The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-01


were strong, ami her nature sensitive and
impreSSblr, and she had certain sense OF
having persuaded her husband somewhat
against his wishes, that rather disinclined
her to commence her preparations. 1t
was nearly IL O'clock before she dressed
herself fou her shopping expedition. She
wasjust tying the strings of her. elegant
fall hat when she heard ring at the door,
and presently servant came in with the
information that little child, who had
brought home some sewing, wanted to see
her.
Mrs. Sterling was motherly by instinct,
and her heart warmed at once to the shy
little creature who came timidly in. 1t
was girl not more than seven years old
quite too voung, Mrs. Sterling thought,
to be- trusted alone in the streets; hut then
she herself had been brought up upder
the successive rule of nursery maid and
J gOverneSS.
She took the bundle from the child'S
hand and said, with the same bright, kind
smile which had wiled John Sterling S
bachelor heart away.
Where did you come from, and how
did you find your way here alone, you
poor little thing?'
Sister Anne sent me, ma am. She had
done your embroidery, aud she thought if
she could get the money for it to pay Mr.
Jenkins, maybe he would let us stay in
the room till she got little better
She is sick, then!'
'Yes'm. She didn't feel well enough to
come. 1t has been hald getting along all
summer, for the ladies' she works for were
most all out of town. and some of them
I o9i{'g her. RDd $ 1sase. ssia'ssa, tie W0r
~ and the not having much to eat did it,
ma am
Mrs. Sterling reached towards the little
creature and looked at her more closely.
Could it be hunger, she thought, that
made those blue eyes look so large, and
the skin so transparent Was this little
thing actually suffering for brent, and she
going to spend five hundred dollars in one
evening, fcaSting those who never felt a
want even of daintieS?
| She knew now what thoughts had been
in her husbands mind when he spoke of
the suffering among the poor She said,
pleasantly:
We'll, child, you must have some lun-
cheon, and then will 90 with you to see
your sister. | had better speak to her
about the work
Isn't it right? Can't you pay her p
The child gave a start Of alarm, and spoke
with the premature wumaninrSS and the
natural apprehension IF great misfortune
which are among the sadde>t fruits OF pow
ertv.
Mrs. Sterling relieved her with ready
sympathy.
Yes, indeed. the work is all right. It's
done beautifully; but want to see your
sister about some more, and perhaps can
do her good.
1t would have made the kind lady'S
heart ache couid She have seen the eager.
ness with which the half furnished Child
,icvourrd the lunch which was set before
! her in the Kitchen.
/ IL a few minutes they were really to
, start. Mrs. Sterling had replaced her
velvet mantle by a Scotch shawl, her
French, hat by a simple straw; and with
"A basket i'll her hand, containing few
laintl 5, with which she hoped to tempt
the sick grI'S palate, she followed the
child across the city toward C->trcet,
locality hitherto teyru irc0gnitd to her.
| In half dilaridatcd wooden house, in
narrow count, She found the object of
her search. She went up two flights Of
stairs, and entered back room lighted
by one window. The atmosphere struck
her, in spite Of her warm attire, with II
sudden chill. Evidently the sun never
came there. The dampncSS on the walls,
the general aspect of gloom and cheer.
le>snrSS, was only relieved by an air of
>crupulous neatncSS, which pervaded eve
rything. Mrs. Sterling had already no.
tced this quality in the attire of the child,
which, though cheap and poor and patch
ed, was as immaculate in its cleanliness
as her own.
At the window, attempting to sew, the
Older sister sat-, but she was evidently
very i'll. Every now and then spasm Of
coughing seized her, which compelled
her to lay down her work, and clasp both
! her hands on her side, while the paleneSs
Of her thin cheek flushed into hectic.
Mrs. Sterling had not seen her before since
>prng--the work returned that morning
having been sent to her by a servant.
She went up to her and sat down in a
chair which stood near.
'Your sister said you were sick, and
so came to see if could be Of any use
to YOU, said she, in gentle tones, which
Of themselves carried a certain comfort
with them. You have changed terribly
since spring. must hear all about it;
but | want you should eat what have
brought you-here is some wine jelly, and
bit Of cold chicken-they will do you
good
The poor girl looked al the viands with
the involuntary grccdineSs Of hunger.
Then she blushed deeply, and said in a
low voice:
Il am very grateful, madam, but if
you please, will wait until you leave
me. Allow me at present to attend 10
you
NO, indcedr Mrs. Sterling spoke in
her pretty, absolute fashion. am not
going vet. | want to talk with you a
while, and shall not do so until you
have taken something to strengthen you.
Little Jane has lunched already
So the gay, bright lady sat and waited,
feeling in the new prospect of being ac.
lively useful, genuine glow Of delight.
When the girl had finished her generous
meal, and taken up her work again, Mrs.
Sterling began to talk to her.
Is this consumption, Anne?' she ask
ed gently. This cough alarms me-"
No, ma'am, am very sure it is moth
ing of the kind yet. There is no con,
sumption in our family. My fatherw a
country minister, and had a strong and
healthy constitution. He died young,
but it was from n very violent fever,
caught in attendance on a sick stranger.
I think it was grief which made my mo.
ther follow him in three months She
had always been delicate, though not
sicklv, and she lacked the strength it re-
quireS TO live and suffer- 1t is seven years
since she died, the very day little Jane