New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-02-06

dry goods store down town, where he is errand
boy. He has given rs coal when we would have
frozen. and shared with US his crasts when we had
nothing 10 eat's
Joe shuddercd. They had subsisted en- pauper's
charity when he was walling up his living heart
within a tomb Of dollars.
Mark shall visit you, he said, and took her
away. She turned back and took plant, d tiny
rose tree from the window sill, and carried it out
saving, " Icant leave this, Mark gave it me-
Joe gave her q pleasant home, educated, and
loved her.
Marion he said to her enc day, be my wife.
will love you: will cherish you. My heart is
not old; your mother was the only idol it ever
had. Be an old mans darlng'
She trembled and turned pale. 81 will marry
you,' she said, and with deep drawn sigh, laid
her cold hand in his
And you will love me, Marion?'
will be your wife, sir. | respect revere
you. am grateful to you; owe you everything
Take mel will be to you faithful wife"
Alas, my Marion but some other one has your
love-your hearth
81 will not deceive you-tis true. Mark and
have loved each other always. He would marry
me if he were not so poor. But will put that
dream forever away---if you love me, am yours
| Joe's hand shook as he shut it over hers and
pallor spread over his lips. Next Sunday, then
my Marion, put on your bridal robes and we will
go to church, He kissed her cheek and went
away.
The church bells tones fell heavy on the young
| girls heart, when the next Sabbath came, and as
she took Joes to so to the altar her pallor
minded him of the dead face he had found at his
door long ago.
Marion could not lift her eyes. She knew the
tears would flow from them if she did. Quietly she
went through the ceremony. When the minister
paused to say, Who giveth this woman away
A she wondered who would There was no one she
knew to perform that office. Yet voice did an
swer and she started and looked up. Joe and Mark
were both beside her. Mark she thought,
g has given me away-oI, how could he have the
4 hearth. She took Joe's arm and passed down the
aisle bride AT the door of her house she babe
Mark adieu, for he had walked with them all the
way.
Not SO fast, said Joe softly, !" it is 10 whom
you must say adeu,n
Marion looked up bewildered.
You are nay wife, Y Mark said, winding his arm
about her; your friend thought he would give
4 you d pleasant surprise. What, Marion, disap-
pointed Forgive me--he told me you did not
love him but me. Marion Marion, what have
4 done ~
She was trembling and weeping on Joe's slloul-
| der, with her arms around his neck: his face was
4 very pale. but there was light in his eye which
only heart hallowed by good deeds sends there.
| Be happy, Marion, my child, with the man you
love- Some one, it seems, sent him yesterday,
anonymously, enough to set him up in business
some old debtor Of his fathers may be. To-day
give You this house as a wedding gift, with all
that it contains. Here is the key to the cash drawer
in my desk you can use it now for your pin
money" He blessed them and went his way re-
joicing. When Marion opened the cash drawer she
found there money sufficient to enable her to take
that position in society for which her tastes and
education fitted her; and Mark that day fell upon |
his knees to thank God for his manifold gifts and
blessings.
He hasrisen since to high position in the mer-
camille world, and lie and his wife are the pride of
Joe's heart.
No longer do the dollars GO chink, chink into
Joe's canvass bags. He finds he can keep very
busy in spending them as they ought to be spent,
and the winds seem to pour benedictions on him
as he goes about doing good he has opportunity.