The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-29
: Charity's Rccompcnse.
BY CLARA AUGuSTA

III BY CLARA AUGUSTA, s1fea s.E s.la5
you'll never see your money again, my
precious little sister! OF that, at least, am
tolerably surer' a ~
''Perhaps not" returned Lucy Warde az
do not wish to. The grateful expression Of
the lads countenance more than compensa-
ted for the worth of a paltry bank-bilr p
'Hum Ia valuable expression, to be equal
to a fifty-dOllar note, Lucy! At that rate of
computation, his face will coin him a fortune
in a little time. But how about , our dress
thought you needed it badyg"
Frank Warde looked into the soft brown
eyes of his sister, with the shadow of a quiz
zical smile lowering about his fincly-cut fea-
lures. She laughed gaily as she caught the
expression, and replied - &s2 sss&s
"Now, Frank, don't tease me about the
dress. You know it was whim Of mine to
have it, and can get along nicely without
it. My wardrobe is full now Fmquitc sure
do not need another!'
Necessity forces you to retrench, sister ;
am glad to see you accept martyrs fate
with so much fortitude. Why what will
Miss Brown, and Miss Clapp, and Miss Jones,
and all the Miss Grundys say, if Miss Lucy
Warde allows New-Year Day to find her
without one new dress, at least? There
will be social earthquake in our set y
81 am willing to meet it, Frank; the con-
seriousness of duty performed is better than
thousand dressesr'
$50 is, my darling little sister? And
now, give me a kiss, and I'll be off to the
counting-house. Business is brisk, and the
clerks are lazy. Goodbye ~
And pressing an affectionate kiss upon the
forehead of his sister. Frank Warle left the
room. - - aAAS = / Z
Frank and Lucy Warde were the children
ofwealthy parents; they had scarcely known
a wish ungratified, and their lives had been
an unruffled calm ofhappness. When Frank
was eighteen and Lucy thirteen, their mother
went away on her last journey; and but six
months afterward, Mr.. Warde followed her.
A handsome fortune was left them, to be
divided equally; and Frank, after finishing
his studies at the university, entered into the
importing business, which his father had
been engaged in before him. At ttwenty-one,
he took possession ofhis patrimony, and be-
came the legal guardian of his sister.
Both these favored children of wealth had
grown up charitable, unselish, and meek in
spirit
Frank had more caution than his sister
the natural consequence resulting from an
acquaintance with the world-and he bestow.
ed his bounty only when convinced that the
object was deserving.
Lucy, impulsivc, warm-hearted, and un.
suspicious, gave freely Of her allowance to
every one who asked her pity; and if she
was sometimes deceived by an appearance Of
suffering, it mattered not, she was influenced
by pure motives.
The conversation which we have related
above, took place between the brother and sis.
ter one winter morning, about two years after
Franks career as his sisters guardian had
commenced. The occasion which had called
it forth was nothing new-oniy another ex
hibition Of Lucy's unselfishness.
The previous night, a weary-looking lad O
sixteen or eighteen years had applied a,
the residence Of the Wardes, for shelter 70,
the night. Ho had no money to pay for his
supper or lodging, but he was willing to work
for both. Frank, the more to test his integ
rity than because he wanted the labor done
had set him to saving wood, at which EN-
ployment he tciled industriously until TOLD
to desist. EE
? After the stranger-boy had had his break
fast, Lucy sent for him to the parlor, and
by little questioning, won him to tell he
his life-story. 1t was the old tale-an orphan
indentured by his uncle to hard heartet
man; hs had been unable to endure hi.
task-master's cruelty, and to escape from
further persecution he had fed. He wa.
going to Boston, where he felt sure he coult
find something to do; and, without money
he was obliged to work his way along as bes
he might.
The brave, unfaltering spirit Of the boy
his innocent fearlessness Of the worlds ,un