Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-05-28

them if you expect Gods blessing to follow
your"
Laura's attention was for moment fixed
upon some object found on the centre table
the daguerreotype of a wealthy young man,
whom Laura had for sometime striven to
win. Charles Ingram was now in College,
and the sight Of his daguerreotype, and that
in the possession of Mary Emerson, fred
Laura up in an instant with jealousy against
poor Mary, and with sarcastic curl of the
lip. replied,
''Mary what preacher you'd make-you
ought to get license and turn preacher at
once" Then carelessly placing the daguer-
reotype upon the table, she took her leave and
fastened to her own home of luxury and
wealth, there to mediate upon what she had
SEEN, and form some plan for the prosecu-
ton of her ambitious undertaking, even
though it worked the ruin of her pure and
innocent rival-the good-the gentle Mary
Emerson.
Deeply bordering upon the light, thought
less and giddy manner of Laura, and in her
heart earnestly praying and fondly hoping
that e'er long Laura might see such all-im-
portant matters in different and better light,
Mary wendell her way to her mothers pre-
sence and resuming her seat, took up a
copy of the Life of Hester Ann Rogers and
for sometime read aloud to her mother-then,
laying aside the book, they both fell upon
their knees and sent up heartfelt petition
and thanksgiving to that ever benifcent
Providence who had so kindly provided for
the widow and orphan. They retired to
bed, as happy as two could be and sweetly
slept in conscious innocence
The morning sun was just above the hori-
zon, as Mary entered the workshop of Mr..
Langdon. The other girls were not yet ar
rived-and Mary seated herself by the dim
window, awaiting the arrival of Miss Austin,
in order to obtain her days work. Mr..
Langdon, rough, uncouth parsonage, a
matter fact man Of the world, who could
see nothing save through the medium of
dollars and cents, entered the room, and
calling to Mary, peremptorily informed her
ssthat he had no further need for her servi-
ces-he wanted no female preachers about
him-mo especially one, who could leave
her work before the accustomed hour for the
purpose of delivering lectures to her superb
ors;" and so suddenly left the room that
Mary had no opportunity to speak. When
she was thus left alone, she knew not what
to think, much less what to do. At this
moment Miss Austin entered and with tear
of grief on her cheek confirmed Mary that
what Mr. Langdon had said was really meant
in good faith, and revealed to her own mind
the fact that she was without employ, thrown
upon the world with her invalid mother
alone! helpless poor!!! Oh, whata world
of sorrow pain-misery agony in
these three little. words; how many have
realized their force while frowning world
of wealth and luxury scoff at the poor, for
lorn creature and cry out in stentorian voice
against them, because forsooth of their pow
erty; branding indeed their fair names with
shame-and their only crime pouerty!
Mary returned to her home with heavy
heart, weighed down with the reflection,
that while she was without employ and liza
bic herselft to suffer, yet there was another
her own mother must needs partake of her
privations. She almost feared to meet her
mother: How should she break to her this
not their first. The death of Mr.. Emerson
two years previous, had been sore trial,
and Mary had since supported herself and
mother by her own labor. Now she was
deprived of this, and at the very season of
the year when they most needed 1.-THE ap-
proach Of winter.
But Mary still had hope She should
find work no doubt in doing fine sewing,
&c., for the ladies of the village, and her
friend Laura-yes, Laura would aid her in
finding employ in the circle of her rich ac-
quaintances Thus hope sprang up in her
bosom and with light step she fastened to
her mothers apartment to inform her of this
new plan as she broke the sad news of her
dismissal from the employ of Mr.. Langdon.
+ But new trial awaited her. Since morn
ing her mother had been taken much worse.
her nerves so long depressed had yielded to
the gradual inroads of disease and now fail
ed to sustain her. She was even now suf-
fering greatly a high fever, bordering upon
delirium had set in, and as old Doct Coats
entered her room an hour later, deep gloom
overspread his countenance and caused an
involuntary shake of the head. His prac-
ticed eye told him that the time so long look
ed for had at length arrived, and the good
Mrs. Emerson must die. All that day and
the succeeding days, for more than week,
Mary spent by the bedside of her mother
A few poor neighbors called to see her, but
could render her no assistance-the death
king was present, awaiting the moment to
seize upon his prey his grasp was upon her
and soon she must yield to his iron will
On the ninth day of her sickness. Mrs. En-
erson seemed to revive. She called Mary
to her bedside and taking her hand afee-