Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-03-10

bcen thlhhins aDOut II ,nhS preSsen hchNiiy
upon my mind for some time. Do yon remem-
Der your old friend, Walter Collins the car
pcnter, whom you always liked so much, who
helped to nurse you when you had the fever !
and his wife, poor Mary, who took care Of my
baby, while was too much engaged with your
illness to attend to it as much rs usual, and it
was piniug, and believe would have died, but
for her kindness Well, during all our pros
perty, we have never once thought of them"
"You are right Alice, we have not done as
our neglect2 Shall we seek them out and
give them half the contents our treasure chests
next year,"
"That would he very good plan" rejoined
his wife, smiling, shut think know bet
| ter"
"Do you? Well. let us hear It,"
"why, you know, dear Robin. this night at
twelve o'clock you are to make your second re-
quest"
II have it," interrupted Robin, ~ will ask
the fairy 10 nuke them as rich as we are, and
to bring them here that we may have them for
neighbors. You know that beautiful house
which has been uninhabited ever since we have
been here-.'Elfn Lodge tits called; how de-
lightinl it would be for them to find themselves
there some fine morningp
"Yes, how should like to be invisible, in
some corner, to enjoy their surprise rejoined
Alice; ''and only fancy" she added, laughing,
show Walter would stare about him. and then
begin TO handle all the pretty things with his
dirty fngersl And then, how happy poor Mary
would be hope this Is not forbidden re-
quest"
CHAPTER VII.
Before twelve O'Clock, Robin took out his
golden key, and hastened TO the vanted cham
ber.
punctual TO his promise, the fairy appeared
us the hour sounded. iIe filled the Golfers as
before, and then Robin made known his wish.
The bright zone shone more brightly than ever,
and, with an approving smile, he pronounced
the welcome words, 'iT is well, thy request is
granted y and vanished.
The next morning symptoms of recent ar
rival were visible at Elin lodge. Smoke was
seen curling through many chimneys, and SER
wants hurried TO and fro. Robin and Alice
lost no time in renewing their acquaintance
with their old friends. They were not at first
recognized by Walter and his wife, but they
soon made themselves known. After the ex-
prcssons of mutual satisfaction nt meeting
were over, Collins endeavored to account for
the change in his circumstances by pretending
that fortune had been left him by distant
relative. Robin felt disappointed in-his friend,
but he was too generous TO inform him Of the
part he had himself taken in occasioniug his
good fortune.
Walter was Of course anxious to know how
the change in Robins affairs had been brought
about, and Robin, after exacting promise of
secrecy, told him all that had taken place, only
suppressing the part which related 10 Walter
and Mary.
There are some flowers, which, as long as
they remain in their native shade, with their
blossoms only peeping forth, with dropping
head and closed petals, from beneath the shell
ter oftheir thick foliage, appear brightly tint
ed and sweet but, when the sun shines on
them and draws them forth from their hiding
place, and they unfold their leaves, and raise
their modest heads TO thelight of fday-all their
beauty, all their fragrance is gone, and the un-
folded petals only disclose the hollowness with
in.
So it was with the character and temper Of
Walter Collins. While he was poor and neg
lected, he was humble, and, when he had moth
ing TO give, he was good Datured but no SOON
er had the sun Of prosperity shone upon him
than lie became prond and hard-hearted
This change, however, did not show itself all
at once; it came on BY degrees, aud the warm
hearted Robin and his gentle wife were little
| inclined to think i'll of their old friend.
The neighbors were on the most intimate
terms; the gentlemen hunted, and ished, and
dined together and the ladies walked, and
worked, and talked together; on the whole,
things went on pleasantly enough for a time.
Robin, it ia true, felt vexed sometimes that Wall
ter seemed to take so little interest in his plans
for promoting the comfort and Improvement OF
his poorer neighbors; and Alice would have
been glad, if Mary had not been always poorly
or busy, when she asked her TO accompany her
| in her visits to the abodes of suffering and
want.
At length the fatal pride aud envy, which
were gradually gaining possession of Walters
heart, began to show themselves in many ways
Whatever the Maynards had, the Collnses were
never satisfied till they could procure some
thing better and more costly. Nor was this
all /; though Walter did not in direct terms be-
tray Robins secret, yet he was SO desirous OF
degrading him in the eyes of their mu-
tual friends that he was continually letting
fall mysterious hints concerning his former life
so that an idea by degrees prevailed, that there
was something not right about the MaSnards
and they found themselves looked upon with
an eye of suspicion and distrust.
All this was source of deep grief and ankle
ty to Robin and Alice AT first they endeav
ored by kindness and good Offices to win bacl
their friend; but the more they tried to con
ciliate him, the more insolent and overbearini
he became.
BY degrees somewhat of this bad spirit be
gan to communicate itself to Robin, aud thougl
still far more sipned against than SHINING, ye
t lie was not entirely free from blame. The con
{ slant indulgence Of this envious rivalry be
tween the two families was also II heavy ia
, upon Robins purse; and be found every mont
that he could spare less and less to his poe
pensioners.