The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-04-23

mlt OF an introduction at present.
"Never mind, Ashby," he said, quietly;
Il appreciate your good will as much as
if it bad produced the desired effect
And now will you walk part of the way
home ?-it is lovely night"
Ten years what marvellous alchemist
it is! Sunshine on the pearlwhite down
Of new married brides starlight on fresh
ly beaped graves-joy and grief succeed
ing one another as rapidly as the chang
ing colors of the kaleidescope-and all
within the compass of ten short years.
Oh, how pitilessly the wind howle4 on
the bitter March night-how keenly the
cold found its way into the myriad of crew
ices of worm eaten doors and rattling case
ments in that dreary tenement house
where a haggard. wild-eyed woman sat
over the smoudering remnants OF what
once had been fire, and straIning her
vision over piece of fine needlework by
the light of ore dim candle.
Mamma" lisped little girl of seven
years, who had been rubbing her small
blue hands together to warm them-alaS
with no very satisfactory efect-"where
did you learn to work so fast Z
Il learned long ago, dear" said the
mother-"when | was gay grl-before
sorrow and want came to break NE down. y
She sighed heavlly-it was almost a
sob-as she spoke.
Mamma" pursued the child, "did
You think then that you would ever have
to work for a living 2"
Julia De Tore started as if an adder
had stuug ner, aud shrank instlnctlvely
from the prematurely old gaze Of her child
Don't ask such foolish questions, Ma
ry," she said almost sharply. Who Is
that at the door %
The girl rose to open the door, and
the agent whose business it was to collect
the rents of the tenement house, stepped
in shaking a shower Of snow from his
broad shoulders.
well, how is it about the money to-
night, Mrs What's-your-name p said he
IN rough though not unkind tone.
81 have not been able to ges it yet, "
she faltered.
"Well, look here, this ere is hard
case," said the man. ITO be sure, 1t
amt ny business to be lettin' off nay en-
ployers tenants, but then you have had
plaguey hard roe to hoe, | allow
'Tain't your fault that that whiskered
husband of yours run off with another
woman-'taln't your fault that you wasn t
born to scratch for a hvin' like them
tough old Irish women down stairs
Now, you see here-I'li 90 aud | kind o
guess you'll be let off easy. Him that
owns these houses is dreadful good-h heart
ed r'
Heaven bless him." murmured Julia,
through her tears.
In the CHEEKY glow of fire light and
chandelier, sat Stanwood Harley, sur
rounded by luxury and spleudor. Wealth
flowed Poctoius- like through his home; a
second Midas, whatever he touched
seemed to turn to gold and the jewels
/ his fair wife wore, were small fortune
in themselves, as she stood beside him
that evening, at the moment when the
agent was Introduced
/ "Well, Mcpherson, what Is it ?" asked
Harley, who, in the multiplicity Of bis
business cares, had almost forgotten the
block of houses in street.
The brief recital was soon made
What is the woman's name ?" asked
Harley.
We'll, it's kind of a queer name
j Julia De Torre"
/ Harley was silent for a moment, then
he spoke in an altered, yet strangely gen.
/ tie v1lce.
''Let her have the rooms rent free,
hencetorth. Aud, Mcpherson, here is q
check for what money size may need at
present. l am oniy Gods almoner fol
the wealth he has given me-"
/ The agent bowed silently and withdrew
1t was joyful heart that he carried to
the dreary home in the narrow court.
"Am | dreaming?" said Julia De
Tore, pressing her hand to her brow
"W no is thus kind to ne ~
Mamma, you have dropped this Bit
of paper" said little Mary, who had
just returned from seeing the agent de-
part.
Julia took the narrow slip of paper
from her daughters hand, and read the
! signature appended to the check, with an
indescribable thrill
"Stanwood Harley"
Truly he was avanged.