Smyrna times., 1860-01-12
THE SACRIFICE.

serve to be called pretty good husband ~
laughed the young man as he dropped down il
the lady's palm halfa dozen gold pieces.
"Yes, you are, Edward, the very best hus
band in the world" and she lifted up her swee
face beaming with smiles, as June day with
sunshine.
"Thank you, thank you, for the very fatter-
ing words. And now, dear, want you to have
the cloak by next Christmas. I'm anxious tc
see how you will look in it."
"But, Edward" gazing seriously at the shi.
ming pieces in her rosy palm, "you know we
are not rich people, and it really seems a piece
of extravaganza for ne to give thirty dollars
for a velvet cloak"
mo, it is not, either. You deserve the
cloak, Mary, and I've set my mind upon your
having it. Then, it'll last you so many years,
that it will be more economical in the end than
less expensive article.
1t was evident that the lady was predsposed
to conviction. She made no further attempt to
retute her husbands arguments, and her sna II
fingers closed over the gold pieces, as she rose
up, saying, well, dear, the supper has been
waiting half an hour, AMI know you must be
hungry"
Edward and Mary Cltrk were the husband
aud wife of year. He was book keeper in
a large establishment, with salary of fifteen
hundred dollars. His fair young wife made IA
little earthly paradise of his cottage home in
the suburbs Of the city, for within its walls
dwelt TWO lives that were set like music to poe.
try, keeping time to each other. Aud here
dwet, also, that peace which God giyeth to
those who love him.
"Mrs. Clark came into the sitting room sud-
denly, and the girl lifted her head, and then
turned it away quickly, but not unit! the first
glance told the lady that the fair face was
sw ollen and stained with tears.
janet Hill was young seamstress whom Mrs.
Clark had occasionally employed for the last
six months. She was always attracted by her
young bright face, her modest yet dignifed
manners, and now the lady saw at once that
some great sorrow had smitten the girl.
Obeying the promptngs of a warm mpul-
sve heart, she went to her and laid her hand on
her arm, saying softly, won't you tell me
what is troubling you, Janet"
"Nothing that any body can help" answered
the girl, trying still to avert her face, while the
tears swelled in her eyes from the effort which
she made to speak,
! But perhaps can. At any rate, you know
it does US good sometimes to confde our sor-
rows to a friend, and need not assure you that
| sincerely gfieve becaase of your Distress"
! And SO with kind words and half caressing
movements Of the little hand, laid on the seam
stresss arm, Mrs. Clark drew from her lips her
sad story.
She was an orphan, supporting herselfby her
daily labors, aId she had one brother Just six
teen, three years her junior. He had been for
some time a hind of undcr-clerk in a large
wholesale establishment, where there was every
prospect OF his promotion; but he had seriously y
injured himself in the summer by lifting some
heavy bales OF goods, and at last, dangerous fe
yer set in, which had finally left him in SO ex.
haustng a state that the Doctor had no hope ol
his recovery.
"And to think I shall mover see him again
Mrs. Clark" cried the poor girl, with frest
burst Of tears. ITO think he must die away
there, among strangers, in the hospital, with M
loving face to bend over him in his last hours
or brush away the damp curs from the fore
head which mamma used to be SO proud Of
O-George-my darling, bright.faced little
brother George" and here the poor girl brokt
down in a storm Of tears.
Poor child, poor child" murmured Mrs
Clark, her sweet eyes swimming with tears
/" How much would it cost for you 10 90 10 you
brother and return :" she asked at last
; "About thirty dollars. l haven't go mucl
money in the world. You see, it's nearly fou
hundred miles off; but could manage to sup
port myself after | got there"
A thought passed quickly through Mrs
Clark's mind. She stood still few moments
her blue eyes fixed in deep meditation. At las
, she said kindly, Well, my child, try md hea
up bravely, and we will see what can be dom
, for you," and the warm, cheerful tones com
forted the sad heart of the seamstress.
The lady went up stairs and took the piece
, out of her ivory portmonnaie. There was
brief sharp struggle in her mind. "Somehol
I've set my heart on this velvet cloak" sh
e thought, "and Edward will be Disappointed
| was going to select the velvet this very after
noon. But then, there's that dying boy lyin
there with strange faces all about him, an
|. longing, as the slow hours go by, for a sight
a sister that loves him, and would not III
thought haunt me every time put on my ner
cloak After all, my old broadcIoth is not 8
bad, if IT'S only turned. And, I'm sure, ca
P bring Edward over to my way of thinking. NJ
K you must go without a cloak this time, and hav
o the pleasure Of knowing you've smoothed th
:, path of going down to the valley of the shado
, of death, Mary Clark" And she closed tn
g portmonnaie resolutely, and went down stairs
,. "Janet, put up your work this moment
i" there is no time to be lost Here is the none
:, Take it and go to your brother"
= The girl lifted up her eyes moment, almo
y in bewilderment, to the ledy, and then, as ST
r comprehended the truth, the cry Of such jjC
10 broke from her lips, that its memery never fade
:, from the heart through all the after years
Mrs. Clark's life.
j. "George! GeorgeF' The words ped fro
her lips, as the sister sprang forward TO the b.
where the youth lay, his white, sharpened fac
cleaning death-like from amidst his thick "
" low curls.
r. He opened his large eyes suddenly-a fu
Is passed over his palld face. He stretched o
80 .L.. Ia ha