The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1859-11-12
From the New York Mercury.
UNDER THE UMBRELLA.
nv GRACE GARDNER.


them pelt YOU so. Come here, quick. un-
der INV umbrella Then / guess the snow
balls won't touch you-quick ''
The little urchins addressed followed the
wise advice, and began to scamper as fast
as their little legs could carry. them toward
the offered shelter, tumbling down several
times in their haste, but scrambling up
again, and soon reached the friendly shelter
of the umbrella.
A young girl was passing at the moment.
Her face, all cold and passionless, did not
denote one quickly or easily moved into
either interest or amusement. This express
sion, or rather want of expression, seemed
habitual, whether natural or assumed. Now,
however, as she witnessed the scene, smile,
slight but perceptible, played round her lips,
but even this had something bitter in 1t, and
it quickly faded, first into thoughtfulness,
then sadness, then was lost in inanimation.
"Heighhol wish I could get under an
umbrella % she said, unconsciously aloud
as she passed slowly on.
Now Annie Rathburn did not precisely
mean that she would like to creep under an
umbrella as the boys did.
But Annie did mean that she wished
protective shelter from the elements of do
petty annoyances and prosecutions which
daily pelted down upon her poor heart, till
all its hope and love, and life seemed to have
died out, and it only sent out feeble wall
in the exclamation just uttered.
ga strange wish, young lady, when the
sun shines so brightly; but, however, you
shall get under my umbrella if you wish
it is large, and strong. and blue"
t11a i1in IF
old lady who addressed her, coolly and COM
posedly, and surveyed her in turn, though
scarcely at first with SO much interest as
though the healthful color that still blushed
eyes and full erect figure, would have de-
noted a much younger age. Her voice was
harsh, yet not unpleasant, her manner alb
ruPt and independent. It was easy to de-
eide her position to be higher than her dress
indicated, and easier yet to perceive her to
be an eccentricity. Annie's pride was dis
armed by this very eccentricity, and she
answered:
Though your umbrella may be large,
and strong, and blue. madam, it is neither
large enough, nor strong enough. Keep it.
"How know you that young lady? You
may sometime think very differently" she
replied, with keen glance of her small,
gray eyes. at is good staunch umbrel-
la,' and she held it up before Annie's eyes;
"but, however, since you disdain it, perhaps
I can give you directions for making one,
which will serve your purpose much better.
Take square, very large square of pa
tience, young lady, striped equally with
kindness and frmness for the covering
But the framework is the most important
my child" and her voice grew solemn,
''that must be strong-equal to any weight
which may either expectedly or unexpect-
eddy be placed upon it-strong, invincible
in Divine love and grace. The points of it
must be tipped with the jewels of love,
faith, charity, humility, forbearance, and all
other Christian graces. Delay not in ma
king it. It is well to be prepared for storms
even when the sun Shines
Annie was startled out of her composure.
How could this singular person have read
so we'll the meaning of her exclamation
She exclaimed, half mockingly, half sadly,
"All these materials Where should I
find them ?'
"Where I hope you will find some or
all in your own heart, my child ; but if not
there, you will find them only at the foot of
the Cross. Search for them. They will
shield you from many a trouble. Let me
find its protecting shelter over you when we
meet again. Farewell"
Annie became lost in a reverie so deep,
after the old lady left her, that she almost
forgot several important errands, but fortu-
nately remembering them, turned her steps
homeward, lingeringly and reluctantly.
The house which the young girl shrank
from entering bore no appearance of power
ty or discomfort. On the contrary, it was
large, fashionable brick house, with cheer
full looking windows, into which the sun
light smiled, and with doors of an inviting
aspect.
Annie Rathburn had in that house a
step-mother, step-sister, two half-sisters
and half-brother. Why was there aught
forrdread in that fact Z? We will answer
Since the time the Widow Hartley entered
that house as its mistress, the wife of Mr..
Rathburn and step-mother to his only child,
the latter had been an object of envy and
dislike to the lady; and, as her preiudices
were strong, and her disposition arbitrary.
the martyrdom of the child Annie COM
menced not by blows or harsh language,
or the deprivation of any of the Injuries to
which the child was accustomed. She was
too polite for that. and regarded the opin-
ion of the world too highly to hazard that |;
but by cutting sarcasms, wounding the
child in the tenderest points, and the yet
more effective weapon of ridicule, by will
full misunderstanding and artful misrepre-
sensations to her father, thereby alternating
from her, in great measure, her fathers
affection.
Her work was apparent enough. Annie
from gladstone, warm-hearted, impulsiye,
generous child, had become proud, cold,
unsocial, unsympathizing girl of eighteen.
There was one warm place in Annie's
heart yet, however, and her little half-broth-
er. Willie. had crept into it. He was only
six vears old and had hean an invalid almost