North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-12-10

sight Of | shall not be conspicuously shabby
my secrets because you are my little cousin,
who loves me, and think my example may
have some weight with you. You are rich
enough to do great deal Of good in the same
way. 1t lis going to be a terrible winter
Taxes are such as our country hever knew
before, and goods are selling at prices we
should have thought fabulous year ago
With my wardrobe full of last years hadsome
dresses, could not think it right to buy new
ones, when the cry of the poor and the wall
of the destitute are piercing air on every
side.m
"But there have been poor people always,
Gertie, and you have never felt this before" F"
"No. / have not realized the fact of suffer
ing as l realize it now. 1t is the hour of
darkness all over the land. The resurrection
morning will come by -and-by, but now the
night is murk, and the stars are dim. have
given more to my country than gold could
buy. One l loved, and who loved me, went,
in August, with the three-years' men. He
came to me with the light of eager courage
and self devotion in the eyes, and asked me to
bid him God-speed and send him on his mis-
sion."
"And you did it ?"
eyes did it, 1t was hard struggle,
but what was that should stay at home
and keep my own, and let other women's
lovers and husbands march, and bleed, and
die, that and mine might shelter ourselves
in a smiling home and look out through plate
glass, from between soft draperies at the
winter Yes, gave him up. He is gone. He
will come again, perhaps; but can never
forget that other perhaps-that the mouth
which kissed mine at parting may never kiss
again, and the eyes at whose courage lit the
fire of my own resolve may look their last On
the smoky sky of some Southern BATTLE
ground" All .
"When had given him up longed to do
something myself Beside the one great sac
rifice all lesser ones seemed easy, and almost
his last works had marked out my path
'How shall bear 1t faltered, clinging to
him with a woman's weakness. BY being
always busy, Gertrude,' and remember the
pity in his eyes as he said it. There are so
many suffering ones to support-so many
wounds to heal
" Since he went away l have been living
a new life. | have been among class of peo-
pie have never understood before-the good
and honest poor. | have seen there sights to
make woman's heart ache, and so far as
could, have carried consolation with me. 1t
is a small sacrifice, Nan, to 60 without new
cloak or wear last years dress for the sake
of giving a shelter to the shelterless."
=" But never thought you were benevolent,
Gertrude, and you always seemed to me very
fond of dress, IN dgnifed, high and mighty
fashion of your own" ..... .-..
So l was, and so suppose am still but
that was not all ofme, Nan, needed rousing,
and / can not understand the soul which
these days of dread aud danger, these times
of parting and praying, would not quicken to
a new life.
Nan Darrow looked at her cousin.-Miss
Chaloner's face shone as if she were inspired.
Into her grey eyes food of light had broken
her pale face was flushed, her head was
erect, her chest heaved Even Mans unpeDe-
trating gaze could not fail to see that for that
soul its hour had come. ...
They did not talk much more. Mans ma
ture was impulsive demonstratiye, outspoken,
but she dared not express to Gertrude the
admiration that she felt as profound as any
sentiment of hers could be. $50 thou and
do likewise" was the only tribute Miss Chal,
oner would have welcomed,
The next morning they took the carriage,
packed with the purchases of the day before,
and started to convey them to their destina-
tions. On the way they stopped at Everett's
and took in the Madonna.
Surely this is not for one of your pen
sionors Nan asked. 81 think one would
hardly feed the hungry with pictures"
There is more than one kind of hunger.
CilIlu Nall 1Ou Sec WuetueT my gilt
will be appreciated.
They had stopped at three houses, leaving
pair of blankets here, a dress there, and at
another piece of cotton, as need was. At
the next pause Miss Chaloner took the pic
ture in her hand, and turned with smiling
face for Nan to follow her. ,~. ...
They went up two fight of stairs, and
then fain: sweet voice answered "come inn
to Chaoner's tap on the door-They entered
large and not uncomfortable room. Every
thing was scrupulously neat. In one of the
windows stood tea rose, a geranium and
heliotrope. Nan knew they were her cousins
favorite flowers. and guessed how they came
there. In the bed bolstered up by pillows
and knitting busly, was a young girl. She
was not beautiful, and yet Nan thought she
had never seen face so sweet tt was deli