The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-11-06

for her sake, 1t would give tnee strcnStl
for thy laborious tasks-the hope, tha
would not die, of better timcs-the faith
that grew all the brighter and purel
through trials--thc store Of sweet and
pious thoughts that brought thee such
pleasant comfort, and gavewings to many
o weary hour of earthly toll. .Hi
For years Alice had contrived to lay
by enough to pay the rent Of their little
cottage, ready against the period when !,
should become due; hut now, either from
the widows long illness, or the hardness
of the times, which ever presses in sea-
sous of national or commercial difficulty
most heavily upon those least able to
struggle against its additional weight, the
day came round and found her unprc-
lmred.,a It 80 happened that the old land.
lord was dead, and his successor, one OF
those stern men who without being actn.
ally hard.heartcd, have peculiar creed
of their own with regard to the poor,
which they are never weary OF repeating
holding poverty to be but as another
name for idlcness, or even crime but
vet even he was touched by her tears,
and meek, deprecating words; and con-
sentcd to give her ono weeks grace, in
the which she rcckoned to have finished
and got paid for the work she then had
in the house. And although the girl
knew that in order to effect this, she
must work day and night, she dared ask
no longer delay, and was even grateful to
him for granting her request.
ut will be q lesson to her not to be be-
hind hand in future thought her stern
compassion, when he found himself alone;
no doubt the girl has been idling of late,
or spending her money on that pale-col.
ore hood she wore (although, sooth to
say, nothing could have been more be-
coming to her delicate complcxion,) in.
stead of having it ready as usual.' And
yet, sleeping waking,her grateful thanks
haunted him strangely, almost winning
him to gcntlcr thoughts-wc say almost
for deep rooted predjudices such rs his,
were hard, very hard to overcome.
Alice returned home with light heart
well 7 said the widow, anyiously.
.All right, mother; with Gods bless
ing, we will yet keep the dear old cot
tagc in which you tell me you were
born H ...- u
And hope to de- ...
Not yct-not year dear MOTHER cx-
claimed the girl passionatcly. What
would become Of your poor Alice, If she
were to lose your
And yet am but burden on your
young life
'No-no-a blessing, rather
Alice was right; labor and toll only
ask an objcct-something to love, and
care, and work for, to make it cndurable,
and even sweet. And then, kissing her
mother, but saying not word Of all she
HAD to do, the girl took off the wcll-pre-
served hood aud cloak which had given
rise to such unjust ammadvcrsions, and
putting them carefully aside sat down in
a hopeful spirit to her wheel. The dark
cloud which had hung over her in the
morning seemed already breaking, and
she could even fancy the blue sky again
in the distance. e'
All that day she only moved fran her
work to prepare their simple meals, or
wait upon the helpless but not selfish in
valid, who, but for the eyes of watcllfil
love ever bent upon her, would have
strivcn painfully TO perform many = little
duty for herself, rather than tax those
willing hands, always so ready to labor
in her behalf. And when night came,
fearing to cause that dear mother need
less anxiety, Alice lay down quietly by
her side, watching until she had fallen
asleep; and then, rising noisclessly, re-
turned to her en- less tasks. And yet,
somehow the harder she worked, the
more it seemed to grow beneath her
weary fingers; the real truth Of the mat
ter was she had ovcrratcd her own pow
crs, and was unaware Of the much longer
time it would take for the completion OF
the labor than she had allowed herself
But It was too late to think Of all this
now; the trial must be made, and Heav-
en-. she doubted not, would give her
strength to 90 through with it. Oh, hap
py, thrice happy are they who have de-
served to possess this pure and child-like
faith, shedding its gentle light on the
l.l.o.. ,,onos nf lifa
Morning broke, at length over the dis
,ant hills; and Alice, Hinging open the
easement, felt refreshed by the cool breeze,
and gladdcncd by the hymning OF the
birds, already up and at their orisons; or
cxchangeda kind good morrow with the
peasants going forth to their early labor
No wonder that those rough untutored
men, gazing upward on her pale, calm
face, and listening to her gentle tones,
felt q sort Of supcrstitious reverence in
their hearts, as though there was abless.
ing in that kindly greeting which BODIED
ofgood. ...r..t r.
The widow noticed, with that quick
sightedness of affection which even the
very blind seem gifted with in the pres,
ence of those they love, that her child
looked, if possible, thought paler than
usual and for all the bright smile thai
met hers every time Alice, feeling con
scious. of her gaze, looked up from he'
/. work, marked how wcarily the heavy
eyelids dropped over the aching eyes
!, and yet she never dreamed of the dcccp.
ton which had been practised in love tt
soothc and allay her fond anxiety; anc
the girl was well content that 1t shoulc
: be SO. ..I .. ..... i......r ..
1t so happened that, about noon, a
J sat spinning in the cottage porch, th'
, new landlord passed that way on horse
/ back, and was struck with her sad ant
. wearied looks; for, Of late, she had indee,
to,led far beyond her strength, and thi
additional fatigue was almost too muci
for her. But still that stern man sa''
; within himself, ut is ever thus with tn
: .xl.... .-tu.,ll,