Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-04-04


not to increase them, as he really can't afford
/ it."
"Ma'am!" said Lucy, astonished.
"If you object, of course we must find an
other responsible person. who will include
Italian for the amount of your present salary.
Lucy s mother was failing in health. Need
we say that she was too happy to teach Italian
without remuneration, under the circumstances.
On the same morning Mrs. Robert Smith dis
missed her cook, who blundered Pate de foie
gras, and hired another at greatly enlarged
wages.
The widow Hinchclif was not only in fail
ing health, but she was nearer death than Lucy
had any idea OF. When the poor girl returned
home that evening went to six houses
first, and walked distance of seven miles
she found that her parent had been obliged to
retire TO bed. The servant alarmed at her
MISTRESS condition, had called in neighbor,
who only waited for Luey's return to urge the
prOpriety of sending for a doctor. Lucy not
only assented, but ran herself to fetch one. Il
can give you no hope" he said and she felt
that blight had passed over her young life
When one that we dearly love is stricken
down to die, we look out upon the world as
though we had no longer hope or part, or lot
therein.
She had to practice the quadriues that night
on her hired piano, in the ful6llment of the pro-
mise made to Mrs. Smith. Her mother had
fallen into one of those doing, restless slum-
bers peculiar to state of sickness, and the
thought of waking the notes of gay quadrille
music in the house on whose threshold, even
t4I., 4Lo
shocked Lucy's feelings. No, she could not
DO that let Mrs Robert Smith say what she
pleased.
She sat through the longest night she had
ever known for the heart measures the hours,
not the clock-a watcher by her mothers bed
When the glad sunshine came gushing in at
the easement, and lark after lark poured forth
his jubilant Thanksgiving for his sleep in the
dewey grass, she undressed herself and went TO
her own chamber, leaving the servant to sup
ply her place There was no visible altera-
ton in her parent, when with many fears and
one of the Suddest hearts that ever beat in hu-
man bosom, she left the cottage upon her con-
slant diurnaI mission. She was late, and had
to walk huIriedly. 1t rained, too, and she had
no smile for the toll-gate keeper He saw she
was sad, and coutentel himself with touch
of his hat, by way ofrecugnilion. He was sad,
too, for the scalded child had died during the
night BEST not to tell her now" he thought,
.she has her own trouble this morning" God
help her. She had indeed.
~ uu are full ten minutes hehind your time,
Miss Hinchlih. never find you staying ten
minutes over your time was Mrs Robert
Smiths salutation.
Il am very sorry, ma'am-but I left my
mother at home very iII-dying, ma am, the
doctor says" replied Lucy, bursting into tears.
"Dying-dear me. Of course you feel very
much put ou'; but punctuality, Mr.. Robert
Smith says, is the soul of an engagement, and
you have character to keep up-but as you
are come, you can set Priscilas mind at ease;
she isdying to play the quadrilles and to begin
her Halian.'
IL was unable to run them through last
night, ma am" stammered Lucy, my mother
was so ILL.,"
"'Then you are not ready with those quad
rifles again, Miss IIinchcliff," exclaimed Mrs.
Robert Smith; ''really, at your age, young
woman should know the value of her pro-
mise.
Il could not disturb my mother, said Lucy,
appealingk.
"Of course, | take that all into consideration"
replied her employer. But you. as a respon-
sible person, should know the value of pro-
mise. However, excuse you since your IN 9TH
er is dying -only don't let il happen again.
You will commence Prscilla's Italian this
morning, Of course
Il have been 50 unfortunate as TO forget my
own grammar, but il Priscilla is provided with
one"
Her father says he cannot afford any Ita=
liam books, her French ores came SO expensive.
He thought you could have no objection to
lend her yours.
What could Lucy say but that her books
were at Priscias service?
Her mother was worse that evening, and
had been, as the neighbors said, deierious du=
ring her absence, Lucy asked herself whelh-
er she should practice the quadrille. She was
not long III deciding. Though she shopld gr
without bread, she would not forget her duty
as daughter. Her place was at her mother
bedside.
t That day Mr.. Robert Smith paid visit tC
r friend whose gOrerness not only taught lta
lian for tie same salary that was paid to Lucy
HiuchclifP, but also prolessed to include Span
o ish. When Lucy was admitted the lext NOR
e ming, the lady placed small sum of money il
e her hand, aud informed her that domestic ar
rangementS" would render her attendance ii
u future unnecessary. The poor girl was moi
+ at all cast down by this circumstance. Was
t not her mother ill-dying at home? She woult
/ not be obliged to leave her SO early in the NOR
5 ming,
o Her mother died three days afterwards. 4
letter written by Lucy to the rich relation
:, brought cool answer back, in which the Wri
l ter recommended her to BE Industrious, aud t.
) "keep her chqrqcteF,'
And now Lucy was alone in the world il
e which are so many faces aud so many heart
t beating with warm life. Even the toll-gat
keeper had disappeared His place was sup
J. piled by stranger, man of coarse, repulsiv
l. aspect. Llcy felt the loss of even that &c
/ quaintance.
e Within month after her mothers death sh
= was compelled to resign another of her en-
gagements, her employer, widower havin
d made dishonorable proposals to her. She aC
verlised in the papers, but could not meet wit
is an appointment Sh0 had removed to lodg
lie ings now.
/ One night--a cold, rainy, November night
y Lucy Hinchcliff sat in her little room by BIZ
FIRE, much pondering over many things, whs
y, it was fitting for young girl like her TO d
o. who, being SO unprotected, was exposed TO {
IN many insults. Shegazed at her mothers po
trait, which hung oyer the mantle-shelf al
la seemed to ask advice Of the dead. But Il
dead replied not. ouly the bleak wind VIII
it tied Only the rain beat against the paEes,