The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-12-13

sohc, sut tueIc WcTC tlnco, anu tIlil
was one Of them, when she was very
beautiful. Those plaits of rich browt
hair gathered back from either check
the slulling mouth, with its twin dim
Piles, and those clear hazel eyes, file,
with the light of a heart in the freshness
Of its nineteenth sunaier, made Maggie
her mothers child, and so doubly .th,
parsons darling, for be was widower
We'll dpns, my child, your imagin.
alton has certainly run wild aud flower.
ed about donation time. How are yor
certain, my little Maggie, that you are
not counting too largely upon our good
friends purses and pantries y and the
light in that stern face was beautiful as
it bent over the girls.
mo, indeed, papa, People always
expect to be generous at donations =
Beside, l reneub Der our last one--don' I
| though 1t was nine years ago, and
l verify believe l did nothing for .
month afterwards but look at tho pres.
ents | received, and show them to nam
ma and the young girl caught be-
breath as though some word were trcmb
ling on her lip which it we're sin sr
shame to utter; asudden shadow st,ucl
off all the sparkling fro~ hsrface, anc
heavy tears gathered in bel. eyes. 20
papa, don't you remember y and ther
was sob behind every word Sh'
was there then, and-and-O, | mus
speak it, 70 was Ralph = She groanse
rather than spoke the name, bu. .yin.
the face in the hands that we're claspec
Oh her fathers knee, while her Who'll,
frame shook like frightened child's.
Parson Hitler sprung to bis feet as .
man does when be is suddenly stung.--
His face was very white, aud Its expires
sion of displeasurc almost fearful, as be
looked down on the trembling girl
Margaret, how dare you! have not
said that his name
i know it, father She bad gained
courage now and lifted her head, though
1t seemed as if stronger spirit than
hers would have quailed before that
stern rebuke. Il know it, father, and
O., forgive me, for | couldn't help it -
it has lain so long burning and pain
at my heart, that at last it would find
its way over my lips. o Ralph, my
brorher -
That cry! it would have melted a
heart Of stone to hear it. 1t was SO full
of deep, undyins tenderness, aud yet 81
much grief walled through it.
1t must have snote heavily upon the
pastors heart, for his face waxed paler
and tue muscles round his strong mouth
quivered little, but this time he die
not speak.
A moment later and pair Of soft,
cool fingers were twisted among The
minister's, and low voice was saying
plsadingly. You won: be angry will
me, will you papa' Now I'm all you
have to love, too. Aud | can't hep
thinking of him, for, o he is my brother
that played with under the shadow Of
the chestnut trees out yonder the
brother by whose side have walked 81
many times through the clover meadows
to school; the brother that l loved SO
dearly. ..
How proud we all were Of him, too,
don't you remember, papa : and how
generous aud noble hearted he was, tho
| know he was rash and wayward at
times.
How mamma used to love him, too,
almost better than she did me, believe,
because he had y ur own grey eyes, and
broad tioh forehead ! cas see her
,.,- watching ~. I'm when he sat down in
.he evening BY her So, ''li me nsr eyes
grew moist With pride and 'caa!r'sss'
and she would bend down ano KISS a's
cheek and say, Ralph, my boy, y'u
are your father, every inch Of you.
20 it does my heart so much good to
speak his name again, papa 1t will
ease YOURS, too Let US sit down and
talk about him and the old time, and
very gently she tried to draw him back
to the arm chair.
Many changes had passed over par
son Hlilsr's face while his child va.
spsski,g, and once 81 twice be he'd