Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-02-06
at nine o'clock to escort her home.

This present gathering was not for th
benefit of the Kroos and Choctaws, bu
for the soldiers help and comfort. Pile
of great stout warm shirts, made on tn
most liberal principles, with buttons wher
they couldn't fail to meet the correspond
ing button-hole and collars of wonderful
dimensions, lay in one corner, while sock
and mittens, in all stages of progress from
the setting up to the narrowing of, wer
in the hands of the ladies assembled thel
and there. 1t would be fair to CRITICS,
the woolen articles already finished, and
dare say the freezing soldiers wouldn'
mind; but there was not much symmetr,
Displayed in their construction. If tha
pair Of socks, for instance, narrowed 81
gradually to termination, found biped
with corresponding feet, why-very well
but it will be rare instance. Then the
mittens, from some popularity in theil
construction, would keep one turning them
over from hand to hand, hoping to find g
way to wear them that wouldn't twist the
mouth in sympathy.
Miss. Sophy Grump didn't knit those
not she! If there was one thing she pri-
ded herself on more than another it was
upon the shape of the articles she knit
Thus it came to pass that she was author
ity on all doubtful points of scanning and
making stitches, and the fair damsels who
had never before tried the business came
clustering around her. ssOb, Miss Grump,
I'm in trouble again; there's great hole
herep and sweet little Minnie, Ryland sat
herself down on the stool at her feet with
a puzzled face.
'La, child !-and she took the work up
I-"you've dropped three stitches away
back, and you just 60 off and pull out all
you've done, and III fix it,"
Minnie, crest fallen, went off TO a corner
and commenced the task, while Miss
Grump continued her discourse to her
companion in loud whisper peculiar to
village gossip:
"ThaI little girl is bis cousin, you know.
Well, as was sayip,' the house Grant
Ryland was in has ali gone to smash-the
big house of Gray, Jackson, &C.,, you
know-and all Grants money is gone too,
and SO that's an end of his fine presents.-
Old Miss. Ryland was gettin' very uppish
and proud, and there's no reason that she
shouldn't be brought down."
And the speaker took a stitch or two
with such energy that her needle slipped.
81 shonldn't wonder now if he shonld
look ont for rich wife. There's Miss.
Shoddy, she'll be worth considerable after
the old mans DEATH .
''And there's Paliny,' whispered Mrs.
Gwen, and jerkod her thumb over her
shoulder in the direction where slight
pale, gray-eyed girl sat quietly knitting a
soldiers mi'ten, glancing up now and
then at the strange faces about her, for
Pauline Beaufort was stranger among
them. She was visiting at the large cid
white house on the hill, where her uncle,
John Beaufort, had lived these many
years, and she had come with her aunt 10
the soldiers society" Mrs. Beaufort was
on the other side of the room in deep dis
course with the minister's wife, and Pau
line sat and knit and dreamed over old
scenes. Sitting with her two white hands
folded together over her black dress, and
nothing but sunshine worn in her bair, one
would not guess that the orphan girl was
an heiress; but so it was. Young as she
was, already had she learned how thickly
friends in name cluster about wealth, and
already she had found them only in name.
She was practical, and did not despise her
riches. All no; she,yaulted them, not for
the diamonds 1t brought to her casket, but
for the sweet flowers she could wear in
winter time; not for the silks and laces of
her toilet, but for the books and pictures
she could gather around her; and better
still, they could buy for her such happy
smiles ON faces sad before, such pleasant
of those made cheerful by her
bounty. Ah yes! Pauline thanked God
that he had made her rich, and thanking
Him, she laid an offering always down
And 50 it came to pass that, foremost in
every good work, she had come to find
what she and her gold could do for the
soldiers.
She started from her reverie, for a famil-
lar name fell on her ear. ''Minnie Rylann,
is your cousin coming for you tonight"
and one of the bevy of fair girls in the bay
window touched the maiden's rosy cheek.
.Ryland, Ryland, if it should be" and
Pauline flushed and trembeled. The name
brought a remembrance of a summer
meeting not so very long ago, off among
The hills. 1t seemed TO recall an hour of
danger when the frightened horse she
rode was plunging and rearing quite be-
yond control-of strong hand on the
bridle-rein, of strong arm thrown around
her, strange low voice saving only,
sThank God!" and then blank. After
that boquet Of wild flowers, moonlight
ramble, long last look from deep dark
eyes, fancied pressure Of the hand, and
each had gone their separate ways, perhaps
10 mect no more. No word of love had
passed, and yet Grant Ryland was not
forgotten; and when among her worship
ers heart after heart was laid at her feet,
she grew cold, and pursuaded herself that
hey came 10 WOO her wealth and not her
self, and this was why no lovers prayer
was answered. %
Dreaming was luxury in which Pau
did not often indulge, so she quietly stole
up. to the side of Miss. Grump. Present
ing her work for adjustment TO the won
lrous fingers of that renowned knitter and
lease tell me about this thumb"
.sOh la, yes, Polinny! Excuse me, but
Ii L