Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-12-01
S tIHttfa TaIe.
THE CLEAN OF SUNSHINE.
u Y IDA GRAY.

sat In the fading sunlight of a lovely af-
ternoon, waiting and watching for the ar
rival of their eldest daughter who had
been absent for several years at board
Ing-school, far away IN the southern Sec
lion Of these great United States.
Her parents had sent her at the age of
fourteen, to The celebrated school of Mrs
G's. TO perfect herself in the useful bran
Ches and to g finish her education
During her absence, her father, Mr.
Hill, had failed, and many changes had
occurred In her beautiful home. Mary
had been ignorant of these, for her pa
rents had made great efforts TO send her
the necessary funds to defray her expen-
ses, as they looked TO her TO instruct the
younger children on her return, and they
thought 1t would be time enough for her
to understand their situation and circum-
stances, whenever she should ioin the
family circle again.
Mr.. HIS creditors in settling his af-
fairs, owing to his long honorable and
praiseworthy life, presented him with the
house he had 50 happily occupied, for
they saw that his failure had sprung from
the misfortunes of others, and not from
any carelessness of his own. They were
ready also to assist him in new mercan-
tile career, but this he declined, prefer
ring to take some humble post rather than
run the risk again of experiencing disap-
pointmet and loss.
His spacious house in Beacon Street
was large enough for two, therefore he
had II divided, and another entrance made
SO that the rent he obtained in this
way was quite a valuable addition to his
income. But his misfortunes had injured
his disposition, and he could not bear the
thought of being a clerk, SO from day to
day he idled about, deferring to seek any
regular employment.
They had one servant in the family,
old Ollie who had Clung to them in their
adversely, serving them as faithfully as in
their prosperity. Mrs. Hill confined 10
her chamber, thought little of how they
were supported from day to day. so that
but for Ollie, things would have gone i'll
enough. Many a small article of furni-
ture she distracted, unoticed, and sold to
supply their daily wants; furniture ele-
gan. and rich enough for the days of
wealth, but quite useless now. Old Ollie
with the keys of the house, and all the
indoor and outdoor arrangements under
her control, trembed somewhat at the
thought of Miss Mary's return home, lest
she should interfere with her supreme
sovereignty.
These boarding school gals" she
thought, q highty young things, one can't
expect much from Them" We shall see
if She was disappointed.
At half past five O'Clock, a carriage
drove rapidly to the door. " What no
one expecting me?" said a short little fig
ure, with a bright sunny face. "Mother!
father! Ollie where are yous and why
didn't father come to meet me at the de-
potz"
With this she flew up the stairs like
bird. and by this time old Ollie was there
to meet her.
&" La, miss, and is that youl" she said
standing up on all her dignity.
But IN a minute Mary's arms right
round her neck. and giving her good
hug and squeeze, she almost lifted her off,
her feet.
"Why, Ollie, how we'll you look, and
how young you've grown
" Shouldn't have imagined l could"
was the reply but OIlie's heart softened
towards her, and already she was more
than half willing Miss Mary should have
her way in everything.
Rushing past her, Mary bounded into
the paroc where she found her father
sitting gravely in the big parlor all
alone.
20, my dear father, IS this you2" she
asked . how | have longed to see you
once more, and now what beautiful tines
we shall have together again"
He shook his head sadly, but Mary ap
. " by-, -ba
IS mother? | expected to find her here"
She's IN her room, my dear, replied
her father, ''she Is such an invalid she
never leaves it, cannot bear any noise,
nor light, nor air, nor anything, and so
I'm always alone"
" But YOU wont be any more, now that
have come, dear papa, for | shall take
care of you, and see to You. Q, dear
often at boarding school when the other
/, girls had SO many letters from home,
many a time | have cried bitterly because
| had SO fsw. and there seemed so few to
love me, but you will love me now, ever,
ever 50 much, dear father, wont you! and
we will be so happy; hut must run up
and see mother. And Ollie, make a
good bright fire in the parlor, do, and
bring in the candles for tea" she coax
Ingiy, " tor tonight I'm sure you ought
TO celebrate my return.
Ollie went off to do the best she could,
, and Mary flew up to her mothers room,
and eagerly rushed up to the bed to see
her sick mother.
, Why, mother" she said, & why did
YOU not let me know you had been i'll all
this time, and so have me come home
and take care of you? 4 nice little nurse
| would have been but l think now you
will soon brighten, now you have your
own daughter for a physician. But how
close 1t Is here; do have some air -
And so she opened the shutters and the
window, and let in the beautiful light and
= air together
: As she did so, Mrs. Hill languidly
}. raised herself in bed, to look slyly at her
o daughter. 10 see what change the years
had r,-ror,rht ond aS the golden iuht of