Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-07-25

across her heart tho radience brightenen over
her sweet face ike sunshine in some fowery
dell, and the soft refrain Of the warbling bal
lad grew low with the intense depths of an
unbreathed happiness
Miss Minnie, said a servant, opening the
door, here's the seamstrsss come to see about
! that dress you want made mp for Miss Redes-
dale's party
Very wen. tell her to come in, Jane and
| Minnie put her vase on the mantei, and
! brushed away the fallen rose-leayes and flower
stalks that strewed her lap, as pale, bag
| gard woman with that constant shadow OF care
| lowering around heT forehead that is SO IN
mistakabie badge Of struggling poverty,
| came modestly in.
Minnie greeted her with that bright kind
ness that was part Of her pure and innocent
nature.
You are tired, Mrs. Eyans-sit down and
rest yourself for a little while, while [ show
you the beautiful flowers Susy Redesdale has
/ just sent me- The-e-don't you think that
( camelia is perfectly beautiful
| 'Yes, but ike the fragrant tuborcses best
You arc very fortunate in having pretty things
| Miss Minnie-some one vas telling me you
| had splendid new watch
| 30, yes-let ne get it for you to ADMIRE
said the young girl, joyously springing to her
| bureau drawer far the small white velvet cas-
ket; Isn't it perfect little gem?
Mrs Evans looked first at the tiny bijoy
with its case of deep blue enamel bedropped
with lustrous pearls. and Its exquisite delicacy
of workmanship, and then at the bright, up
turned face of toe eager fairy who was kneel-
ing beside, looking eagerly into her couute-
nance for the expected approbatiOn-and she
scarcely knew which was the prettiest.
Isn't it lovely, Mrs. Evans?'
L never saw anything half so beautiful,
Miss Minnie returned the seamstress. How
much did you pay for itF
Fifty dollars-now don't you think me
extravagant. If you only knew how long this
watch has been the object of my ambition,
and how fearfully economical have been to
purchase it, you wouldn't blame me'
Mrs. Evans smiled, and yet there was sad |
longing at the heart. Fifty dollarsi 1t see
med lik a mIne of wealth to the struggling. |
hard working creature, whose consum ptive |
husband and helpless little ones, barely sub |
sisted on the wages of constant and unre- |
nitting toll, and she could not repress sigh /
as she unfolded the light rose colored tarla- |
tan, and began to discuss the important ques- !
ton whether it should be trimmed with rib |
bon or puffs.
At length, when the matter was definitely /
settled. and the cutting and fitting over.
Mrs. Evans rose to 90, and tied on her worn |
bonnet with the same soft, deep sigh
'Oh, By the way said Minnie, as they |
stood together at the door. Il forgot TO ask |
you about your husband. Is he any better?' |
No, Miss Minnie said the seamstress sad |
ly. his cough is very much worse, and [ am |
sometimes afraid he never will be any better. |
The doctor says his only chance is in being
moved out into the country. A few weeks of
country sir and change of scene, might per-
haps revive his sinking strength. But it's nc
use thinking about it, L suppose she added,
with world of unspoken anguish IN her
tones.
You will make the trial. at leastf' ques-
toned Minnie. the tears coming into her eyes,
with loving sympathy.
oh, Miss Minnie" returned the woman
with a grief that went to the girls heart, we
can noti We are too poor. | can scarcely
supply my babies with bread from day TO day,
and so [ must see him dying for lack of the
healing balm that is utterly beyond my reach
as if it were in another world. Thank you
for your kind sympathy, Miss SelCyn,' she
added, as Minnie pressed both the van hands
in her own: 4 can only pray that this bitter
cup may never come to your sweet lips"
She went away with weary step and down.
cast head, down to the darkenine street, while
Minnie returned TO her room with a shadow
of thought deepening through the unshed
tears that glittered in her soft hazel eyes.
She took up the tiny ieweled watch and
mechanically counted the pearls that dotted
its azure surface-she remembered how long
she had been laying aside her small savings
for its ACQUISITION, and her innocent, harmless
pride in its posscssion-and then she thought
of poor Mr. Evans, dying in the narrow crow
dcd court, whore no sunshine ever came and
even the soft winds of heaven were laden with
pestiIensial vaposs,
1t was the sererest struggle through which
Minnie Sciuyn had ever passed.
But the next morning the little watch lay
in its old bed Of velvet aud satin, in the gor
geous show case on Broadway
why. Waltcrp said Miss Rcdesiale, who
happened to be looking for watch for fai-
friend from the rural district. who had COM
nissioned her with several jewelry orders,
while Walter, at the other end Of the store,
yawned over his newspaper, glanced towards
the impatient horses and secretly wondered
whether Susy meant to be all day about it"
sWellF
Here is watch exactly Ike Minnie Selu-
yn's. Do come and look at IT.
Waiter starteu up 10 lhe magic name OF
Minnie, dashed his newspaper upon the
ground, aud came to his sisters side.
What singular coincidence said be turn
ing the pretty trinket round aud round.
Not SO strange, after ALL said the jeweler,
adjusting his speetacles. Miss Seluyn sent
it back this morning-it is the very one she
had
Sent it backF questioned Susy. in per-
plexity.
We'll. may as well tel you just how it
,,.,c said the old ocntleman yyinin- his glas-