Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-03

consciously, have been dancing and laughing
with companions of my own age. But ply
the needle did, and so did Dame Nodlekins;
and we two became, with the huge old work.
box between US, quite pair of loving friends;
and at least two evenings in every week 1
| went to sit with the lone woman. She would
have had me do so every evening; but, though
there were some of US at home, our parents
could not bear to spare any of US out of their
sight oftener than they deemed INDISPENSABLE
At length Harry Lloyd came to say good
bye; he was going abroad at his fathers
wish. My parents shook hands kindly with
him, and he said pleasant afectionate words
to all. But when he came to me-ah he
did not speak; but flung myself into my
dear mothers arms, and heard my father say:
81 God bless you :" and Harry was gone. So
| L went on darning stockings, and the Passy-
| mounts went on dancing, and Dame Nodie-
kins went on the even tenor of her way, until
| at length her summons came, and after sew
| ersl warnings, she shut up her work-box,
locked it, and put the key in a sealed packet
These preparations completed, Dame Nodle-
klns turned her face to the wall, and fell
asleep.
| My gentle mother had heart so tender
and benevolent, that although Dame NodIe-
kins and herself had had so few sympathies
In common, she shed tears on hearing the clos
ing scene was over; and / remember her
turning to my father with a sigh, and saying:
"Ah! she was a wonderfully industrious
| woman, and such help to me in the darn
ing-way. Poor old soul! L doubt not she
has left US all she had to leave; and every
little is windfall, with large family to
provide for.''
But my dear mother for once had miscalcu-
| lated, for Dame Nodlekins had not left US all
| she had to leave. To the surprise of the Pas
| symounts, no less than to the surprise Of our
| selves, Miss Deborahs testamentary disposi-
tion of her property was as follows TO Miss
Passymount, the cracked spinet was bequeath-
| ed, she being musical ESQ the will was word
cd to Miss Laura, the books were left, she
| being "literary;'' to Miss Arabella. the gim-
| cracks, chimney ornaments, and paper screens,
| and so on, she being clover of art 80 to
| Master Passymount, the only son of this rich
| aspiring family, Dame Nodlekins left the few
ounces of silver denominated her plate, Mas
ter John being "thrifty;" to Mrs. Passy-
mount, was bequeathed the household linen,
aud to Mr.. Passymount, the household furni-
ture, because " they exhibited so fine taste
| in adorning their own fine mansion ;" to Ada
Benwell-that was myself-the huge old work.
box, along with its contents, was left, "in TO-
ken of the high esteem and affection with
| which she was regarded" by the deceased. 1
was TO inherit the well-stored work box, only
on condition that it was to be daily used by
| me in preference to all others; "every ball
of darning cotton, as it diminishes shall bring
| its blessing" said Dame Nodlekins; - for Ada
Benwell is good girl, and has dsrned more
holes In the stockings of her little brothers
and sisters than any other girl Of her age
Therefore L particularly commend the Dalls
Of darning cotton to her notice; and partic-
| ularly recommend her to use them up as soon
| as she can. and she will meet with her reward
| in due season"
az My poor Ada, sobbed my mother rather
pettishly, cit is rather hard, L must confess,
only to have few balls Of darning-cotton, and
needles, and tapes; when the Passymounts
who want nothing, and will turn up their
| noses at such trumpery as Dame Nodlekins
could leave them, have all"
" But my DEAR" interposed my father smi-
ling, " if it is such trumpery, why cOvet it for
our Ada?"
at may bring one or two hundred pounds,
Joseph" replied my mother meekly for
there's furniture, and plate, and linen, and
books, you know. And of course we should
have sold everything of, which no doubt the
Passymounts will do; and only think of the
box 4"
"But, mamma" L ventured to remark,
we must not forget that poor Miss Deborah |
placed more value on this work-b than on /
anything else she possessed in the world And |
it is great proof of her affection for me-and
besides, how very useful it will be- shall /
love it, L am sure, quite as much as she did. /
And here is the key, all sealed up and direct
ed to me-"
well, well, my dear child, we must be /
content, of course. 1 am sure do not wish /
to be grasping or covetous, or to foster such /
dren, replied my mother with an air of re-
signatiOn; and L am thankful the poor old 4
lady found comfort in your cOmpanionship, |
Ada, my dear, which she evidently did and /
also that she does you justice, my dear child,
by naming you'so handsomely. But, dear
me how the Passymounts must laugh at their
legacies Only fancy Miss Passymount, with /
her brilliant harp and grand piano, turning to
Dame Nodlekin s spinet, by way of change, /
being musical or Miss Laura quitting her Il
silken- bound volumes, lettered in gold, for the
torn, dusty, dirty books on the two shelves in
the Danes dining room; and then that rid
died old linen for Mrs Passymount-why,
they haven't q darned duster in the house,
warrant" p"
"Never mind, my dear-never mind, said
my father I" let them laugh-it's better than
crying. Dame Nodlekins meant to be just
she was an honest, just-meaning woman-the
Passymounts and ourselves are the only rela-
tives che had, and she wished to leave US all
alike, if possible, quite irrelevant of our cir
cumstances. And, as Ada remarks, the work
box being left to her, proves the old lady
loved her the best.'
Then she might have shown it, murmured
my mother. "by giving the silver, instead of
darning cotton
But mild reprovine look from my father
made the speaker blush, as she quickly came
to his side, kissed him, and left the room.
From that day, we never discussed the sub
ject again of Dame Nodlekins's testamentary
arrangements; the work-box was in constant
requisiton at my side and the balls of darn
ing cotton rapidly diminished. The Passy-
mounts made much fun: amongst themselves
and their neighbors, about the grand legacies
which had fallen to their share. Nothing i
was removed from Dame Nodlekips's house,
but we'll attended sale cleared the premises
speedily. Mrs. PassymOunt laughingly de-
clared the proceeds had actually bought an
India shawl for one of the girls, and a gold
bracelet for another and Master PassymOunt
handed about a small gold snuff-box, /" his
share, be was wont to boast, " of the old
girls rubbish - L saw the brokers carrying
away the tables and chairs which 1 knew so
well, and which for so very many years had |
rested securely in Dame NOdlekins's peaceful
house. could not help signing sadly as one
al ffn- .l-I.- .N%l h d,