The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-04-25
B. B. BLACKWELL, EDITOR.

Tubbs, whose father made his money
by keeping a secondhand clothing
store in Chatham street." said Tom
who had heard the last words of bis
sister; but not wishing to hear more
on the subject, he took up the evening
paper and retired to his room.
The dwellings occupied by the Hu.
berts as a summer residence, was one
of the largest and most aristocratic in
a pleasant town upon the east bank OF
the Hudson.
For two summers previous to the
commencement of this sketch, the
rooms had been crowded by the gay
and fashionable city friends of Lucy's,
young ladies of her own age, some of
whom were accompanied by maneu.
veriug mammas; and Tom, becoming
wearied of being fattered by the
mammas, andwitnessing the coquettish
airs of the simpering daughters, re-
solved that tn y wouldn't catch him
playing the agreeable again Accord
ingly he astounded his father and sis
ter by announcing his intention of
leaving home on the day a number of
guests were expected to arrive, among
whom was the splendid BELL Griffin"
and sweet MARY Ray" Lucy i'm
plored him to remain, saying that they
should then have no gallant but her
father. and what would her friends say !:
but Tom was memorable, suggesting
that she should send for Timothy
Tubbs, who doubtless would be happy
to be with them. The guests arrived,
and week later Lucy received let.
ter from Tom, postmarked Boston, in
when he stated that it would be many
weeks before he returned, but he hoped
his friends were happy, assuring them
that he thought often of them. Many
regrets were uttered by the disappoin-
ted ladies, and meantime Tom was
spending the time happily in quiet
New England village. But let US
turn back four years.
1t was a calm starlight evening, and
Tom Hubert was walk 'ng listlessly
along quiet street upon the outskirts
of the town, when he heard a sweetly
modulated voice caroling touching
melody, and pausing, before a vine
emhowered cottage, he saw woman,
pale and emaciated, reclining on an
easy chair, while upon a low ottoman
at her feet, sat "a young girl of not
more than sixteen years. The thin
Transparent hands of the invalid clasp
ed the fair hands of the girl, while the
large lustrous eyes, in which chrystal
tear drops were trembling, were rest
ing lovingly upon the beautiful features
of the girl, whose varying expression
told the emotions of the pure heart as
the lips uttered the beautiful sentiment
of the poet. Tom Hubert felt guilty
of rudeness In remaining so long, but
he seemed chained to the spot, and
gazed through the open shrubbery
entPanced. The face of the invalid
reminded him of the fond mother whose
loss he yet mourned, and there was
something so winning, SO angelic in the
expression of the girls countenanee,
that she made deep impression upon
his heart. The low windows opened
to the ground, and when the song had
ceased, the mother said
"Clara, / cannot hide the truth from
you no longer, and therefore will now
speak plainly. | shall not be with
you long--a few more weeks, a few
months at the farthest, and | shall
have passed away-ghall be dweller
in that cline whe.e pain, SORROW and
death enter not. could look forward
to that day with calmpess as the day
of peaceful rest, were it not for leaving
You alone and unprotected, and she
pressed her pale lips to the uptuFned
brow.
For 8 moment the young girl did
not appear to hear the mothers mean.
ing ;-then as the truth flashed apon
her mind, she wound her arrps around
her mothers neck, and in tremulous
voice exclaimed
"Say not SO, my dear mother O,
how can | live without you ?-life will
I've SO dark and gloomy-no mother, no
friend-I cannot live without you p
God never foroakes the orphan /;
sometimes it may appear very dark ;
but then the sun Of happiness, when
it does shine, is all the more brilliant
for having been obscured in dense
clouds; and friendess orphans are
watched over by guardian angels, who
shield them from evil. Yes, my dear
child, | feel assured that You will be
protected when / am gone-your own
pure heart will shield you from dan
ger"
WHO would be so base as to harm
one so ioseiy2 Yet, has it not often
been so?-but ] win protect her.
Tom mentally exclaimed, and withoat
waiting to hear more, he slowly walk
ed away, revolving in bis mind many
Oloncf,.- III f,+cro