The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-07-14


bell and Bridget entered ihe room.
Bridget SIS Nr Smith, am
sorry bul Mrs Smith says sbe viii
dispense with your services after To-
morrow You have been here two
mon,hs--I wish could say two years
-aad ] am sorry to part Wi,h you.--
sign this receipt, AND here Is d bonus
wiih your wages.
llo then placed a package Of coin
by thc side Of the paper.
Bridget took up tie pen, and, ID a
neat hand, wrote Frances Depue.'
Mr.. Smiih took up The receipt, and
glanced at ibenams. ana tiie4 walked
across the room, and held tbs paper
before bis wife.
Mrs. Smith. said he, "her name IS
Franccs-not Bridget
4 blush suiiused The wife's face.
f" Frances, what State arc yOu FROM
She inquired, as he woman was about
having the room.
Massachusetts" she replied,
What part, Franses Z"
Lowell"
Was You acquainted with MIR
Robert Depue's tamiy-ihey have
the same name as yoursell.' She ca
gerly inquired.
Yes quite we'll" she answered
very euietIy.
is the old gentleman still living =
Mrs Smith earueaily asked; ] have
not heard from here for a long time.
No, lie Is dead, she replied, with
a sigh he has been dead almost a
year"
Dead Poor old mani" Mrs
Smith exclaimed, and she brushed
away tear from her cho&, Tell
me, Frances, all you know about him,
and his death, AID will be thankful
to you for il"
u suppose his death was Ike that
Of many other good old men, she be-
gan and contihued, as a sad express
iod stole over her face. THE old
gentleman had two daughters. "lhe
youngest got married and emigrated
to ST. Louis vith her husband, leay-
ing the eldest 1t home with the fath-
er. Finally, she too, got married,
and, llke her Younger sister, emiga-
ted 70 the West with her husband,
and lcittl old gentleman alone, aud
! believe he never heard from Sher
aflerw rds. except by reports Of
slranqers. heard they came to Cal
iforna, and Il was said that her hus-
band, Mr.. Smith, was rich,
Frances, hasten your recital ex-
claimed Mrs. Smith, inpatendy, "and
tell me about AIr. Depue's death"
"Tlt tai, is a short one, madam"
replied Frances, and she gave Mrs.
Smith look that made her tremble.
The old gentleman was left alone to
the tender merces Of strangers. A
Long ,ickness followed, AM exhausted
his once competent means for, in the
absence Of those who should have
been AZ bis bedside, there was no one
to take care Of his affairs. After all
was gone, they mereifully sent the old
gentleman to the almshouse =
20. my God and he died there"
Mrs. Smith excIaimea, between the
choking sobs that escaped from her
lips.
20, no, bc did not die there, -
Frances replied, for his youngest
daughter returned. She had buried
her husband ut ST. Louis, and after
gathering hi, estate together, she turn
ed her footsteps to her fathers house.
The misfortune Of her only parent and
friend was another sad blow 10 her
but she soon provided home for him,
aed for nearly year she nnrsed and
watched over him and on his death
bed received his last blessing in re-
ward for her dutiful conduct. He is
Luricd by side Of his beloved wife, in
tie old burying-ground."
Frances grew pale At this recital,
and lcr tears fell. as did those Of her
hearers.
"Ah then my poor old father is
drad| exclaimed Mrs. Smith Ella,
my sister, Where is she Z"
She remained in Lowell for some
lime after her fathers death. cxSect-
Ing to bear from her sister Elizabeth,
to whom she had often written without
receiving any reply. She finally con-
cluded to come 10 California. She
arrived here two months ago, and by
a strange fatality was introduced into
lef sisters house rs servant, whore
,hr Las been ever since"
IIer words were 50 calmly poken
hat Mrs Smith was startled.
How could this be-" exclaimed
Nifs. Smith, a. she sprang towards /
Frances, "and ] not kaoW you! Q,
Ella Frances. my sister r
Mrs. Smith exteIled her arms to
embrace her; but Frances quietly /
lreYented her from doing 80, as she
-cpiied-
No, Elizabeth, ! came here as
-oag servant; r. such you treated me,
sd as such ! viii depart"
Frances then left The room. Neiih-
II the prayers of her sister, nor The
Of her brolhcg-in-law could
.hange her resolution.
Itwas a terrible lesson TO MFs.smilh,
,ad she will never forget il. Ella