Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-10-12

anu look lor IL ana Wlplng away the tears
that gathered in her eyes, she began to re6x
her wet bonnet Don't be vexed, Robert !:
I'm sure | shall find them. Oh, don't give
way, know we shall be better yet Cheer
up, Robert dear, and don't despair
Better yet = replied the husband with a
bitter smile, that impaired deeper ghastIiness
to his wasted features. Yes, in heaven =
he added solemnly-' the poor mans only
comfort. Oh heaven should be a lovely
place, Mary, to give US hearts to crawl through
this hungry world to reach II Take off your
wet things, love, you shall not go out again
to-day. Take them off, Mary he continued,
with gentle authority, as she shook out the
little shawl before throwing it over her neck.
Not again to-day. There's bread enough
for one meal more sit down and make fire
and dry yourself Young Knowles has given
us a faggot-God bless him for it up there
IN the chimney corner. Come, come, don't
take on so. You couldn't help it, Mary dear,
don't cry he said soothingly, as his wife,
obeying his wish, replaced her shawl and bon
net on the table, and sitting down on low
chair by the bed, wept bitterly at her mis-
fortune, for she had calculated on buying a
little tea to cheer and comfort her sick hus-
band for with woman's true devotedness of
heart she thought only of him, and what
might minister to his relief and benefit.
How did it happen! But never mind
Mary see, dear, have finished them at last.
Though God knows they are of no use to US,
for nobody here will buy them; but am sure
the wish had to finish them, ,and your conf
dence, has kept me alive all the year. How
do you like it now1 That is the Christian
king, and with sad voice, and momentary
CLEANS of pleasure in his hollow eye, the me-
chanic placed the last of a set of chessmen,
that he had designed and executed himself, in
her thin hand making the two armies consist
of Christian and Saracen host, each piece
being a perfect figure armed in respective
costume, and executed with the utmost truth
and delicacy.
A turner and wood-carver by trade, Robert
Western had long meditated completing a
series of chessmen that should supersede the
uninteresting figures in general use, and give
martial air to purely military game. But
while in health and constant employment, he
had never found an opportunity Of doing more
than selecting choice pieces of wood and max
ing drawings Of the several men; for Western
possessed natural genius for the pencil, and
could depict the human form in all its attitudes
with ease and grace. But the failure of his
master in the Cockney town, and the loss OF
all Westerns savings, threw him at once into
poverty and distress and after in vain seeking
work around the coulltry, he at length settled
in the village of Brookford, where for while
he continued to earn scanty subsistence by
working at the coarser branches Of his trade.
But at length this failed, and disease, long
threatened, at last settled on his frame and
shut him out from all exertion. 1t was then,
supported on his bed of sickness, that he be-
guiled the weary hours of pain and privation
in the performance of his cherished object.
One hope alone animated him through the
weary twelve months of his silent toil-that
the chessmen would sell when he was dead
and be little legacy for his friendless wife
and child.
The task though long, had been to the poor
workman ore full of interest, and he began tc
lova tho IitIo ,rorr;ore &c o,ob rro,r into eh, M
and martial bearing under his cunning finger,
with feeling little less than ilial. And now
when he placed the last completed piece in his
wife's cold hand, tear of regretful sadness
glistened in his eye, as the sweet solace of SO
many weary hours was brought TO a perfect
end
Oh, how very beautiful it is, Robert ex-
claimed his wife, with real delight, contempla-
ting the mail-clad king, brushing tear from
her long eyelashes. 1t is more beautiful than
all the rest Shall wrap it up and put il by
Robert!'
When yon have lit the fire and dried your
gown, you shall put them all out on the table
foolish, but have grown so fond Of them, and
| should like 10 see them all together for the
last time, for know that shall never look al
them again. Don't cry, Mary dear, don't cry
or you will stain it with your tears. Light the
fire, love, and warm yourself Oh, God heIE
u.s.
He will, He WILL Robert, if you will moi
despair = calculated his affectionae wife, as
she carefully set down the carved figure, and
wiping her eyes, addressed herself to chop the
wood and light the fire from the fuel so oppor-
timely and charitabIy given them by neigh
Dor almost as poor and comfortless as them,
selves. Having completed her task, and given
more cheerful aspect to the dreary chamber
by the ruddy fame from the ignited wood, she
spread her wet garments before the blaze tC
dry, and seated in corner of the chimney, re-
counted to her husband the result of her erranc
TO the Justice, and narrated as briefly as pos
sible, the accident that had deprived her of the
proceeds Of her journey, for she had no doub
she lost the paper and money when she fell
and ended by telling him of the wish expressed
by Mrs. Chesterfield to see her in the morning
And so, Robert she went on, I'll take the
chessmen and show them to her. Perhaps she
m b,v +bo,r ,hourh Gtnd tnor,s 7 ,,,o..II