Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-12-26
sank into d profound sleen.

ty blonAine, about twenty years of age
busily employed with her needle. The
furniture of the room was poor, bu,
clean and tasteful !; the girls whole
dress would not have fetched many krcut.
zers but every article WAS as neat, and
fitted her as well, as if it had cost hun.
dreds. Her fair locks shaded face
frightened by pair of eyes of heavenly
blue. which bespoke a peaceful mind and
pure soul. The spirit of order, modes.
ty, and cleanliness reigned in every thing
around her. Her features were delicate.
like those of one nobly born her eyes
betrayed sleeplessness and anxiety, and
ever and anon deep sigh rose from the
maiden's breast. Suddenly, steps were
heard on the staircase. and her face light
ed up with JOY she listened. and doubt
seemed to overshadow her brow. Then
came knock at the door, which made
her tremblc so much that she almost
wanted the courage to say Come in.' -
A young man shabbily dressed, entered
the room, and made a low but awkward
bow.
4 Deg your pardon, MISS said he,
'does Herr Schmidt live here ?
Yes sir. What is your pleasure >
Are you his daughter Bertha"
Il am
Then it is you that seek. l come
from your father.
For Heavens sake where is he =
What has happened: Something must
have happcned-this is the first time he
has stayed away all night
The misfortune is not very great
'Oh, my poor, poor father, what shall
l hear
The young man seemed to observe
the visible marks of anxiety with great
interest then looking round the room,
he said, DO not be frightened, my dear
girl it is nothing of great Importance
Your father met, last night, an old ac-
quaintance. who invited him to tavern.
They had some wine together; but
when the landlord came for his bill,
your fathers friend had decampcd, and
left him to pay the score. He had not
sufficient money for this, and now the
man will not let him go until he is paid
and declares that unless he gets his mon
ey, he will send him to prison
To prison my father to prison !!
exclaimed the girl. Can YOU tell me
how much the bill comes to y
Three forins and half
%, God : sighed the girl. all have
does not amount to more than one flor
in /; but | will go at once to Madame
Berg, and beg of her to advance me the
money.
Who is Madame Berg :
The m;llincr for whom l work
'Bu. if Madame Berg does not ad-
vance the moncy-what them The
girl burst into tears.
1 am much afraid she will refuse. |
already owe her one tlorin, and she is
very hard
'For what purpose did you borrow
the money YOU owe her :?
The girl hesitated to reply.
You may trust me !: take the deep
est interest in your misfortunes, and |
sincerely wish l could assist you but
I am only poor clerk myself. Tell
me for what purpose did you borrow
that form {?
We'll my father is verv weak, and cc.
casionally requires strengthning'; l bor-
rowed that money to get quarter of a
fowl for him..
under these circumstances, I feal
Madame Berg will not give you any
more. Here is one forin. but that is
all possess. Have you any valuables
which we could raise some money y
Bertha considered for moment.
4 have nothing said she at length
but my poor mothers prayer book
On her death-bed, she entreated me not
to part with it !; there is nothing in the
world more sacred than her memory and
the promise gave her: but still, for my
fathers sake | will not hesitate. Will
a trembling hand, she took the bool
down from the shelf. %, sir said she
during many sleepless nigh, have
!, been accustomed to enter the secrc
thoughts of my heart on the blanl
leaves at the end of the book. | hop'
no one will ever know whose writin.
they are ; will you promised me that !:
Certainly. my dear Bertha. Do no
alarm yourself l will take care tha
your secrets shall not be profancd. Blu
now get ready, that we may go
Whilst she left the room to put ol
her bonnet and shawl, Karl = (fo
tho reader will have guessed that tn
Young man was no other than our hero
glanced over the writing of the girl in tn
book, and his eyes filed with tears o
emotion and delight as he read the out
pourings Of pure and pious heart; ant
when they had left the house together
and she was walking beside him with
dignity of which she seemed entirely un
conscious, he cast upon her looks of re
spect and admiration.
They first went to Madame Berg. VIII
did not give the advance required, bn
assured the young man that Bertha wa
an angel. Certainly this praise Mr.
r valued higher than the money h
had asked for. They pawned the bool
and the required sum was made up
Bertha was overjoyed.