The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-12-11

gold bracelet of rich and peculiar workmanship,
lettered with the simple name Of "Coralie.'-
1t appeared to have been accidently dropped
doubtless by the person who left the bundle,
and this Circumstance inclined the good deople
TO suppose the foundliDg. a child of shame, de-
serted by a wealthy, and unprincipled mother.
This conjecture, however with the forethought
of kind hearts, they had confined to their own
breasts. and the neighbors, who believed the
bracelet to have accompanied the child in the
bundle, saw in it an earnest of future reclama-
tion and good fortune. The wonder loving
gossips of the village doubted not that through
its instrumentality, the founding would one
day be restored to her relatives, and these rela-
tives they had decided, were some eXiled scions
of foreign noblity,--French, Spanish, or Italian
nothing less.
Time had developed the little wailing, half
frozen stranger into beautiful, intelligent, and
high-mnded girl, yet, as the gossips reluctantly
! confessed, without the frivolous briliancy of
the French woman, or the tendency to " dolce
far mentc,' and melancholy Madness" matur-
| ed under more Southern suns. She was univer-
sally beloved, and by none so dearly, as those
who, under the pressure of poverty, and the
necessity of constant toll, had cared for her for
lorn childhood, with all parental tenderness
Many children had since been born to them
but they knew no dearer tie than the one which
bound them to the gentle founding.
Mrs. Willard, having vainy tried her hand
upon the bracelet, noticed the sad counteusnce
of her adopted child, and fastened to change
/ the subject Of her remarks.
9" Pa has concluded not to go to Roxbury with
us Tomorrow, Cora think we can manage the
children on the cars baby and all -
Cora's eyes expressed the utmost astonish-
ment. For weeks. in the simple household Of
the Willards, the Thanksgiving party had been
the theme df daily thought and speech, and the
idea Of any one being willingly absent from it
was to her incomprehensible
Father not going to grandpas to Thanks.
! givingw she cried. "What can be the reason7''
Now, child, don't you go to taking on
about it! The fact is feel a little too poor to
CO."
"And his old hat, Cora Would you believe
Pas getting proud in his old age p added Mrs.
| Willard, trying to force laugh.
Cora bethought herself of very good fur
cap which the schoolmaster had left there last
winter, saying that if he did not call for il
Jimmy might have it, But "it was arge
enough for Father" and to prove this, she pro-
duced the cap from the cupboard in her chamber
where she had taken care that no mo oth nor Gns;
should enter.
Now will you go, Father?"
"No, child-rve only been able TO save
money enough for mother, and you children. aud
don't like to borrow. Let it be as say this
year, and next may bring easier times"
Cora looked thoughtfully in the fire, and then
her face suddenly Frightening, she exclaimed
" Father, I'll stay at home you know I'm No
body's grandchild' and they won't miss nat
much All of you go, and let me keep hous,
: alone one day"
Nobodys grandchild!" interrupted Mrs
Willard AS If mother wouldn't miss you
bright face as much as any one of the children !!
In spite OF all the affectionate opposition. Cor
persisted in her determination, until all yielde,
the point except little Mary Jane. whom he
mother finally consoed by the promise tha
e Grandma would send Cora some of the turke
a and mince pie.
= Thanksgiving morning dawned, cold but beau
tifully clear, and the eight o'clock train whic
: passed near their door, found the happy famil
7 awaiting their passage TO Roxbury, distant on
d hours ride. Cora saw them depart with grea
d deal of outward smiling, and some inward sad
o ness, which she strove to forget in the activ
!. iii 1ischarUa Of tho I,,,;o,
upon her,
y First, she washed the breakfast dishes, tidie
l. the house. and brought in wood sufficient for II
i day; then yielding to very pardonable in
l. pulse, she took the new crimson merino fro
d its nail, and dressing herself with more than o
t dinary care, she stood before the glass and col
'i temPlated the pretty semblance therein wit
much innocent satisfaction. Seldom indec
E. does the costly mirror OF the fashionable bell
lg resplendent in silks and jewelry, reflect so swe
le and winsome picture as did the little eight |
., ten glass in the kitchen of the carpenter al
- house builder that morning. The snowy coll
al ot her own working, showed to advantage h
It finely moulded throat and the delicate arm e
- crcled by its costly bracelet might have serv,
IS, as sculptor's model, As for her face, shad,
w by its long glossy curls, and radiant then wi
st an innocent pride, it was very beautiful, al
rs, she saw that it was so, and rejoiced at it, pc
it haps for the first time in her life.
1t. But as she stood there, strange, and sudd
" heaviness fell upon her spirits; feeling of Ion
n illness and isolation, as if in the midst of To-
and widering journey, all her travelling COZ
Ter panions had suddenly disappeared. The myste
n of her birth oppressed her as it had never do
NJ before.
er "lf this could speak, she sighed, turning t
th bracelet upon her arm, what might it not ma
mt known? Who was my mother, and why wa