Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-12-01
THE REFLECTED BLESSING
By MRS. S. E. PHELPS.

all oo--n ~ 0CDIIfG yourself OF 1
All comfort for the pleasure of ADDING to the
T mus OF q rich merchant p
mus spoke with a severe and dry tone
- relative ola poor widow, to whom moth
E .e"a'sed on the earth, but a dear child.
:"u ~ the heaven her God and her Saviour
~ "hon she had put all her hope. and from
mnom she expected all deliverance and ali
consolation. w -
perhaps it is easy for to Judge thus.n re-
pied the widow with a calm 6rmness az for
the thought that / efface. slowly bnt
surely, the last stain that can rest on the
memory of my husband, is the first and the
greatest of comforts. NJ. Miner is the onlv
one OF MS creditors, whose account IS NOT set
ueo; and if it please God, it shall be paid ia
the last crown
heroic sentiment - cried the kinswoman
with irony, going out of the chamber.
I nave It! have it finally !' cried a sill
very voice and at the same time a sweet fg-
ufe' brilliant with youth and ioy. came to
throw herself at the knees of the widow. sea
Ecu n her easy chair, and to d~issipate the
heart. nei
See, mamma, ten erownsl they are mine
all NINE! With the ten Others it makes
twenty, . pretty little sum to give to NJ. Mi
ASA
Great tears trembled on the eyelids of the
WIDOW and ran down her pale cheek. But
at the same moment a melancholy thought
lroze her heart: Shall this be therefore the
prlce OF thy life, oh my precious child ?"-
thought she to herself Shall this be the
worm that shall eat the heart of my beautiful
flower? Must | therefore deliver thee to this
overwhelming toll? Shalt thon he the VIC
tim laid on the altar of duty NV GodI nv
God dost thou require Of me this sacrif ceg,
Eve was kneeling before her mother SIM.
porting herself on ner with the closeness of a
tender, filial love. After having contemnla-
ted some moments the brilliant pieces of
gold, she lifted her eyes to the face of her
mother and saw anguish and sorrow c~ontrac-
ting her features.
do not be SO grave, mamma. See. 7 was
thinking of all the comforts that we should
De able to buy with that money. How fine
1t VIII be! A good warm room for YOU: a
pretty velvet cover for your old easy chair all
worn out now a little piece of carpet near
your bed that your feet do not freeze on the
cold floor aneW bonnet, and then some coal.
some tea, some sugar, and a variety of little
comfortable things. But it is fair" added
she, rising and throwing back the beautiful
brown curls that covered her forehead. at is
fair perhaps that one of these DAYS I shall
write a book that will render US rich YOU
shall have your carriage, dear mamma, and
those who despise US because of our poverty
shall then be very happy if we pay them at.
tention. But no pleasantly and no romance ;
she said gravely, ''inexorable reality saws t.
me that | ought to go directly to Madison
Street, see NJ. Miner, give him these twenty
crowns, take a receipt and return to read anc
sing to my dear mother"
And now Eva was going with a light ster
through the long, straight street that conduc
ted her to a place resplendent with mag
nificent palaces. Every where the marble o
those opulent dwellings reflected the sum
rays. The timid steps of the young cir
pressed on a large balustrade and crossed
portal of rich architecture.
Monsieur does not receive said q servan
richly clothed, throwing a patronizing loo]
on the young girl. But soon sweetened pei
haps by her air of infantile simplicity. wo
by her suppliant looks, he felt no strength
to send her away. She was therefore admit
ted into the sumptuous dwelling of the ricI
man.
She set her foot lightly on the soft carpe
of the ante chamber. The staircase was orna
mented with statues of marble and of bronze
and the saloon into which Eva was lntroduC
ed, appeared to the young girl of so dazzlin
a luxury, that she was not able to persuad
herself that such apartments could be inhab
ted.
ITO what do | owe the pleasure of YOU
visit, Mademoiselle 2" said with an affiabl
tone the master of the house, who came to Sc
her. NJ. Miner was a large, handsome MAJ
in the flower of his age; his manners so flu
of distinction, had at first intimidated til
young girl, who was a little reassured by til
benevolent tone of his question.
my father is dead, Monsieur, leaving u
debts due your house" responded Eva, blush
ing, with a trembling voice. by means
economy and ~oflabor, we have paid, my mott
er and myself, all the debts except yours
If you will have the goodness to receive tt
whole of your account by little sums, Ct +
greet that they have to be so little, Monsieur
we hope that in a few years we shall be alb
to pay you entirely and we shall realize tt
wish of my dying father, not to have wronge
any person. My father" added she after
moment of silence, and in a voice tremblin
with emotion at the recollection; t'my faith
has been so unfortunatel With health br,
ken down during many years, he was so col
scientious, that, if God had preserved him,
would have paid to the last penny. He wouI
sooner have reduced himself and his famil
to beggary, than to endure the idea of maxim
one of those lose who had reposed confident
in him."
NJ. Miner remained seated with a pensi,
air, his eyes fixed on the childish figure tn;
he had before him. After a moment of 5
lence he arose, saying
q knew NJ, your father-I regretted h
death. His. wasa noble heart, a noble hear
added he, stopping to think at the remer
brance. But, my dear child, have you Il
means ? do you not put yourself to pain
make these payments p
ut compels me to work, monsieur" re
pended Eva, blushing slightly, "but no
Dor is painful when | think of my fathe
such afather, whose memory we wish to sa
from dishonor."
Evea pronounced these last words with
tearfhl voice. The rich man turned aside
instant to conceal from Eva his own emotio
Eva timidly advanced her hand to give b
pieces of gold: NJ. Miner received them a
went out hastily from the chamber, prayi
Eva to sit down a moment.
He appeared soon, giving Eva a sealed b
let. Behold the receipt" said he to her.
"And permit me to add that the mother
such a child ought to be very happy.
the debt of NJ, your father, that | find in +
books, amounts to 5000 francs. You "
see in this billet the arran gements that I ha
made for the payment. | hope that madam
your mother. will be satisfied