Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-01-28

liams. "BOOr glrl !! II must bc nara lot one
like her TO come down from affluence to the
necessity of earning her daily bread by daily
toll. My sister Florence wants a new piano
may as we'll take the one Of which you
speak, provided il is all the young lady rep
resents il TO be"
"1'll pledge myself to that, replied Jones,
warmly, Though never saw her before in
my life. I'll endorse every word she says. to
the letter. Suppose we go over to Thomas
perhaps it is already there
every we'll.
And the two young men went over to the
auction rooms.
Have you received that handsome rosewood
piano yet :" inquired Mr. Jones.
Eyes, it came in half an hour ago re-
turned the auctioneer.
AS it a good instrument ?"
Zone Of the finest have ever seen. There
it is. Rosewood, exquistely carved. 1t is
made by Chickering. and cost one thousand
dollars. Only three or four years old, and
nearly as good as new. 1t is to be sold to-
morrow, and will be a bargain for some one ~
"What price have you fixed upon it at
private sale z"
at is intended for our sale tomorrow"
won't you sell it today inquired Will
liams. who had been examining carefully its
workmanship, and running his fingers over
the keys
80 yes if get a good offer"
"What do you think it will bring under
the hammer -
81 can't tell. Not over three hundred and
fifty, however"
at is really worth a great deal more than
that"
at would be cheap at five or six hundred. ~
Williams mused for some time, and then
said
my friend Jones. here tells me that it
belongs to a young lady who, to all appear
ance, is forced to part with it,"
"Yes, that is no doubt the case
"He says also that she wants a cheaper in
strument;"
eyes"
II like this piano very much, and am will
ling to give fair price for IT, | have good
income, while this appears to be the poor
girls ALL | could not be so mean. not to
say dishonest. as to take advantage Of her
necessities to save TWO or three hundred dol
lars. have a very fair instrument, that cost
few years ago, three hundred dollars. 1t is
good toned and firm. Now, | will give six
hundred dollars and mine for this one, which
presume. will be satisfactory"
Perfectly SO" returned the surprised auc-
tioneer.
Every we'll It's bargain, if you say so.
when will you have it sent home :"
Tomorrow. III bring you'a check in th,
morning. And as the day after is the first o
the new year, it would produce a feeling o
pleasure in my mind to know that the young
lady was aware. on that occasion, of the fac
that her piano had sold at better rate thar
you gave her reason to hope for.
80. as to that, will send her the piant
taken in exchange for hers, with the money
as soon as | receive them
THAT will do will be here again in tn,
morning"
The young men then retired Itis Difficult
to say which gave Williams the most pleas
ure The thought of how much delight hi
sister would feel in receiving her costly ant
elegant present; or the thought Of the poo
girls surprise and thankfulness when sh
learned the good fortune that had attende
the sale of her piano.
Reverse of fortune is a thing so common
in this country that we cease to wonder at it
occurrence. To-day a family is in the enjoy
ment of every blessing in the power q
wealth to give, aud tomorrow the member
thereof are scattered like autumn leaves. Tn
beautiful girl who to-day feels the lightes
duty as a hardship, tomorrow finds hersel
called upon to 90 forth into the world, and
with her own hands and her own ability
wrest thereirom the means of support-and
it may be- the support OF others more help
less than herself.
Thus it was with Adele Loring. A briC
time had changed all. The death Of her IA
ther. following within few months Of tn
wreck of his fortune, left her and a younge
invalid sister alone in the world, and with NJ
means of living beyond what they possesse
in themselves. A distant relative of thei
mother lived in Philadelphia and she, o.
learning their condition, offered them tempo
rarily a home. which they gladly accepted
But this relative was poor, and by no mean
able to spare from her scanty income suffiGien
to meet the wants of the sisters. This the
saw at once and Adele's mind turned anS
iously in search of some means by which sh
could use whatever ability she possessed 70
the maintenance of herself and sister Bu
she was stranger, and tried in vain 70
months to procure a situation as teacher in
school or family Daily she felt that tn
bAlNtu ulpu Autli hluh iNAdbANl was tpo biSdl
and that she must be relieved.
The only thing of value that remained t
Adele was splendid piano. This
birthday gift from her father, and dearl
priced. The thought of parting with tina
always produced painful feelings; yet, a
month after month went by, and no employ
ment could be obtained, while her sste
Frances grew daily more helpless, and re
quired the constant attention of physician
the necessity for doing so became more an
more apparent.
Nearly year had gone by since the reno
val to Philadelphia. At last Adele obtaine
a single scholar, to whom she agreed to Civ
two music lessons a week for ten dollars
quarter. Small as this beginning was,
awakened into life the hope that was uearl
expiring in her bosom. But in generousl
giving Adele and her sister home their kin
relative had impoverished herself. Two quai
ters rent, amounting to nearly hundre
dollars, would be due on the first of January
, and she had not five dollars towards meetin
, the demand. She was in debt, besides,
various places, nearly seventy dollars NOR
These facts becoming known to Adele sh
i resolved to sell her piano, and obtain a cheaI
Y er one. The difference in price, which 81
4 Ia, Co G,,o l,,n 40