Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-01-02

himself little dyspeptic, enumerated
the articles he had eaten for supper
was astonished that it counted up so
enormously, sighed, thought he should
not live long, and cast backward glance
over the actions of his life.
Suddenly he paused in his walk across
the carpet, drew his chair before the fire,
and gazed tixedly upon it. The little
fire spiders were at work, and radiant
pictures glowed with glorious light,
and darkened with an ashen shade A
bright face was mingled therein-the
coquottish eyes were glancing, half play.
fully half tenderly into his. The ROSY
lips, with a touch Of scorn and dimples
OF sweetness upon them, seemed almost
ready to speak to him.
How many weary years since that
bright, graceful head had placed itself
close 10 his--since it had laid its wealth
of curls upon his bosom; and Mr.. Dor
ner sighed audibly. He thought of the
time when he had won a young wife.
beautiful and coquetish, with a cloak of
vanity covering deeply loving heart -
Frequently had he demonstrated with
her. upon her coquct'y. and often, not
without reason for size had been so ac.
customcd to admiration, that it was dali
ly food to her, and how could she give it
all up at once. for one so grave and so
much older.
One night, at fancy party, he mag
ined her more than oquettisb-artful
and untrue to him-and when he follow.
cd her into her cozy sitting-room, the
storm of his pent up wrath burst in
shower Of bitter words upon her sunny
head, Heretofore. she had m~cked him,
laughed at his counsel. and defended
herself so spiritedly, yet so lovingly
withal, that he had been vanquishcd
but on this nigh. he was more stern. and
she less laughing, even humble and ten
der; and when, in an unguarded mo-
ment he accused her of trifing with his
honor, she supplicated him to believe
her, trust in her. And when he disbe-
lieved her. all her woman's spirit was
aroused. and drawing the folds of her
satin cloak about her, with the shepherd
css' hat shading her pale face, she turn
ed and left him-dione Never sirce
that moment had he seen her !; twice had
he met some good, kind acts, two of her
graceful footpaths upon the path of time.
by which she could be traced to the
shore of eternity.
Suddenly the picture ch n{cl. and
poor Flip's thin figure replaced that Of
the lost love. He was vending his way
homeward. through dark and narrow
streets. When he stepped upon the
bridge, over the dark and rushing river,
he stopped. and. leaning over the para
pet, seemed to mediate upon the dis
tancc it might be to the river, below
So long did he remain thus, as though
transtixed. and started so suddenly with
a dizzy movement over the railing, that
Mr.. Dorner instinctively stretched out
his hand to drag him from his perlous
situation, in fear that he had meditated
suicide. But at the same moment poor
Flip said, with deep voiced feeling:
80 Thou, who sayest unto the trou-
blcd waters BE ShH,' calm Thou my
SOUL and strobe rcsolutely away.
Soon he reached the little haven called
his home-a poor port in which to cast
anchor but none the less dear 10 him
for all that.
Mr.. Dorner did not endeavor to enter
with Flip, but contented himself by
peeping in at the window, There was
a fire upon the hearth, composed of
miserable enough materials. heaven
knows. and small enough in compass
but it shone, and laughed, and danced
with so bright a glow in every coal, that
Mr.. Dorncr thought it the most cheer
full heart warming fire he had ever seen.
And Flips wife, too what delicate,
sweet looking creature she was He
had often seer a woman, called by that
name, come quietly into the counting
room, and he remembered a pale face in
a large bonnet. and dingy brown shawl
over a dark dress. But how strange
every thing looked tonight. She was
lady-ike and pale. i: is true. with tears
in her soft blue eyes, and often in her
voice, as she spoke to Flip, But thro'
both shonc CLEAN of sunshine, quite
cheering, like as though it were no eff
fort at all to crush back the wilful tears ;
and she was as happy as summer day,
with but two loaves and herring IN the
house. and the last Goals on the fire.
Poor Flip sat on a low stool before
the crate, his elbows on his knees, and
his face buried in his hands He only
answered his wife in monosyllables, Civ
ing Mr.. Dorner an opportunity to hear
the prattle of Flips little lock. Rosy
and fat we're they, bidding defiance to
want. from Master Tommy-who was
forbidden to enter the counting room,
having an intense desire to sit on one
of the high stools, and cross his legs IN
imitation of Mr.. Dorner but being so
round and plump, had so many falls
contusions, and cries therefrcm, as to
render his exile from the counting room
necessary to Mr.. Doner's peace OF mind
ITO Bobbie, still rounder and plumper'
not vet attempting to walk, but black
balling himself through the world by a
perpetual rotundity. into the ashes over
r. ooal ,pb under the chairs, tables,