The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-05-08

CHARDON, GEA UG
and have cup Of warm tea, too, and
some medicine 20 mske him well again
Mamma's going 10 get whole dollar, and
shall spend II every bit for her darling, u
said the mother, as she leaned fondly over
her child and drew the folds Of the old
quilt tighter aSQund him.
One kiss, full, oh, so full Of molherly
tenderness, and the sick boy lay all alone
in that destitute room, where the pale
Spring sunshine looked in coldly on the
nshes that were smouldering on the
hearth.
please ma'am there is a woman at
the door and has come for the dollar she
says you promised her to-day.
Goodness, Bridget ~ and q little
shadow Of cloud came over the bri1ht
forehead Of the lady,, al spent the last
cent in the house for those strawberries.
and can't leave this cake 10 see her now
either. Tell her 10 call tomorrow she
certainly shall have il and more too
"och, Mrs. Huntley, you ought 10 have
seen the look on her face when told her
you'd not the money TO day. Surely the
| poor thing is in trouble OF some Kind, It's
plain enough TO be scen," said the. gather
oquacious Bridget to her mistress, when
she turned TO 60 10 the kitchen.
ooh, dear if / had known-but the
Strawberries are bought and it cannot be
helped now. I'll make it all right with
her to morrow, Bridget"
And Mrs. Huniley showeted the berries
on the dainty fashioned cake, and hummed
sweet tune to the swift motion of her
hands, and The little shadow Of cloud
went out from her brow.
Three days passed.
"What can be the reason" murmured
Mrs. Huntley to herself, as she sa: in her
drawing room, "!hat Mrs. Gray did not
sai Tor ber money the next day ? have
iaid by two dollars for her, as Mrs, Macy
told mo they were very poor; and as in
tend TO call on that lady this afternoon.
Will learn the residence of Mrs. Gray, and
take this myself; for somehow that wo.
mans appearance troubles me-"
Goodness what place / had nc
idea they were SO wretchedly poor. -
murmured 10 herself the lady with a
gracefully pumed hat and shawl OF
strange, gorgeous devices, wrought in the
loom 81 the Indies, as she carefully picked
her way up the rickety, dlapidated stairs
which led TO the apartment OF Mrs. Gray.
She reached the door to which she had
been directed, and after having knocked
| several times without receiving any an
swer, she gently lifted the latch and looked
in. The bloom went out from the lady's
cheek at the scene which that half open
door revealed.
In the centre of the wretchcd apart
ment stood small deal table, on which
was placed coffin; and bending over this,
every feature Of her haggard face written
with history Of terrible suffering, was
Mrs. Gray. "A moment later, she raised
| her eyes and confronted those OF her ap.
palled visitor.
a startling change came over the wo-
mans face. She stepped quickly and
quietly from the coffin to the side OF Mrs.
Huntley, and laying her hand on the
lady's arm, said in low hoarse voice
"Come with me-"
The two stood together before the
| coffin snd then removing The white cloth
from the face of the boy that was hers no
longer. Mrs. Gray pointed to him, and said
slowly and sternly:
"Mrs. Huntley, be was all Lad, and
he is dead, and God will hold you re,
sponsible, for you have killed him. The
dollar that you promised me and then
withheld would have saved his lie and
when other help came it was too late"
Oh, forgive me forgive me Mrs.
Gray. If had only known" calculated
| the lady in broken tones while tears
poured down her cheeks. AS Mrs. Gray
looked at her visitor, the sternness went
out from her features, and the muscles
around her compressed mouth relaxed,
she turned TO the dead child, and put
away, tenderly, the rich brown curls that
lay in thick clusters on his marble fore
head.
cay, they can all weep for you now,
"I DNSf "i pus youi nOAueII WHO udS
not shed tear since they took away your
little arms from her neck. Oh, Mrs.
Huntiey," she continued, and the pathos
OF breaking heart was in every word !;
che was my child, my Willie, my trees.
ure, and l loved him just as well as you
could love yours, though you decked him
with jewels and nursed him IN luxury,
while l had not crust to give him when
he cried 10 me for food. Oh, Willie |
my beauttful,my darling, you are gone
you are gone, and would have Gied to
save you |"
| II
eyes, Charley, ! have left nothing un-
done for that poor woman's comfort, and
she seems CAIN and more resigned now
but oh would give all | possess to bring
that dead boy back" and with fresh
burst OF remorseful tears, Mrs. Huntley
laid her head upon her husbands shout
der.
lie put his arm around her.
"Don't cry, darling" he said, "you
meant no harm. besides it was all done for
love of me, and though the matter has
ended SO unhappily, we have | trust, both
| learned lesson for the future -