Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-09-22
THE SACRIFICE.

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band?" laughed the young man as Ire drop
ped down in the lady's hand half dozen
gold pices.
"YeS, you are, Edward, the very best hus
band in the world, and she lifted MP her
sweet face beaming with smiles as June
day with sunshine.
Thank you, thank you. for the very
fattering words. And now, dear, want
you to have the cloak by next Christmas
| am very anxious to see how you look in
it." M
"But, Edward" 1" gazing steadily on the
shining pieces in her rosy palm, you know
we are not rich people, and it really seems
extravaganza for me to give thirty dollars
for velvet cloak
''No it is not, either You deserve the
cloak, Mary, and Pve set my mind upon
having it. Then it will last you SO many
years, that it will be more economical in
the end than less expensive article
1t was evident that the lady was prcdis
posed to conviction. She made no further
attempts to confront her husbands argu-
ments, and as her small hands closed over
the gold pieces. she rose up, saying:
"Wcll, dear, the supper has been wait
ing for half an hour, and know you must
be quite hungry"
Edward and Mary Clark were the hus-
band and wife of year. He was book
keeper ola large establishment with sal
airy of fifteen hundred dollars. His fair
young wife made little earthly paradise
of his cottage home, in the suburbs of the
city; for within its walls dwelt two lives
/ that were set like music to poetry, keeping
time to each other And dwelt also the
peace which God giveth to those who low
eth him.
Mrs. Clark came into the room sudden
ly, and the girl lifted her head, and turned
it away quickly, but not till the first glance
tod the lady that the face was swollen and
stained with tears.
Janet Hill was young seamstress whom
Mrs. Clark had occasionally employed for
the last six months. She was always at
tracted by her young, bright face, her mod
est yet dignified manner. and the lady saw
at once that some great sorrow had smit-
ten the girl.
Obeying the promptings Of warm, i'm
pulsivc heart, she went to her and laid her
hand on her arm, saying softly:
Wont you tell me what is troubling
you. Janet?"
Nothing that anybody can help" an
swered the girl, trying to avert her face,
while the tears swelled in her eyes from
the effort she made to speak.
"But perhaps l can. At any rate you
know it does us good sometimes to confide
our sorrow to friend, and need not as
sure you that l sincerely grieve because of
your distress"
And SO, with kind words and half-ca-
ressiug movements of the little hand, laid
on the seamstress' arm, Mrs. Clark drew
from her lips the sad story.
She was an orphan, supporting herself
by her daily labors, and she had one broth
er, Just sixteen, three years ber junior
He had been some time kind of under
clerk in a large wholesale establishment,
where there was every prospect of promo
ton, but he had seriously injured himself
in the summer by lifting some heavy bales
of goods, and at last dangerous fever set
in. which had finally left him in so exhaust
ed state, that the doctor had no hope of
his recovery.
"And to think that / should never see
him again. Mrs. Clark" cried the poor
girl, with free burst of tears. "To think
that he must die away, there, among stran-
gers, in hospital, with no loving face to
bend over him in his last hours; or brush
away the damp curls from his forehead,
which mamma used to be so proud of. o
George-my darling, my bright faced little
brother George and here the poor girl
broke into storm of tears.
"Poor child, poor child" murmured
Mrs Clark, her sweet eyes swimming in
tears "How much would it cost to go
to your brother, and return?' she asked at
last.
About thirty dollars. | have not so
much money in the world. You see it is
nearly four hundred miles off; but | could
manage to support myself after l got
| there.
A thought passed quickly through Mrs.
| Clark's mind. She stood still few mo-
ments, her blue eyes fixed in deep medita-
ton. At last she said kindly:
.Well, my child. try to bear up brave
4 lN, anu VIC Will ctC Nn0t Yak NC QOuc fui
you," and the warm. cheerful tones CON-
forted the sad heart of the seamstress.
The lady went up stairs and took the
pieces out of her porte -moniae. "Some
how I've set my heart upon that velvet
CLOTH" she thought. and Edward will
be disappointed. was going to select the
velvet this afternoon. But then there's
that dying boy. lying there with strange ia
ces all about him, and longing, as the slow
hours go by. for the sight Of the sister who
loves him, aud would not this thought haunt
me every time / put on my new cloak
After all. my old broad cloth is not so bad,
if it is only turned. And, am sure. ]
can bring Edward over to my way of
thinking. No, you must go without the
cloak this time, and have the pleasure of
knowing that you've smoothed the path
going down to the valley and shad-
ow of death, Mary Clark" And she clos
ed the porte moniae resolutcly and went
down stairs.
[ Janet, put up your work this moment
| there is no time to be lost. Here is the
money; take it and go to your brother"
Thegirl lifted her eyes moment. almost
I in bewilderment, to the lady, and then, as
she comprehended the truth, a cry of such
Joy broke from her lips. that its memory