Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-05-24


rily, she put over the kettle, and soon hat
: a refreshing cup of tea for the invalid, anC
a platter of smoking potatoes for the chill
dren.
"Where is Barie9 do you know, littl,
angel 2 asked the sick mother, as she han
ded back the cup
20, yes; know" she answered cheer.
fully. "Ddnt say she would be home
early tomorrow Don't worry. Bettel
days are coming. I'll bring her in tht
morning. Good bye"
1t was as though fairy had come AMI
vanished kind-hearted fairy, too-fol
besides the supply of coal and food, hall
eagle lay in the sick fathers hand.
Murmuring to himself all the tender ad
jectives in the French language, the good
hair dresser Immediately hastened to the
court room. The Judge was friend Of
his too, and he hoped to save the child from
prison. She had not been brought in, the
court having adjourned for half an hour.
He asked for private interview with the
judge. As soon as it was granted, he tod
him all-Marie's distress, and the gene
rous kindness of the little Therese.
"Poor child good child said the
listener, wiping his glasses. "She must 60
to prison, l suppose, but it shall be cham
Der in my own house. Go into court, and
tell the same story over. 1t will be better
than lawyers plea"
He did so, and there was not dry eye
in the audience when he ceased, Even the
baker hung his head, and seemed to muse
Before the breathless silence had been bro
ken, he looked up and said to the judge ::
'f withdraw my complaint; let her go
with me and take all she wants.
The spacious room rung with applause,
and when the enthusiasm was at its height,
thoughtful old man went about the crowd
with his hat Peoples fingers fonnd their
pocket books by intuition, and when he
poured the collection into Marie's apron,
she screamed with joy. No more cold, no
more hunger, no more nakedness that win
ter they were rich.
The baker took her home himself. and
told her at the door not to worry about
bread till spring, for his wagon would
leave them all they needed, every morning.
How lightly she bounded up the staircase |
1t was like birds football, singing bird 8
in the time of flowers.
"Have you come, Marie?" two voices
spoke at once
eyes, mother yes, fathrr, and we are
rich--see !" and she emptied her apron on
the bed. How merrily the gold and silver
coin jingledl 1t was like the echo of a
harvest-song- .-the distant echo brought
back by summer breezes.
"Bless my little sunbeam bless you my
angel child" and two hands we're laid upon
her head, and tears and smiles strangely
mixed together.
"What does it mean, Therese ?" and the
mother looked wonderingly at her beauti-
full little daughter, as she came into the
parlor in obedience to- a message brought
by servant "Monsieur B. says you pro-
missed to see him tonight"
"I did, mamma. Did you bring your
scissors, sir ?" And she carried footstool
to the sofa upon which he sat, and quietly
nestled at his feet
eyes, ma belle" and he took from his
pocket shining pair.
"Therese what means this ?" The
mother spoke sternly,
~ have sold my hair to him, mamma
and he has come to cut it off
"Sold your haircut it of--werc you
crazy--are you in earnestP" and she gath
cred her to her side, and laid her hands
protectingly on her precious curls
"Tell her how it was, sir She won't be
angry then. Please, sir, tell her
He did so. Closer and closer to her
heart was the child drawn by the fearful
mother, as the narrator proceeded with his
touching story. And when it was finished,
she covered her face with kisses, and said,
with broken voice, "of such is the king
dom of heaven"
A single ringlet was severed from the
beautiful head that night one long, soft,
golden curl, which the hair dresser carried
home as reverently as though it had been
down from an angels wing. On the NOR
row he had it woven into heart's-ease
and the sunny, shining, human flower was
ever afterward worn next his heart-a tai
isman against besetting sins.
n In