Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-12-11
lQ(Ortrster Daily SPY.
Alone.
-EoI.lllloL

Keeling out of his chair. She was lust ia time
TO save him. Without word the daughter
held him moment, till she could glance into
his face, and then with strength which she
could always command when aroused, bore
him to the nearest led and laid him there
"Father Father"
Not word nor a sigh of consciousness
Jennie bathed his temples with water, rubbed
his arms, his hands, his chest called ON him,
kissed him, and wept. His lips move.
What is it, father :" and the daughters
ear is close by the trembling lips.
81 have heard"-tantly- "irom-Robert
fainter. "Robert is-he is'~the voice is
too faint to be heard-the lips cease 10 move
the old man is dead. No cries OF Gather,
dear father !' no chlfngs Of hands, no bath
ings of that calm, snow tringed brow will
ever bring back the soul now freed at last
from its cherries Imprisonment OF eighty
years
Straighten the stitfening limbs, lone daugh.
ter; close tighter the eyelids; he is gone
And the secret hidden in that unfinished sen
tence-i;, too, is gone, and vainly will you try
to fathom its import, The blow was a terrible
one Not alone that this was her stay and
companion, but her only support and her only
fri nd. Now she was alone. Alone.
When all hope of restoration was gone, Jen-
ME stood erect a little way from the bed, her
head buried in her hands, and let the tide OF
loss and loneness sweep over her. In that in
slant OF time she drank the full cup and ast ted
each and every Ingredient This made her
calm Another nature might have sunk; she
was lifted, strengthened All the energies OF
her heart came into active life; and now
fearful or quiet, busy or still, she was the
same strong, self conscious woman she had
ever been. She was even stronger and more
cam
a quick step upon the stairs and carelt SIS
rap at the door. 1t was the bright-faced lad
with bundle.
"Mr. Brewer says as how this is nicer work.
and you may send back the other bundle"
said the little fellow, boy,like, as he came alb
ruptly into the room, his lace beaming with
pleasure and exercise. con- Miss Dell ~ and
the boy tell into awe.stricken quiet as he felt
the presence of death.
The second day before the burial, when
with the all of an old woman below, the body
had been carefully prepared, different step
was heard upon the staircase, and careful
knock at the door Mr., Brewer entered with
out a word. gave his hand and sat down
Then gently abiding to her loss, asking to
look on the features OF her father noticing
her plants in the window, lie skilltulIy led
the conversation into appropriate channels,
and, without Il single profession, made Jennie
TO feel that here was true and appreciative
friend.
Gradually the talk receded from the sad
topics Of the chamber of death to more gen.
eral suhjects-io such thoughts as we find
written iii books, and such conclusions as we
reach in long mcdiatious and careful analy T.
ingS. in this, her visitor was struck with the
clearness and stretch OF thought OF the hum
bic girl at his side. And she found herself
reused and quickened by the outdrawng infu-
ence Of superior but congenial mind.
'Hhanpa thn pnuVArsl ,inu WINS hrnn,bt tron-
tly to personal affairs, where at length Il point
was gained ut which Mr.. Brewer yentured to
ask
y" Have you no other friends but this 2"
"None in all the world, except, perhaps, a
brother"
Mr. Brewer could scarcely ask further
question. Breaking tie silence, Jennie said
My younger brother, Robert left US three
years ago-he was only fifteen then-in the
rush to California; thinking that, though only
boy, he might bring back gold enough 10
make his father comfortable for lite. We
heard OF his arrival and a promising begin.
ming, but nothing since. Two years ago we
came to live at this end of the city, and posi-
bly, at that time he changed his location. AT
any rate lis letters have never reached us,
nor have ours reached him. The Other day,
when father came home he had received It'd
ings from him, for he said SO Just as he was
dying but the news itself died on his lips,
and | have no clew whatever to its nature.
Brother Robert was noble boy, sir-the
bravest and the best boy l ever knew"
just here the tears would start and long
silence followed.
Mr.. Brewer had brought purse with lit
tie gold in it, thinking TO slip it into the hand
OF the girl whose trials had so touched his
sympathy: but when he rose to go the act
seemed impossible; he did not dare to do it
he could only ask, with the deepest respect
"Can be of any service to you?,
81 thank you very much for your call, Mr..
Brewer--very much There is only one thing
you can do Tor me-employ me, il my work
pleases you"
No need to follow the plain board coffin
rough casket for such tather-to its place
among the silent poor in the great cemetery.
ii the faded sllaws chung close to the poor
girls FORM chilled by the autumn wind drop
ping tears upon the turf alone by the poor
mans grave, under it beat as warm a daugl-
ters heart, and lived as rich woman's nature,
as ever moved gay and proud in choicer and
happier scenes.
Jennie could not and would not leave the
dear Old room, hailowed now by the memory of
sainted father. She lived there alone.
There was no objection to it now for only a
young and elastic tread walked the creakings
in the long flight of old stairs.
The bright faced boy came and went every
day with Il bundle. The work was very nice,
aud the pay was so much better as to give a
new chintZ OF deep brown with tiny white
figure. Mr.. Brewer came occasionally. He
slid quietly into the place of friend, brought
books for Jennie to read, and thtn discussed
their contents with her.
There were many points upon which they
agreed, and many upon which they differed.
Both liked very well to differ; for Jennie found
pleasure in arousing his deep, earnest strength
OF expression, and he was never weary of
awakening that flash of her large brown eyes
and easy dignity OF talk which severed her
from all other of his friends.
Mr.. Brewers calls were not frequent, but
they never tailed during the many months in
sslich she sat and sewed in the humble attic
room.
Alas for the struggling tossed, brave, and
weary girl! These visits, so comforting at
hrst, were con ing To be Il source OF palu-in
fact, and especially in prospect.
lie came and went as IL kind, disinterested
friend, always considerate aud appreciative,
but always sell poised. Knowing aud trusting
him as II true friend, she yet knew nothing OF
the man but what she saw in her own home.
He never talked of himself The lad who
came aud went with bundles had once or tw ice
spoken OF rather" in a manner which con.
WINGED her that Mr. Brewer was n husband
and this his son That was all: but il wa,
decisive ANA YET, though settled on this
rom the nrst, as Time wore ON, the compan
ionshp and sympathy other one visitor Grrv
into need, and then necessity. No ,ason
ings, no wiltul checkings, no self condemno
ton even, could stay the growth Of that ninnt
presence by which ut last she was covered and
ovprDOWprpu. In vain Jpnnip fla shn1 iud;,,oo