Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-02-13

and Sm0otneU with ucT lHin AnSOAo NhC
soft, rich hair very tenderly, and looked
with mournful, yearning fondness into the
sweet face.
sit is very like the one the glass used
to show me, twenty years ago, in the old
chamber that looked out on the mulberry
trees" she said, half-dreamily, as though
her eyes, turned inward, were looking at
If now.
"The roses are growing round the east
window large, and thick, and red there
are no such roses in the woods of New /
England. Alice wish you would gather
some of them for me. Papa had the
vines brought from Italy"
Mamma mamma don't look at me |
SO. What are you saying 2" Alice's face
was blanched. with terror as she shook
her mothers arm.
Mrs. Wood recovered herself "Don't
be frightened, DEAR" she said; q am so
weak my mind wanders sometimes. But
/ it has come back to the present now. How
long is it since we sold the lounge p
Two weeks yesterday > the daughter
whispered these words.
Two weeks yesterday, and it was
only FIVE dollar at first? l see now, dear
child, why you weren't hungry this even
ing. The money has all gone p
Alice bowed her head in her hands,
and the tears streamed through her
fingers.
/ Her mother put her thin, cold arms
round the dropping neck. "DOn't cry,
my little girl" she said. go to the
upper drawer, and bring me the little yell
low box in one corner"
And Alice brought If, and leaned over
her mother while she removed the cover;
for though she had seen the face inside
very often, it was one that never grew
old to her.
L: looks just as remembered him."
she murmured, as her mother held up the
miniature in broad wave of the fire.
light.
Il was that of 4 middle-aged gentle
man and the manly face, with its dark
! hazel eyes, and the smile lurking about
| the corners of the large, generous mouth,
would have won your regard at once.
! j LOOK OF DeauIIuI, wUuIaErIy rr.rt1~-
ness outshone from Mrs. Woods pale
: face as she bent over the miniature. ave
t should never have been here if he had
T lived, Alice. o, never wife had a more
E tender husband, never child a more low
q ing father It was bright home that
: left fer his sake, and while he lived ]
e never regretted II. But it may be I was
hasty and self-willed. May be, if 1 had
waited longer, my tears and prayers would
: have sofened somewhat their proud
d hearts"
It 1t was the first time Mrs. Wood hat
: spoken thus of the past to her child.
h @Aice," she said, with an effort comm:
: back again to the present, tomorrow
d you must take this to the jewelers.. /
10 viii be very hard to part with it, for HI
sake; bat it is all we have, and you mus
ID not starve. They viii only want tn
+ setting. so you can still have the face"
,r Alice knew the struggle it was cost
ing her mother to part with the miniature
Y. She looked around the room, but ther
h was nothing more to spare from its furni
is ture. They had parted with everythin
is but the barest necessities.
h. "If could only get some work to do.
y sighed the poor girl.
No, it's for the best, Alice, 70
er couldn't get the situation in the factor,
to for your mother viii want you with he
ay but a little while longer"
IL '' A little while longer What do yo
of mean, mamma % It was strange AliC
sy should ask this question-strange thi
if while her mothers eye grew dim and h
gh step fainter each day, that the truth hs
he never flashed into the girls mind.
be But It had not, and so she turned b
We large shadowy eyes upon her moth
wonderingly, as she repeated, "What
he you mean, mamma 2"
Us You must have brave heart, 4
at daughter, when 1 tell you. 1t is hi;
ew time now, but have kept it back, d.
ng by day, hoping you would see it yor
self. Alice, in few days more, God v
er, call your mother to himself"
len For moment she did not comprehe
We this and when at last the fearful mea
ing crept home TO her heart and bra
ng, she did not shrek or faint, but o, WI
groan was that with which she bow
ing her white face upon her mothers knee
will Don't take 1t so hard, dear ehile
said the mother, leaning over her. 8
seems but q step out from the cold a
oke darkness 70 the warmth and light. a
sr4os~-r sEa--