet Won't that do Ii
must she imagines; 40 no fetches il, and sets
il down by his side, placing the glass on the
table
Tho repast is spread when another Dissolve
~ Is made. They have only ono knife and
fork Martin and bis daughter laugh at this,
but the defcicncyis supplied by him presently.
He takes out a large claspknife from his pock-
e., and opens IL That will do very well. She
asks for il to cnt open tho pdts, because it is
stronger and sharper than the other. She
helps him n slice, and places another on her
own plate, though more by way of keeping hin,
n, countenancr, than because she IL hungry
VIII she not have tho fork? No; she will
manage without. Bat what ia the matter, al
at once Sho has carried morse 20 her
mouth, whom she utters an exclamation Of dis
gust
!" Eth. gracious me! How horribly bitter it
isl Whatsoever have you been cutting with il,
papa2v
shadow poses over Martins countepance
tie looks confused, and hesitates to reply. He
thinkscf the tin box in his pocket, and stretches
out his hand Tor the knife.
@G've il me, Lisetsc. will usc il MYSELF
he says, cvasiveiy.
: Let me clean il first papa; yon can't uso it
~ IL isv She pcurs water upon il, thrusts It
into che ashcs, and tricr 10 rub il bright with
. piece of paper
How il sticks, whatever i ia" she says
There, papa, thafs the best can do with Il
y is like you incprrigbIc," rho adds, laugh
i00Iv &f