Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-07-24
"oUR ooUNTRX-Aways Right Wrong Country"



female belonging 10 the toy.stall very kindly
took Us into q room where business was occa-
sionally transacted. I Immediately purchased
the bceds Of the poor exile, and We also mr.
ranged with the prOprietress of the stand that
she should expose sOme of the same kind for
sale, on the terns Of receiving One-fourth Of
the price, as her profit for selling them. Car
los pointed to the money his sister had just
received, and clapping his hands, said to her,
in her own language:
"'JOy, Joy, Isabella! this will buy bread,
and save papa from perishing.' Isabella clasp
cd him to her bosom and wept
1--WE prevailed upon her to relate the par
ticuars Of her distress, and the place of her
fathers abode. She was at first reluctant to
do SO, but after moments hesitation she said
"'It is painful subject to enter upon, but
ours is only too common a case. There are
at present in this grand and wealthy city of
yours many Of my unhappy cOuptrymen, des-
titutc of the necessarics of life. My father,
Don Pedro CaStcnOs, was among those Span
iards who came to this country two years ago.
My mother was then living, and we all accom-
panied him in his exile. But this fOggy eli
mate did not agree with my mother; sickness
fell into languid disorder called consump-
VIC had the grief Of losing her few months
ago. Our small stock Of money was expended
during her Illness, and my beloved father was
attacked with intermittent fever, which pre-
vented him from doing anything toward our
support. l cndcavOred to obtain some needle
work, but, alas was q friendless foreigner,
and no one knew or would employ me. My
father grew worse every day; VIC sold all our
wearing apparel to pay for lodgings and pur
chase food but that poor resource was soon
exhausted, and VIC were in debt to our land
lady for months lodgings. Yesterday she
told US she would trust uS no longer. We
hadcxpendcd our last penny-were without
fire-aHd ] had not tased food for the last two
days. But thought not of myself; oil my
grief was on account Of my father and this
dear mOthcrless babe In this extremity !
recOllccted the art Of manufacturing these red
amulet necklaces, which had leaI ned in the
convent where was educated; and our land
lady was humane enough to leRd-ER me q -triiie-
TO purchase the materials for making the
paste Of which they are composed. She adj
viSed me to offer them for sale at one of the
bazaars; and to ask ten shillings for the set
and now, SenOra, that you have gladdenel
my breaking heart by purchasing them Of me,
permit me to return to my suffering parent,
which he pcrishcs.'
I'VE did not allow the young cmgrants to
depart alone. Miss Lumley bought little
basket which she filled with jellics, fruit and
cakes, thinking they would be acceptable to
the poor invalid, and we both accompanied
Isabella to miserable attic in A. street,
where VIC found her unfortunate father stretch
cd ON a wrctched mattress, overwhelmed with
grief and famine. lie opened his langud eyes
on our approach and spoke to his daughter in
their native tongue. She hastsncd to him,
took his emaciated hand, which she fondly
kissed; she then raised his head upon her
arm, and administered to him few spoOnIulS
of jelly which little Carlos brought her and
held carefully while she fed her father. lie
appeared somewhat revived when he had par-
taken Of it. Miss Luunley asked him few
questions relative to his symptoms. His own
opinion was that he was dying. and rasing
himself up, he cast look of touching grief
upon his children, and said in low, broken
voice:
"'It is the thought of leaving these dear
ones desolate and fricndless orphans, in for
cign land, that weighs so heavily upon my
heart, and makes the bitterness of DEATH
"'Do not die, dearest papa; pray do not
die and leave u.s. Miss Lumlcy's eyes were
full Of tears, but she preserved her composure,
and said to the agitatcd Spaniard,
"'YOu require good air, medicine and whole
some nourishment; if you had these you
would recover
~ have not the means to obtain them, he
replied. His children lifted up their voices
and wept aloud.
You may imagine the sweet satisfaction
felt in being able TO place in the hands Of the
IiSfrncSaI Irahnll0 hn ,Vn0na,, thoN hrJ boo,,
destined for the purchase of a triEle for my
own adornmcnt. Till that moment, indeed, 1
never knew the proper value Of money, and
when | saw tho flush of hope and gladncss re-
call the color to the faded check of the sick
Spaniard, and the melancholy eyes of his
daughter beaming with joy through the tears
with which they Ovcrflowcd, would not have
exchanged my feelings to have been possessed
Of the most splendid pearls or diamonds that
we're ever worn by dukes daughter!"
If such be the history of your mock coral
necklace, young lady, you may justly cOntcm-
plate it with pleasure" " said Mr.. Philip Wor-
thy, and old gentleman Of rank and fortune,
who had entered the room with his grand
daughters while Juliet was relating the story
Of the Spanish exiles I" / am sure" continued
he, "my Ellen and my Geol giana are both
desirous Of becoming pOsSessOrs of similar
necklaces"
"Only on the condition of being allowed to
purchase them on the same terms that you
have done. Miss Maitland, !" said Ellen Worthy,
slipping her purse in JuIiet's hand as she
spoke. Her example was followed by her Sis
ter, and Mr.: Worthy said. with q good
humored smile:
Though cannot wear necklaces myself,
have many young friends who will gladly ac-
cept them from me; therefore, dear Miss Ju-
lict, you must Oblige me by obtaining fivC
sets in exchange for this triHe." lie put the
money into her hands rs he spoke, and added,
" Whenever your Spanish friends are in need
Of further assistance, you will 6nd purchaser
Of lSa6ella's mock coral necklaces in me-"
All the young ladies in the room were then
dcSirous Of Obtaing necklaces Of the same
and Juliet was the happy bearer
Of u sum Of money to the Spanish cmigrants
that enabled them to obtain comfortable lodg-
ings in the country, food, clothing, and medi-
cal attendance, by which they were restored
to health. lSabella's imitation of coral be-
came tavoritc article of purchase among the
youthful visitors ut the baxaars; SO much SO,
that she was enabled to maintain her father
and little brother by the produce of her own