Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-02-18

his tools, and wiping bis forehead with
q handker chief be took out OF his cap
-"it's AS he said. Our child has got
this fortune, and we cant take 1t from
her. He tells we Jessie is worth TWEEN
" thousand pounds"
Twenty thousand pounds, husband!
What Twenty thou. Oh dear,
dear"
The poor woman laughed and cried
in the same breath. 1t was impossible
not to rejoice. Uncle Zeb's malcdict-
ions were forgotten for moment, 10
the dazzling visions those words raised
before the mothers eyes.
"Cal Jessie here" said Richard,
sitting down.
Aud Jessie came to her fathers
chair, and looked up wistfully into his
face. 1t was something new to feel
afraid Of father; but Jessie did feel so,
as she beheld the way in which he
looked at her.
Jessie, my girl, want to talk to
you," began Richard. " Now listen to
what | am going to say; you're a
cute little lass, and can understand
me, | know. Uncle Zetedee's will has
been opened, and we find that he's
left all his money to you. louIl be
very rich woman one day, Jessie,
ard you'll have a big house Of your
own"
The pale face of the child flushed,
and her eyes sparkled. :.
"You're very glad, Jess, amt you"
"Yes, father, | am glad. Shall we
have a home of our own, then, and a
gardens"
"Yes, you will. And you will wear
fine clothes, and live with grand folks,
who are deal cleverer than father
and mother"
"But | shan't leave yon," said the
child with quick grasp at her fathers
hand.
.'Not for always, p'raps, but you
must go to scho oil, and learn of some
body who can teach you better than
father can
Richard Mallet's face twitched as
he thought of the old spelling-book
over which he and his child had
spent so many happy evenings. They
were at an end now. But looking at
his wife, he went on
ayes, we mustn't keep her like our
selves, Han nab. She must have good
schooling you know. She must be
different from us.
Jessie stared at her parents with Der
big brown eyes, and her heart beat
fast. She was a clear headed, reason
ing little creature. The life which she
had been compelled to lead in conse
quence of her intirmity-an infirmity
more the result of delicate frame,
than actual disease-had rendered her
wise and thoughtful beyond her years.
SO she shed no more tears, though
her heart was full, but took her chair
out of her fathers sight, and piled her
needles fast in silence.
That night Richard Mallet and his
wife sat by their fireside till long after
midnight discussing the fortunes OF
their child. At one moment, the poor
mother thanked Providence for Jes-
sizes good luck; at another she shud-
dered at the thought of the curse at
tached to the miser's wealth.
"Oh Richard, if his words should
come true, if our child should grow to
be ashamed of You and me".'
"Hush, Hannah" Richard checked
his wife angrlly. It's only like baby
to talk in that way. How can dead
mans words do any HARM"
Though Richard assumed inditfer-
ence to his uncIe's maledictlon, it trou-
bed him in reality. The first thing
on waking, the old miser's words &C.
Cured to him. All day long as he
piled hammer and chisel in the stone
yard, fragments of the curse sounded
in his ears. As he sat at his dinner
under the shed, he found himself me-
chemically tracing in the dust, with
the edge Of a broken tool, the words
"May it place bar between them al
their lives" Many night did his
wife hear him sigh in his sleep, and
mutter and moan about 1.-THE gold
and "my own BARN" But by day he
would rebuke his wife for being sffec-
tod by superstitious fancies, and tel
her she ought to know better than te
trouble herself about such things. He
would not have owned for the WORLD
that these same fancies we're haunting
him, sleeping and waking.
FRO BE coNTINUED.)