Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-09-21
Gboite Yitentnrs,
THE SACRIFICE.

"Ihere, Mary-nOW dOn'trou think
deserve to be called pretty god husbands"
laughed the young man as he aopped down
in the lady's palm half doza gold pieces.
eyes you are Edward, the Very best hus
band in the world" and she lifted up her
sweet face beaming with smiles, as June
day with sun shine.
'Thank you, thank you, for the very
Aattering words. And now, dear, | want
you to have the cloak by next Christmas.
am anxious to see how you look in it.
"But Edward gazing seriously at the
shining pieces in her rosy palm, 'you know
we are not rich people, and it really seems
piece of extravaganza for me to give thirty
dollars for velvet cloak"
"No, it is not, either. You deserve the
cloak, Mary, and I've .. .seiasll last It'd Sc upon
years that it will be more economical in
the end than less expensive article"
1t was evident the lady was predisposed
to conviction. She made no further at
tempt to refuse her husbands arguments,
and her small fingers closed over the gold
pieces, as she rose up, saying, Well, dear,
the supper has been waiting half an hour,
and I know you must be hungry
Edward and Mary Clark were the hus-
band and wife of a year. He was book
keeper in large establishment with a
salary of fifteen hundred dollars. His fair
young wife made a 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 here dwelt also,
that peace which God giveth to those who
love him.
Mrs. Clark came into the sitting-room
suddenly, and the girl lifted her head, and
then turned it away quickly, but not until
the first glance told the lady that the fail
face was swollen and stained with tears.
Janet Hill was yourg seamstress whom
Mrs. Clark had occasionally employed fol
the last six months. She was always at
tracted by her young bright face, her mod
est vet dignifed manner, and now the lady
saw at once that some great sorrow hac
smitten the girl.
Obeying the promptings of warm, i'm
pulsive heart, she went 10 her and laid he
hand on her arm saying softly, swon't yo'
) tell me- what is treabling you Janet 2"
"Nothing that any body can help an
7 swered the girl, trying still to avert he
face, while the tears swelled in her eye
! from the.effort she made to speak.
g "But perhaps can. At any rate, 20
+ know it does us good sometimes to cor
: fde our sorrows to a friend, and nee
e not assure you that I sincerely grieye bt
4 Ecause of your Distress
III And so with kind words and half care
!, sing movements of the little hand laid on Il
> eEseamstress arm, Mrs. Clark drew froi
ri her lips her sad story. !
81 Sae was an orphan, supporting herse
6 by her daily labors, and she hadoLe brotl
: er, just sixteen, three years her JUNIOR
! He had been for some time kind Of II
d der clerk, in a large wholesale 7establis
es ment, where there was every prospect
1 his promotion buthe hadseriously injur,
70 himself in the summer by lifting sor
il heavy bales of goods, and at last . da
no gerous fever set in, which had finally ],
he him in so'exhausted state that the Dc
: tor despaifed of his recovery.
as "And to think, 1 shall never see him
or more, Mrs: Clark,a cried the poor g
- with a. fresh burst oftears. ''To think
ne must die away there, among strangers,
. the hospital, with no loving face to be
,ts over lfim'in his last hours, or brush aw
he the damp cnrls from the. forehead VIII
ms mamma used to be proud Of. sO-Heo
fer my darling, bright-faeed little brotl
ed George, and here the poor girl bro
,ee down in storm of tears.
on, "Peor child, poor child murmured 4
ur- Clark, her eyes swimming with htears. II
to much would it cost for you to 60 to y
ion brother and return?" she asked at