The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-05-03

stephen made no reply. He went out
into dark narrow land, and walked back
warus and forwards, meditating upon his
altered fortunes. One thing was certain,
he would never hear it said that his wife
was maintaining him. At the same time he
did not doubt her ability to do what she
proposed. Perhaps il lie were away, she
might be more succes ssful
Poor girl" he said almost aloud 81
have made but Il shabby husband for her
after all. If l go and leave her, she may
prosper
In the mood which he was cher shing,
it was easy for him to resolve upon leav
ing home. He felt just cowardiy enough
to desert his wife and children, rather
than accept the proposal Snan had made
to him.
1he time was come, he thought, in
which an entire change must be made
another state of things secured, or the
world should hear no more OF Stephen
Worcester.
lie old not dare to 90 back TO the house
again ; not even to look in at the window.
Sarah, sitting there with her youngest
child upon her knee, and Stcphy and lit
tie Alice beside her, handing up their
poor garments for her to mend, was
scene which he knew would shake his
purpose and he walked rapidly away
from it, crushing down the bitterness OF
his thoughts, and trying to feel that it
was better thus.
Yet often, as he paced along thro' the
rain drops that were still falling, he stop
ped irresolute, DIS he saw through the win
DOW Of some cottage, the little group that
had gathered round the father just re-
turned from his work-the clean supper
table spread for him, and all the home
ST. hts that cluster SO tondly around
man heart
Then what would Sarah think had be-
come Of him. lie almost shriekcd ont
when he fancicd her alarm. She would
think, perhaps, that he had killed him.
self Then he would hasten on again,
and Try t" forget everything.
Poor Sarah, " hat a night she passed
What week Of torture But when every
search had been made for the missing
man, and nothing could be heard of hiu,
her hopeful temper suggested something
near the actual truth and after a while
she actually started the plan she had been
talk ing Of in their last conversation, and
advertised that she would commence dress
making at her own house.
| Whether from pity to her widowed
! state, or from seeing how neatly and even
| elegantly fitted were her own plain dres-
! ses, work soon poured in upon her. Every
moment was occupied. She sat up late
and rose early to her labor ; and before
many months had elapsed, she was obliged
! to hire a girl to attend to the hoUsewOrk,
! and had also three or four apprentices.
! Her taste was so good that every one
! deferred TO it, and as she found that her
/ opinion was constantly asked respecting
! the trimmings suitable for the dresses she
made, she concluded to keep stock ON
J hand, from which she realizeda very pretty
! income.
Soon little Alice could mind the shop
when she was out of school, and Stephy
was invaluable as an errand boy. The little
fellow seemed so anxious to do everything
for his mother, that she sometimes feared
that she might allow him to do too much.
Sarah was the only one that could not
help her; but she was such good, quiet,
smiable child, that if she was no help she
was no hindrance.
Such was Mrs. Worcestcr's success in
her new business, that she not only main
tanned her family better :han before, but
she raised the mortgage from the house
ard land, leaving it free and unencum,
bered
here were few hours in which she was
at liberty to sit down aud wonder what
had become of her husband. She had III
innate consciousness that he was not dead
Something seemed to say that he had only
left her for a time ; and that after years O
patient toll he would come back to hel
again. She wished that he could know
how well she was prosperlng and at times
she would have gIveE up everything ant
shared poverty and even disgrace, for th'
sake of seeing him alive once more. Blu
again she thought of her precious children
and how much she could advance their In
terests in the world by the power whicl
+ her growing wealth could give her.
Stephv grew stouter and wiser ever.
day. A good and faithful student, she fel
that it would be injustice to tie him dow
: to me chanicaI labor, and by prudence am
t frugality, she managed at last to send hin
to college. 1t was struggle, and cost he
t and the girls many sacrifices, but the
D we're willingly made. and he went throug
0 the appointed time and received the high
). est bonors of his class at the end.
4 As profession, no decidedly preterrs'