Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-10-23
GOLD, SILVER AND LEAD.
A GOOD STORY.

she was always called, and most JUSTLY " bu
who, should like to know, would be induced
to entrust you with any one of the employ
ments you have named"
| won't deny but that felt hurt at this
speech. was standing opposite the shabby
looking glass over our mantle piece when she
uttered that reply; and just giving an mqulr
ing glance, | secretly owned that with such
an unimposing, not to say clumsy figure, ano
over forid complexion (Belle always called me
"blOwsy'O and small inexpensive features
few persons would give me credit for the
qualities and those accomplishments which by
long and arduous toll felt conscious of real
ly possessing. Yet glancng at my sister
who Law reclining on the worn out horse han
sofa, which was one of the few cOnveniences
of our ready furnished lodgings, | readily ac-
knowledged the great difference in our appea-
rance. Even in her common print wrapper,
as she lay there | thought the prOudest no
bleman in London might choose her unblam-
ed for her beauty. Not even Indifferent
health and want of energy and occupation
would impair it.
| "Ah. if she could but summon resolution,
thought, as glanced from the mirror to the
sofa, "who would not accept her services in
tuition y for there was such a queenly air
| about my sister, that not even neglect (that
direct foe of beauty could derogate from her
personal superiority and then sighed as
reelected that Bellies loyeliness had given her
a sovereign power at home, which allowed her
only to learn that she had mind and that
to say the truth, was seldom or never Dearly
as | loved her was compelled to admit that
she possessed little or no knowledge at ALL
True she had a pretty enough sort OF taste
for dress which now had neither fields nor
funds for development, my poor father cred
itors having seized our wardrobes, with the
other effects which were too costly to be made
unavailable.
remember the time when | felt SOrrOwful
as my sisters pre-eminence in the affections
of our parents. We were the only two chill
dren, and Belle was not born till | was seven
years old From her babyhood she was the
darling and delight of everybody dy-myself OF
course included-who indeed rejoiced over
my new sister for more than if had been
given the cOstliest wax doll ever bought with
money. 1t was no very great wonder, that,
as she grew up, she exercised authority over
us-parents, sister, and servants. That old
saying ''Everything is for the BEST" was GER
tainly verified in my parents indulgence and
superior love for Isabel; for when we grew
up, mamma and my sister usually went to
some watering place for the season-and as
my mother declared that she could not feel
happy if the house was left to servants, was
| always left at home as housekeeper; and when
they frequented parties, seldom accompan-
led them ; so that Ihad many lonely hours,
which resolved to make the best use of; and
by much study, and occasionally the aid OF
masters whenever | could save up enough
pocket money to pay for lessons, silently
became the mistress of knowledge and accom-
plishments which afterwards In the day OF
need became the sole resource of my poor
Belle and myself.
1t was strange, but Belle did not settle di-
rectly, as our mother calculated she was sure
| to do : and it was not until after poor mama s
death that she became engaged to young gen.
teman of good fortune and eXpectatiOns-Mr
Manners, who having business connections
with my father, come to visit our house.
vas rejoiced when at length | perceived the
course events were taking for though knew
nothing of my fathers business matters, yet
| could not help percciying in my capacity Of
| housekeeper, that heavy bills were accumua
ting, not one of which was paid. If evel
tried to win my fathers attention to those
things, he grew irritable, and desired | would
attend only to my household matters, which
[ did strictly, and strove hard to check tho
wastcful expenditure continually going on, ii
| spite of my care, in our house.
| 1t was Just as Bellies wedding dress was
| talked about, and the minutise of the ceremo
ny agreed upon, that, as had been some
time fearing, things came to a terrible crisis
My father arriving home one evening from the
city earlier than usual, went Immediately tG
the Library, giving orders not to be interrupt
ted. Mr. Manners was expected but after
waiting for him in the great draw-room-
where coffee was prepared by the Bellies wisl
some hours, we were compelled to thinl
some accident had prevented him from com
ing and putting on shawls we crept to th'
fire in the back drawing room, for the larg,
room had chilled us. My sister, vexed at he
lovers absence, became irritable, and wa
scolding me for some real or imaginary neg
lcct, when sharp ringing noise resoundet
through the house We both started to on
feet, and both at the same moment recognized
the loud sound.
"lts pistol" said Isabel.
"Somc accident | exclaimed; for Isabel
health even then was delicate, and feareC
any agitation Don't be alarmed, DEAR
will 90 and Sec"
went out of the room, and running dowi
stairs, found the servants assembled at tn
library door, Before they could prevent me
oh mercifu Heaven /! can l ever forge
that sight My dear, dear, rash parent
his silvery head shattered by the contents Q
pistol close to his body; that pistol had beel
applied by his own hand.
oil Io 70 oil Tn f.rc
wdness of my grief, know not what sale
or did but there was great kindness show
to me, and strove to repress my own feeling
by the reflection of my sisters helplessnes
if | gave way; and indeed we had her in raw
ing Mysteries as soon as she knew the sa
truth Those Mysteries, extending to poss
tive delirium, continued for days. Oh, tina
dreary time Nothing but stern scense G
the duty set before me to perform, could hav
nerved me to sustain my part in those sene
of sickness, fear and horror. When Bell
became slightly convalescent, the ruin of m
poor fathers affairs was fully apparent tn
creditors seized on all, and our man of bus
ness told us the plain truth-that we wer
beggars.
During this crisis, Mr. Manners never cam
near us, though myself wrote to him abou
| my SlStcl anu W Apidiii eilO o'
event which had taken place ; but after tt
flu neral, short, cold letter acquainted m
; sister that under our altered circumstances
union with her would entail on Mr.. Manner
the entire alienation of his own family.
, thought of Beatrice and Helena
: "Would l were man, sweet COZ, for thy sake
But, alas was not man only pot
!. weak, trembling woman; without friends il
!, fuence or hope of support, save from my ow
exertions
Y My poor father, who had been termed
''sef-made man." at his death, did not po
sess one solitary relative my mother, to
a had been the only child of not very afflue1
/! parents thus we had no uncles, aunts
s cousins, to look up to for protection and a
r vice. The creditors kindly gave us TWEEN
o pounds, and some few of our clothes al
l. Mr.. Arnold our lawyer told us we must lo
IL out for some employment which might bene
t, broken down gentlewomen. AS for myse
is | heard this without much apprehension; b