Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-06-25
mother, and of a pious submission to

neT IOC.
The conversation was not continued,
but each piled her needle with incess-
ant assiduity, as if life depended upon
their industry; for, although it was a
scanty pittance which they thus earned,
it was all they had to save them from
the pangs of hunger, and to provide for
their heads an humble shelter from the
wild blasts of winter which ragged with
A half hour Of profound silence fol-
lowed their cololoquy unbroken save by
an occasional sigh from Kate, when a
light knock upon the door aroused them
from the painful revery into which they
had fallen.
"It is AllanI' cried Kate in tone
of pleasure, as bright and happy smile
thro' the clouds of sunshine overshad-
owed her countenance. "How kind and
considerate of him to visit us this dark,
tempostuous night He knew that,we
would be lonely, and he has come to en-
liven us with his pleasant smiles and
hopeful words
"Yes," said Mrs. Fletcher, as she
arose to throw open the door and well
come the visitor, sit is Allan, our best,
our only earthly friend. Let us thank
God that there is one who did not de-
sert us with prosperity.
They were not mistaken; young and
handsome fellow, of perhaps, three and
twenty years, stepped over the thresh-
old as Mrs. Fletcher opened the door.
A glad, happy smile was on his eye, as,
shaking the snow fakes from the mas
ses of his brown hair, he greeted the
mother and daughter in one breath.
"You scarcely thought to see me this
evening, did you, Kate? ?" he continued,
gaily, as he drew up his chair before the
fire without further ceremony. "But,
bless mel" he added, ere the young
girl, whose check had suddenly assumed
roseate hue, had time to reply-''how
we'll you are looking And how eosey
and comfortable is this glowing CRATE,
with the home like stand stationed in
front of it, and the capacious work-bas-
kct under meath. 1t is the perfect re-
alization of my beau ideal of cottage
home"
A spasm of pain crossed the delicate
features of the girl, but was unobserved
by the guest, who IN a'tone-o voice SUBJ
dued to . gentle reTnonstrance went on,
"But really, Kate, you are wearing
out your constitution by this ceaseless
application to work. And you, too,
Mrs. Fletcher; indeed you are killing
yourselves, and yet you do not seem to
realize it.
1--WE do realize it, Allan" returned
the widow, in tones of fearful sorrow;
"but we have no choice Work, death,
or the almshouse, are the only alterna-
tives offered US; and you know us too
well to imagine for one moment that we
would resort to the latter, so long as we
have the power to hold the needle. We
have pride, Allan; and I daily thank
God that he has so instilled it into our
very nature"
s'But is it necessary, Mrs. Fletcher,
that you should be so assiduous in your
devotion to labor2 Indeed, the remu-
neration which you receive, must be We
ry niggardly, or else," he added, with a
light, care-free laugh, ssyou are growing
quite extravagant. Pray, which is it p
Aud thus the moments few on and
become numbered by hours. Charmed
in happy forgetfulness of their poverty,
trials and privations, by the genial good
humor, the gladsome flow of spirits, and
the animated, inspiring conversation of
Allan Greene, the widow and her daugh-
ter soon threw aside their employment,
and with folded arms and cheerful vol
ces, if not with contented hearts, drew
around the ireside.
Two or three hours flew rapidly by in
this manner, and then Mrs: Fletcher,
pleading fatigue, arose and retired from
the room, leaving the young couple to
entertain each other as best they could.
She had an idea, however, that they
would not long be at loss for topic
of conversation; for she had read in the
ardent gaze, the tender modulated voice
of Allan. and in the flushed cheek; the
palpitating bosom, and tremulous tones
of Kate, a secret but half revealed to;
themselves. She had long regarded Al
Ian with the affection due a son-and
well was he worthy of that emotion; for
he had clung to their fortunes through
veal and woe through prosperity and ad
yersity He was only poor and humble
mechanic, it was true, but the riches of
COuiu nOG ldhC ClOSCI
ed them to the hearts which knew him
best, so great was the influence of his
upright spirit, his just and generous
soul, and his faithful, afeetionate ma
ture. r-..-.- .
For few moments after Mrs. Flet-
cher left the room, the same gay strain
of pleasantly was continued by young
Greene, but soon deep oppressive ST.
lence fell upon them. He arose, look
ed forth into the gloom of night, and
re-seated himself with sigh. There
was evidently something upon his mind
which oppressed it, and of which he
would gladly be relieved. ..-
As for Kate, she gradually sank into
a deep revery, which, to judge from the
expression of her countenanee, was far
from pleasant; and so a feeling of re-
straint fell upon the two who but lit
tie time before, had been SO replete with
life and animation.
AKate, said the young man, at length,
as he drew his chair still closer to her
~ have something of great Importance
to say to you, and perhaps it had better
be said frankly and at once. Kate ! I