Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-12-01

was before her.
., mercy. Mary that light almos
kills my weak eyes, and the air is so brac
ing 1t half kills me, she drawled out rs,
| wish you would darken the room again
just as 1t was before"
Mary complied, ''but mother. air and
light are absolutely indispensable to ev-
cry one, and we will begin tomorrow by
gradually giving you a little of both, ther
by degrees you can bear more, she said
''for you know now you are going 10 ger
well very fast"
Just then Ollie, appeared with a small
silver tray on which were some nice toast
warm cup of tea, and a little piece of
steak, announcing at the same time, that
tea was ready for her below stairs. Kis-
sing her mother, and promising to see her
early on the morrow, she went down. and
found that Ollie had spread tempting
table indeed. On her own plale she
found piece of hot steak, Just enough
Tor one person, but seeing her father had
none, after cutting one or two mcuthfull
OF, for herself, she passed the rest to him
saying she had no appetite for it for sup
per, and he ate 1t with such relish, Mary
eaten
any meat for many day.
She chated so buisily all the time, her
father sald II was the most social meal he
had had for years, and really he quite
frightened up under It's influences. -
Through the evening she entertained him
constantly, finding he was very fond of
crlbbage, she played several games with
him, 50 that he actually laughed heartily
seTeal times.
The charm was working; the CLEAN of
sunshine which had entered that dull
house was already warming those three
old weaIy hearts, and hope proPhesied of
the dawn of a brighter day.
When Mary retired for the night, it
was long before she fell asleep, she was
so engrossed, thinking of matters ia her
home. She saw how it all was, and the
great struggle Ollie made to supply her
mother with the little delicacieS she re-
quired, and keep her father respectfully
genteel. Her head was full of plans for
the future, of a thousand ways IN which
she would replenish the family Golfers,
and so, with deep thanksgivlngs In her
heart for her safe return home. Sc final
ly sank Into profound and refreshing
slumber.
The next morning she held a long con-
sultatlon with Ollie, and found everything
just as she expected. Seeing two unoc-
cupIed rooms on the lower floor, round on
the side of the house where her father
never entered, she decided these mibgt
be let to some mi.liner or seamstress, and
at once put up paper in the window TO
ati hvr i,
door-bell on that side, the noise would
never reach her mothers room. AS the
house was so finely located the rooms
were taken at once, and Ollie and she re-
joiced together over the new addition TO
their straltened income.
Ti.an she went into big parIor, and
let IN the full, clear light of day, which
was such a stranger In that great house
She saw the drab colored furniture was
worn and faded, so she went and bought
some pretty patch, and set herself to work
intending as fast as she could to cover all
the chairs and sofas and criCkets with the
bright clean covering, ard then with some
snow white muslin curtains, and her pI-
ano open, the room would look cheerful
and habitable once more.
At first Mrs. Hill thought'the noise of
the piano down stairs would entirely shat
ter her feeble nerves, but by degrees the
music sOOthed her, and she was glad to
hear 1t, and she felt 1t varied the monot-
ony OF her tedious life. Then Mary took
her embroidery and sat in her mothers
room and by making 1t necessary for her
to have the light, her mother soon became
accustomed to it, and even to the air, as
Mary liked to feel it come sailing into the
room.
She was so agreeable, Mrs. Hill found
herself longing for the hours when her
daughter was by her side, and by degrees
Mary prevailed upon her 10 sit up, IN
creaslng the time every day, and then she
interested her IN her work and her books,
till Mrs. Hills sick room became quite
another place. Sometimes they had tea
up there, and Mr.. Hill came up, and II
was like the old times only it was by far
happier.
Mary gave music lessons, and taught
drawing, though her parents never sus-
pected It, and this added to the rent Of the
house, made their income ampIer than
il had been for a good while. Even old
Ollie fatted up by the change, and bles-
sed Miss Mary return thousand times
a day.
Finally Mary was so fortunate as TO pre-
vail upon her father to work, and to over
come his pride in filling humble posi-
He thoug ht because he could not have q
large salary, it was not we'll to take any,
but Mary convinced him that a small one
was better than none, and might lead to
a better, so once more he began to work
again. and his good spirits and health re-
turned.
One night, as Mary and her father was
taking their tea in the parlor, to their sur
prise the door opened and in walked Mrs.
Hill. She began to speak of the cheer
ful, comfortable aspect of the room, the
bright fire. The new patch, the beautiful
flower on the mantel; and Mary flying
around put her mother into the most com
Portable easy chair, and gave he nice
screen TO shade her eyes.
That was a Joyous evening IN the big
par,or, for her mother confessed to the
utter selfshness of her past life, the re-