The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-03-18
From the Nesc York Weekly DispatcA.
Bread upon the waters.
ny HELEN FOREST GRAVES.

It was gloomy room, in crowded ten
ement house, low, narrow, and unwhoesome;
and pale-faced child was its only inmate
She was confirmed invalid-you might trace
that in her hollow cheeks ard the strange un-
natural iuster of her large blue eyes-tbe fame
Of life was burning lcwon the altar Of her
childish being; yet here she was alone. The
old arm-chsir in which she rec clined, with one
or two pillows. and rude pine box, was the
sole support Of her tiny blne-veined feet
There was no carpet on the mouldering floor,
and in more than one place door and window
had yielded to the remorseless hand Of decay,
and presented most dilapidated aspect. Yet
all the scanty furniture was arranged as neatly
~ possible, and there was even some faint at
tempts at taste, as, in a bit OF gaily-covered
ehin.z spread over the child's foot-stool. and a
solitary flower placed in the window seat,
where the sunbeams could touch its emerald
leaves.
That flower; i. had been poor Katy's CON-
panion long. Us royal beauty and luxuriance
seemed strangely out Of place in the squalid,
fow-ceiled room; yet it grew and Aourished as
II in the velvet sod Of Bendemeer's stream
And little Katy layed back in her comfortless
chair, and looked at the splendid rose which
qnivered like ruby drop among the leaves,
and watched the sunlight writing its golden
message on the crimson folds Of the blossom
with vague feeling Of wonder.
II was 90 strange that the radient sun, whose
glory hay on marble pillars and stately dwell.
fngs far away, should come and peep into her
aonsly, lonsly room.
sls that you, Jamie9' said she softly, a the
door opened, and boy Of twelve came IN.
sYes. Do you feel any better, Katy9 Are
you tired Of being left slone3' And thu boy
looked tendsriy into her blue eyes and parted
the auburn hair from her eorshssd, with Z
loving touch.
Not very, but there is such weary aching
around my heart, and somstimes It seems all
On Are. How cool your hand feels, Jamiep'
Never mind, Katy, pve been saving wood,
md earned whole quarter, and am going "a
~ Il out in apples and oranges, to sell down
town. l'll make mint Of money. and then
won't we have good supper when methsz
comes home from workf I shouldn't wonder
IL We had bit Of cake and bunch Of grapes
over and above the medicine the dispensary
doctor ordsrsd for you.v 80
Katy smiled and shook her head, a. IL de-
prscating this piece Of extravagance.
aYss. We win, Katy, resumed her BROTHER,
"taint often we taste anything but Try bread
and cheese, and haven't forgotten this is your
birthday, sis-you are ten years old to-day
Besides you need semething to Put shade Of
color into thess ehesks; the doctor said You
must have something to tempt your appetite. !,
He bent down to kiss the marble eorshesd
% hs spoke 's'-
sHew lovely that ross-is, to b. susel H's
almost % good % company TO You, Katy isas
its Are you willing should leavs you alone
Z iittls while desr?s .
sYss, Jausis, don't mind It much,' she an.
swsrsd, with = deep, weary Sigh, sbut be bach
~ soon ~ possible, plsasss
And her wistful, hollow syss watched him
from the RON With that ssfusst, startling Iool
that We only find bsnesth the very ,hadow d
Assth: