The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-10-18

and how at last my father had brough,
me fair girl mother only little older
than myself, and that | was going over
the deep waters next week, and should
not be back for many years.
Now, May | cpnclu led, you
may call me Leouard--Mr. Leonard, if
you like--the sun is getting warm, and
we had better off to the strawberry field.
| guess | must 90 home with you, and
get piece of that cake
''will you; will you really, Mr..
Leonard = Her eyes fairly danced
with joy. 'Oh, I'm so glad now moth
er saved the last of her plum preserves!'
Well, Helen, for must hasten with
my story, we went to the strawberry
ground, which belonged to Mr.. Fleming
and the delight of my companion at
sight of the large, delicious fruit, cannot
easily be described Busy fingers soon
filled the kettle, and then | went home
with May. She took me to a little
brown cottage, hung round with honey
suckles, and her mother met us at the
door. She was pale, gentle looking
woman, with somewhat of Mays beauty
in her faded face, aud she was at frs,
surprised and disconcrrtcd at my com
ing But Mays story and my manne
som placed the good woman at her ease
so | entered the little parlor, and will
an air made up Of meditation and cuIi
osity, Tiger followed US What a de
licious dinner that was | can look
across the eight years, and sec the ole
fashioned china, aud the smoking straw
berry cake, and the last of the plum
preserves, and the little golden head
that kept 1ancing between Ms Brook :
aud myself Then followed walk ia
the gard n, while Mrs Brooks heard
with evident delight the praie | bcStow-
ed on her early cucumbars and radishcs
Shades of the aristocratic Flemjn4S -
But we were happy trio. VIII, the.
sun was wearing westward a. | sat IN thaI
LATHE, cool parlor, chatting with Mrs
Brooks, aud remembered for the first
time that Ada Fleming would reach
Maple Grove with its sitting. badeI
my kind hostess a hasty, though reluc-
:ant farewell, but when turned to May
the little one buried her face in her
hands, and sobbcd aloud. 1t was long
before her mother aud [ could quiet her,
tor the deep heart of the ardent child
had somehow warmed greatly toward
me. But | told her of bright pictures
and beautiful gifts | would b,ing her
from the far off land to which | was go
ing, aud at last she looked up and smil-
ed, but the quiv,'r that ran over her lips
mad, them look like two rose buds,
shak"n by the ri ght wind. She went
with me to the little gate
. | will pray the great Father every
night, she whispered, to take care OF
you, when you are on the deep waters,
aud bring you back safe to me-
- Thank you, darling And now,
May, | have been thinking it is your
birthday, and ought to give you a
present viii you promise me not to
look at it uuiil the stars come into the
sky Tomorrow night, but put it careful
ly away, and not show it to your mother
until then =
Yes, I'll promise certainly, Mr..
Leonard
Il had note in my pocket for a
hundred dollars. | enclosed this in an
envelope, and hastily scribbled few
words to Mrs Brooks, requesting her To
use it for. Mays schooling. | knew it
would sond her to the aceiemy for sew
eral years, and that after this, if the
child really had that thirst for knowledge
which her morning conversation indica-
ted, she would obtain it sooner or later.
feared, however, Mrs. Books would
either refuse the gift, or come to Maple
Grove to thank me Tor it, and as she
could do neither after had left, | wish
ed her to know nothing of the matter
until the next day.
- Now kiss me for good bye, May
The little arms stole round my neck,
a pair of warm, soft lips pressed my
forehead, aud SO left May Brooks
Are you not tired, Helen =
Leonard paused abruptly, and looked