Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-02-18
UNDER THE UMBRELLA.
BY GRACE GARDNER.

" "lIalloa! Sam, Frank, Freddy don't let
them pelt you So. Coiuc here quick, undcr
my umbrella. 1hen guess the snowballs
won't touch you-qnich" i"
The little ureltiits addressed folpwctit the wise
advice, and began to scampcr as fast as their
little legs could carry them toward the offered
shelter, tumbling down several times in their
haste, but Scralnbling up again, and soon reach.
cd the friendly shelter Of the umbrella They
huddled together under it. and then lowered il
to the ground on the side next their Young as
sailantS, raising it now and then to utter shouts
OF defiance, or throw vollry Of snowballs il
their advcrsaIies vcntured too near Thanks
to their miniature fortress, they came of vic
toious in the contest
y young girl was passing at the moment
Her face, all collncSs and paSSioncSs, did not
denote one quickly or easily moved into either
interest or amusement. This expression, OF
rather want Of cxPA<>sion, seemed habtual,
whether natural or assumed. Now however,
as She witnessed the scene, a smile, Slight but
pcrceptib!c, played around her lips, but even
the smile had something bitter in il, and it
quickly faded. first into thoughtfulnesS, then
sadness, then was lost in lnantnnation.
In spite Of its need of heart " armth and
with thi, need supplied, it woLld be irresi>ti-
hly beautiful, and lougcd to make the attempt
! to wake into lie the chilled or sleeping pow
crS-if powers there wcrc-of love and hap
illness.
Ilcigho wish could get under an UNI
brclla, she exclaimed, unconsciously aloud,
Us she passed slowly on.
Now Annie Rathburn did not precisely mean
that She would like to creep under an umbrella
like the boys did She had altogether too keen
a perception Of the ridiculous, and possessed
too nice sehSe OF proprirty to SUPPOSE Il Young
lady could do as little boys did. Besides, al
though it had showed little in the morning,
An threatened to prove stormy day, it had
only been make bcicvc"-the sun was now
shining brilliantly aud secondly, il the threat
had proved reality, she had no lear OF wind or
snow or rain.
! But Annie d| mean that She wished pro-
tectvc shelter from the elements of domestic
dlscord-frOm the cold shower OF petty annoy.
anccs and prosecutions which daily pcltctl
down upon her poor heart till all its hope and
love and life seemed to have died out, and it
only sent out feeble wall in the exclamation
just uttered.
" y strange wish, young lady, when the sun
shines so brightly; but, however, you shall
get under my umbrella, if you wish-it is
large, and strong, and blue"
Annie met the scrutinizing look of the old
lady who had addressed her, cOolly and com
poSedlv and surveyed her in turn, though
scarcely at first with SO much interest as curl.
o>ity. She might have been near sixty, tho
the hcalthiul color that still bluShed the scarce.
" wrinklcd checks, the keen bright eyes and
IulI erect figure, would have denoted much
younger age. Her voice was harsh, yet not
unpleasant, her manner abrupt and indepen-
dent. 1t was easy to decide her position to be
higher than her dress Indicated and easter vet
to perceive her to be an ecccntricity. Annie 5
pride was disarmcd by this very ccccntricity,
aud she anSw cred
Though your umbrella may be large, and
strong, and blue, madam, it is neither large
enough, nor strong enough nor blue enough to
protect me. Keep it,"
How know you that, young lady? You
may sometime think very differently" she re-
piled, with keen glance Of her small, grey
eyes. ut is good staunch umbrella" and
she held it up before Annie'S eyes; but how
ever, since yon d>daln it, perhaps can give
you directions for making one which will serve
your purpose much better. Take u square, Il
very large square Of patience, young lady,
striped equally with Kindness and tirnincSS for
the covering. But the framework Is the most
important, my child" and her voice grew sol
emn, "hdf must be strong equal to any
weight which may either expcctcdy or uncX
pcctcdly be placed upon it-strong, invinciblc
in Divine love and grace. The points of it
must be tipped with the jewels of love, faith,
charity, humility, forbcarancc, and all other
Christian graces. Delay not in making it, 1t
is well to be prepared for storms even when
the sun shines"
Annie was startled out of her composurc.
/" How could this singular person have read so
well the meaning OF her cxcamationy" she cx-
claimed, half mockingly, half sadly.
"All these materials! Where should find
them."
Where? hope you would find some or
all in your own heart, my child but if not
there, you will find them only at the foot of the
Cross. Search for them. Makeit, and it will
shield you from many trouble. Let me find
its protecting shelter over you when we meet
again. Farewell"
Annie became lost in revere so deep, after
the old lady left her, that she almost forgot
several important errands, but fortunately re-
membcring them turned her steps homeward
IL Il Al