Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-06-19

looking somewhere on the hitherside
Of fifty, and she seemed to realize full
ly ones ideal of an old lady, set like
q picture in tho green framework Of
tho vine around her front door. The
snowy cap was pinned closely as .
Quaker's under her slightly wrinkled
chin, and the black silk kerchieffold
cd neatly over her calico dress. There
was something, too, in her mild, mo-
thcrly face, that would have made a
poor, friendless, homeless boy, Ike
Arthur, warm towards it. Those lips
would never drop anything but kind
ness for any human being.
"Why, sakcs alive who have yor,
got with your" ejaculatsd the old la
dy, as her wondering eyes fell on Ar
thur. ,. sa.l
cts Arthur Hale, grandma, who
has mt got any body 10 take care Of
him, for his mother died long, long
time ago, and he's run away from
dreadful man, who used 10 beat him
every day, and just for nothing at
ell. :" ~,
The little girls epitome of Arthur's
sad story was delivered in tone
which greatly heightened It's effect.
"Dear me dear mo !" repeated the
old lady, and there was suspicious
twinkling Of the eyes under white
cap come right into the house, both
Of you. What a dreadful plight you
are in, poor child; and no mother to
take care you,' she continued, survey
ing the boy with mingled pity and
pain--for her New England love Of
neatness was greatly shocked st his
filthy garments. "Lily, takethe poor
child into the shed, and show him
where TO wash his face, as clean as
soap and water can make it, while l
get him something 10 eat" fN'
The beams Of the dying june day
looked into the kitchen of that little
vine-wrapped cottage, and saw the
two children as they sat before Mrs.
Days bountifully spread table, while
the good woman stood surveying
them, her face radiant with satisfac-
ton. Arthur, in whose personelle an
entire metamorphosis had been cffec-
ted by the duly chronicled soap and
water, and a large check apron, which
kindly concealed all tho deficiencies
beneath il, looked almost beautiful,
with those bright, large eyes, soft and
clear as summer stars, as they travel
lod from the old lady's tranquil fea-
lures to those Of her beautiful grand
child. is..
"And now, children, you may go
out and play till the stars come over
the hills; tor, Of course, Arthur won't
think Of leaving us tonight; and I'll
SEQ IL can't muster up some better
clothes for him. & 8 q - -
The night stars had long hung like
golden periods over the, green valley
Of the Naugatuck, and the river, its
deep heart quiet as an infants, lay
sleeping in the solemn embrace of the
great hills, while the lamp-light shonc
softly out of Mrs. Days little cottage
window.
1t was long past the good woman s
hour for retiring, buther fingers indi-
Gated no WEAKNESS, as she sat before
her little round table, busily plying
her needle, while a variety OF half
worn articles Of clothing were scat
tered about her.
"That old coat Of poor William IS
viii answer nicely, If | can manage
to take up the seams a little; and that
straw hat s as good as new" mur-
INJURED the old lady to herself. Those
pants, too, they want a new hem, and
It would take a tailor to say they was
Mt boughtyesterday." And between
the golden night stars. the angels
looked down and saw the old woman
at her labor of love. e alrf
1t was morning again, and the val
ley was "glad at his presence" and
the south wind gathered up the grass
of the meadows into long, green brea-
kers, and then tore them playfully a.
part.
Arthur Hale and Lilias Day were
walking slowly toward an angle in
the road, some halfmile from the
home Of the latter. A silence very
like that of sadness had como over the
two children, as they drew near
the place where their paths must di-
verge. It was at last broken by Ar
thur.
at have been thinking, Lily, OF
what Jack Thomas would say If he
could see me in these beautiful new
clothes / guess he d think l was
some" hlr3 stfah4 41 lt.i' fHA
% / should mt know you, Arty, you
look so different from what you did
yesterday-oh, dear here wo are at
the corner, where grandma said /
must stop. We sha MT see each other
any more" .ts isis aa
eyes, we shall, too" said the boy,
with an earnestness that seemed al
most prophetic; "I shall come back
to you some day, Lily Day, as true
as live--it may be long time, but
/ shall come back. - 'f's ~
Well, Arty, / believe you, said the
little girl, her blue eyes catching some
Of the light in her companions.-
/" Hero q my bead purse, and II s got
three dollars grandma put in it. She
said I might give II to you, Arty.-
You'll keep 1t TO remember me by,
won't your ,...-,,.
He took IL and held it up so that
the beads sparkled brightly in the
sunshine. "Yes, Lily" he said, "and
when / como back shall bring you
something, too. I'll keep the purse
till then"
"well, good byo, Arty,"--her eyes
were growing dim with tears---'dont
forget, now, what grandma said about
not walking farther than Derby, and
then taking the stage to New-Ha'
vcn." a,i' 3" i''e '''