St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-17

| a.
Aunt Miriam would be so very urrer
and press me so earnestly to spcn
the day with her and my cousins o.
Wednesday, if | were poor? VIII
doesn't she invite her husbands cous
ins, the Morriscs ? They are prettic
than | am. Anna is perfectly superl
In spite of her plain dress and Rot
ert is very tine-looking. Now, the,
,cant a good dinner; but she doesn'
ask them. No; she wants me ant
| won't 60"
Wont go -
No; | mean to eat my dinner her
and invite You to be my guest
And | accept the invitation. w
will cut all our fine relations, and ca
dinner alone. Oh, there is ono pcrso
| should like to invite, Gerald Hasting
Have you any objections, petite ~c~r?
" None
The girls brow, neck, and face wcr,
crimson for a moment then the blusl
faded again.
"As you say about the Morriscs, my
clerk w0nts Il good dinner. He's ;
fine fellow. Pity he's so poor. Bu
he'll make his way in the world
There's energy in his voice, resolution
IN his eye, iirmncss in his gait, manli
ness in every action. He's fin,
fellow. Little sister and Clarcnc,
bent on her searching glance
" don't you think so ?"
"Yes."
The answer came low and sweet.
i intend putting a hundred dolla,
bill in an cnvclop, and sending il
anonymously TO him at Christmas
Do you approve, Effic ?"
Yes. Oh, Claire. how much gooC
you do with your money at Christmas
and have been wasting 50 much il
buying presents for people who do not
really need anything give them
1t is such bitter weather, and SO many
people need comforts and buying
iewcIry for folks that would not speak
to me, if | were poor, seems SO fool
ish."
"Dnn't s-1,- ,,,hso.iLo to Doroa
societies, and coal and blanket com
mittecs, and all that sort of thing ?"
Yes but | want to do somcthin.
myself. 1t is very easy to put ones
name down for sum of money on q
paper, and pay it when it is called for
but | never know Of any good it does
The committee take care of that part
of it. want to do something myself
| want to give something to max,
Christmas merry to all the poor folks
in the city
You can't very well do that
"No. Oh, Claire Claire have
an idea !" And the fairy sprang up
from her chair, and began dancing
round her brother.
What is it, fairy ~ he asked smil
ing at her excitement.
Shan't tell only | want Who'll,
lot of my money, Claire"
Ny money ! How independent W,
are all at once. How much of YOU
money do you want p
"Oh, five or six hundred dollars
| don't know exactly how much"
Five hundred dollars? Suppose
won't let you have it ?"
But you will y said Eflie, coax
ingly; "you will won't you?"
The little clock on the mantcl chin
ed one i! hcO! Mrer!
Time you were i'll bed, petite scar,
said Clarence. Come, kiss me good
night and we will talk over this ex
pcnsivc scheme of yours Tomorrow
Eflic sprang into her brothers arms
received his goodnight kiss, and thel
trippcd into her room. Clarence, in
few moments, followed her example.
Ina small room, in house situate,
in the suburbs Of the city, there sat ;
young man at his desk writing. TIL,
room is poorly furnished and on'
candle throws light upon his paper
He is handsome, in the Italian style
dark complexion, large black eyes
rich jetty hair his figure is fine bu
there is Il gloom over all that doe
not improve his beauty. The brow i
cloudcd, the eyes heavy, the hal
pushed off the forehead as if its weigh
was oppressive Look over his should
cr, and read the letter as he writes.
You ask me-" he says, ;" to come t
your western country, and aid you IL
your schemes for gaining wealth.
month ago, should have rcfusc'
your offer. have Il clerks place il
the establishment Of one of on
wealthicst men, good salary, am
good prospects. Were it not for tn
debts which | am striving to pay
debts incurred by my poor fathc
which | wW pay-l should be, on m.
present salary, above want and, if
stay here, my income will increase,
know and shall do well. Iou as
why do not stay. will tell yor
l, poor and in debt, have been ma
enough to fall in love and not onl
that, but the object of my love is ricl
very rich the only sister of my EN-
ployer. Beautiful, piquant, generou
good, my idol is all a mans hear
could desire to fill it. BY the kin
hospitality of her brother, | am oftc1
thrown in her way; and each tim
strengthens my love. Oh, Eilie! Eflic
there, ! won't bore You with rhal
sodics Suffice it that love withou
a shadow of hope. She is alway
kind, gentle to me ; but, of course, i
her station, with her beauty an
wealth, she can command any mattel
and would despisc me as II forum
hunter were | to breathe my love. Al
| not poor? Oh, that we could chang
places !! Then could seek her lov,
and prove how true is my own. | ca
not stay here ; the restraint upon m
heart, feeling, and action is too grea
must leave the place where constar