The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-10-11
G,irfmnnn gispatrt.
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TnrrspAT MpRNINa. !. .oCr'R II, ,sss,
s.. I From the Atlantic ,Monthiy.l
MODERN CINDE r q L LA
fTh< ceacimsiom.

OR,
THE LITTLs OLD SHOE.
fThe Ceaclmstom
TIL. old man sat In the shadow OF the tree
his own hands planted; his fruttfu. coughs
shone roddiiy and It's leaves sun Whspe'su
the low lullaby that hushed him TO ms Iess.
"How fast he sleeps! Poor is.he, s "a, ..sa
have come before ana "a"' -
h'm. xhs smoke. Man lifted up the head bent
down unon his breast. and kissed his paihd
.on. John. this Is not Sleep"
ayes. dear, the happiest he will ever know"
F.,r moment the shadows fiickered over
three white faces and the silence deepensa
solemnly. Then John reverently bore the pare
share in and Nan dropped down oesiee u,
saying, with rain of grateful tears,
"He kissed me when / went, and said last
good nightF" e,A,r,na r
,osnY voices whispered near her, ana skiIioi
hands touched the beloved clay sne neia SO las !.
but one by one the busy feet passed out que ~
one the voices died away, ana human skill
,,revaa vain Then Mrs. Lord drew the or
phan 20 the shelter OF her arms, soothing ner
with the mute solace of that motheriy en-
brace. ,., go "a,
The happy cali re-echoed through the house,
and Nan sprang up as II her lime for GRIEF
were past.
sorrow!"
But there was no need for her to speak
other lips had spared her the hard task. For, as
she stirred TO meet Them, sharp cry rent the
air steps rang upon the stairs, and two Wild
eyed creatures came into the hush OF thai
familiar room for the first time meeting with
no welco ne from their fathers voice.
With one impulse, Di and Laura fed to van
aud the sister chung together in silent EN-
brace far more eloquent than words. Jonn
took his mother by the hand, and led her from
ft,a n \ Nm Ia a n n m O
OF grief.
YES, we are poorer than we thought; bu
when every thing is settled, We snail get or
very well. We can let part OF this grea
house and live quietly together until spring
then Laura Will be married, and ID can 60 on
their travels with them, as Philip wishes neI
TO do. We shall be cared for; so never fear foI
Nan said this. as her friend parted from her
aweek later, after the saddest holiday he had
and what becomes of you, Nan 9'' he asked
watching the patient eyes tnat siniieo WHEN
others would have wept.
IL shall stay in the dear old house; for no
other place would seem like home TO me-.
shall fad some little child to love al care Ior
and be quite happy till the girls come back
and want me-"
John nodded wisely, as he listened, and
went away prophesying within himself
"She shall fad something more IMAM a chllo
TO love: and, God willing, shall be very happy
till the girls come home and-cannot nave
herr
Mans plan was carried into effect. Slowly
the divided waters closed again, and the three
fell back into their old life. But the touch OF
sorrsw drew them closer; and, though invlsi-
BILE 4 belo we'd presence still moved among them,
a familiar voice still spoke 10 tnem In the
siianca of their softened hearts. Thus the soil
was made ready, and in the depth OF winter
the good seed was sown, was watered with
many tears and soon sprang up green win
The promise of a harvest for their after years.
ID aud Laura consoled themselves with
their fayorite employ ments, unconscious that
Nan was growing paler, thinner, ana more ST.
lent, AS the weeks went oy, TIL one oay sue
dropped uietiy before them, and 1t suddenly
became man fest that she was utterly worn
out with many cares, and the secret suffering
of a tender heart berett Of the paternal love
which had beef its strength and stay.
I'm only tired dear girls. Don't be trou-
bled, for L shall be up Tomorrow" she said
cheerily, as she looked into the anxious faces
bending over her.
growth, and it was weeks before that "to-
morrow" came.
Laura ms tailed herselfas nurse and her de-
youon was repsid four-fold; for, sitting at
her sisters bedside, she learned a finer art
than that she had left. Her eye grew clear to
see the beauty of self-denying life. and in the
depths CT Mans meek nature she found the
strong, sweet virtues that made her what she
was.
Then remembering that these womanly at
tributes were a brides best dowry. Laura gave
come to another household the blessing Nan
had been to her own and turning from the
worship of the goddess Beauty, she gave her
hand 10 that humber and more human teach
er, Duty-leaI ming her lessons with willing
heart, for Philips sake
Dicorked her inkstand, locked her bookcase,
and went at homework as II II were i've
barred gate; OF course she missed the leap,
but scrambled brayely through, and appeared
much sobered by the exercise. Sally had de-
parted to sit under a vine and fg-tree Of her
own, SO Di had undisputed sway; but if dish
pans and busters had tongues, direfui would
have been the history of that crusade against
frost and fire, Incidence and inexperience.-
But they were dumb, and Di scorned to COM
plain, through series OF messes equal to a
course OF prince Benreddin's" peppery tarts.
Reality turned Romance out of doors for,
unIike her tayorite heroines in satin and tears,
or helmet and shield, hi met her fate in a big
checked apron and dust-cap, wonderful to see;
vet she welded her broom as stoutly as "Moli
PITCHER shouIdered her gun, and marched to
her daily Inartyrdom in The kitchen with as
heroic heart as the Maid OF Orleans" took
10 her stake.
Mind won the victory over matter in the
end, aud Di was better all her days for the tri-
bulatioDs and the triumphs Of That time; for
she drowned her idle fancies in her wash-tub,
Inada burnt offerings of sefshness and pride
and learned the worth OF self-deniaI as she
sang with happy voice among the pots and
ketties of her conquered realm.
Nan thought OF j ohn aad in the stiffness of
tcE piSSS 11cdscu W Keep
him za:e, and make her worthy TO receive ana
STRONG enough TO bear the blessedness or pain
OF love.
Saow fell without, and keen winds howled
among the iea1iess elms, but 'herbs of grace"
were blooming beautifully in the sunshine Of
sincere endeavor, and this dreariest season
proved the most fruitful of the year. for love
taught Laura, labor chastened Di, and patience
fitted Nan tor the blessing of her life.
Nature, that stillest, yet most dIilgent OF
housewives, began ut last that spring Clean
ing" which she makes so pleasant that none
tnd the heart 10 grumble as they DO when other
matrons set their premises adjust. Her hand
maids, wind and rain and sun, swept, washed,
and garnished busiiy, green carpets were un-
rolled apple boughs were hung with drape-
ries OF bloom, and dandeiions, pet nurslings
of the year, came out to play upon the sward.
From the South returned that opera troupe
whose manager is never in despair, whose
tenor never suiks, whose prima dona never
fails, aud in the orchard bona fde matinees
were held, TO which buttercups and clovers
crowded In their prettiest spring hats and
yerdant young blades twinkied their dewy
iorgnettes, as they bowed and made way for
the floral bellies. F.a at,f-
May was bidding June good-morrow, and
the roses were just dreaming that 1t was al
most time TO wake, when John came again
into the quiet room which now seemed the
Eden that cou tanned his Eve. OF course there
was jubilee but something seemed TO have
betallen the whole group, for never had they
all appeared in such old frames of mind. John
wae restless, and wore an excited look, NEST
unlike his asaai sereaity Of aspect.
Nan, the cheerful, had fallen into q well OF
silence and was not 70 be extricated by any
h.yFr liz ID