St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-06-24

sell, ana sne hastily wrote and tossed
another daintily-edged note of invita-
tlon into the agate urn which stood on
the table, already headed with them.
It's very strange | haven't seen
any thing Of Clarssa for so long a
time, and we used to be so intimate
when we studied French together, and
she was such sweet, gentle girl, and
loved her so much. Nobody ever
says any thing about her now, and !
imagine she's quite abjured society
since her father died insolvent. |
always meant to hunt her up, but there
is something continually on hand to
keep me from doing half the good
things | intended to. I'll set out this
very day though, and deliver the invi-
tation myself, as sure as my names
Jerusha Mott"
She was out of town, mother, and
and the servant told me she would not
return till next week, SO did not get
my money"
The speaker was young and very
fragile-looking girl, with soft, brown
hair, and eyes beneath it of that
tender blue which reminds you of a
May morning, when the night has
been heavy with rains and the mist
has not vanished.
The room which she had just entered
was a large back chamber, very plain
ly furnished, though there were evil
dcnccs that the occupants had seen
better days, i'll the faded carpet and
the large mahogany dressing table in
one corner.
A meagcr fire was burning in
small cylinder stove, and beside it, cn-
vclopcd in shawl, sat Il lady. whose
pale face was story Of much pain,
and endurance, and sorrow and look
ing ON her thin checks, and her hollow
cough, you felt that this side the
river there were no more summers
for the patient, suffering invalid.
My poor child" murmurci the
faint voice of the mother, to think
you SHOULD have had that long walk
for nothing, and
And there is no more food in the
house, and we have no way of getting
any money. Oh, mother, what shall
we do !" murmurcd Clarissa Mead.
I'VE must trust in God, my child
The widow and the fatherless have
special claims upon him."
But its SO hard--it's so hard,
mother - sobbed Clarissa, and she
threw herself down at her mothers
feet, and the tears poured down her
face like rain for the girls brave
heart had tainted at last.
And while Clarissa Mead sat weep
ing at her mothers feet the tears Of
helplessness and despair, handsome
carriage drove up before the large old
yellow wood house where she resided,
and the bright face of young girl
was thrust out of the carriage window,
while her clear brown eyes wandered
curously over the old building.
Pm sure it can't be here, Tom
there must have been some mistake"
she said as the coachman sprang to
the curbstone.
This is the address any way,
ma'am," he answered, looking at the
number
"Well, then, you may as well in
quire, but know it can't be the right
one" and the lady nestled back on the
luxurious cushions.
Yes, ma'am, the lady resides here
said the driver, as he opened the car
riage door.
Jcrusha Mott descended with
strangely-bewildered expression of
countenance and made her way up the
dark narrow stairs, as she was d.
rected by the inmates Of the lower
part of the building, to the two
chambers occupied by Mrs. Mead and
her daughter.
"Clarissa, surely you have not for
cotton me ?"
Rusha Mott is it possible p
Ciarissa, on hearing the knock at the
front chamber door, had hastily DASH
ed some water over her face and pre-
sented herself in state of much
nervous agitation, which the sight of
her guest did not tend to allay.
Aren't you glad to see me? Mayn't
! come in, Clarissa Z" asked Jcrusha,
in her genuine impulsive way like no
body's else in the world.
"Oh, yes, come in; | am glad to see
you only you took me 50 much by
surprise.
The front chamber, which served as
parlor, bore the same tokens Of present
poverty and past gentility that the
adjoining room did. The carpet must
have been a rich one in its time, and
the few chairs and mantle ornaments
We're quite in keeping with it.
It's 50 long since I've seen you,
Clarissa,' said Jcrusha in her rapid,
cordial manner, that | just made up
my mind another day shouldn't so by
without my hunting you up. I've set
ont to do this thousand times, but
something always prevented. Where
have you kept yourself for this age
used to fancy my liking for you was
altogether selfish one, founded on
your assistance in the unpronounceable
and unindable sentences of our French
lessons but discover there was a
higher element in my affection after
all SO I've just come to tell You !
want very much to see you at my
party next New-Year's evening"
"Oh, Rusha !" Clarissa tried to
fashion some farther reply, but it as
useless her lips quivered, and bow,
ing down her face on her hands the
quick sobs broke out.
Jerusha had a very warm heart, and
the sight of her friends suffering and
the certainty Of her poverty went
straight to it. She drew her arm
round Clarissa's waist. "Tell me
what it is troubles you /; you know l
am your friend Clarissa."
CIarissa Mead had all the extreme