North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-03-02

moment ailerWaFuS. "nOW SnOulU lhe lO
send the dear fellow some thing O Charles if
We were only rich p aa b. esr. 95' %
"Just the thought that was in my heart
scarcely an hour ago. said DeDnson. 500
you know, Agnes, that if had thousand
dollars in cash, l could buy that little shoe
store in the village ?" ss-sa .s Hea....
"Could you 2" said Agnes, turning her
wistful hazel eyes full upon him. 60.
Charles-and then-' sa "a ..l- r.
"And then we could get married." said
Charles, taking up the broken thread of her
words in the most natural manner possible.
"But haven't got the money, nor do L see
any probability of getting it, SO, for all / can
see the best way is to rest contented with
the blessing God has already sent us st
"And have just half an hour to sit here
in the sunshine and breathe in the fragrance
Of the springing grass. before must return
to my shop. -...
Agnes was tying up a little nosegay of
white syriDgas, fragrant as the breath of
spice islands and roses, with sprays of reen
southwood, for Charles to carry with him to
the place where he toiled for daily bread
He liked to look up from his monot onous
employment to see the bright blossoms on
the window seat-t made him think of
Agnes
81 shall write Harry long letter tonight
said the girl, pensively; as she leaned over TO
gather fresh rose, although, to besure,
have not much news to communicate-except
about Aunt Hepsey's death" ....- .....
"How strange it was, Agnes" said Den
nison, "for the old creature 10 leave all her
antiquated brocades and venerable wardrobe
to strangers, and nothing to you, who tended
her through her last illness, and was always
supposed to be her favorite grand niece. ....
'No thing, Charles?" You forget the
huge old work basket, with its rusty shears
and steel thimble and ball of wrinkled
wax"
"Well, that amounts to nothing, unless
indeed you sell the working implements for
old iron," said Charles, laughing. .r. .....,..
Agnes shook her head with a smile.
No, l shall never sell anything that be-
longed to dear, funny old Aunt Hepsey. l
shall keep the basket; not because Of its in
trinsic value. but because il was hers" I'd
{" have heard, SAID Charles, taking the
completed boquet from Agnes lap, and dis
posing it with lovely ostentation in the but
ton hole of'his coat, /" of leeatees discovering
broad gold pieces fn crannies Of work -hoxes,
but unfortunately yours is a basket Pm
afraid, Agnes, that Aunt Hepsey only wan
ted to give You hint on the subject of in,
dustry when she bequcathed you these rusty
shears % .t... .-s .....'. ...s..- ..a.eraH
Nonsense" said Agnes, laughing. But
she stood on the Threshold long, long
time gazing after Charlie Dennisol as he
walked slowly down the road, under the
green, overhanging boughs of the wayside
elms. ..-.--. -..... .3-er = q. --
Dear Charles % she mused is it not
hard that we should be obliged to work so
constantly, when others revel in luxury z
But am wrong to complain; how many
girls mourn their nearest ones dead upon the
Southern plains, while my lover is safe at
home Poor, lame Charles if | could only
suffer for you - ,'s,e.. 8n.# sa# a.H
She stood moment, musing and then
reused herself determlnately, excIaimin
half aloud I'D .ts ........ a.. ..-.. ..., ... !
I" / know what will do for Harry, poor
fellow! / will knit him pair of those old
fashioned, cotton stockings that Aunt Hepsy
always said would outwear dozen woolen
affairs. 1t will keep my fingers busy, aud
perhaps still the wanderngs ofmy mind. l
don't think ] have forgotten the art of WELD
ing the knitting needles 2" d. s.r.c.-.. Of ~
The old farm house garret Have our
readers ever passed beneath the shadow of
its dreamy precincts The massive brown
rafters overhead-the little creseent-shaped
window just beyond the brick chimney
where your eye royes over the summer land
scape, stretched out in sunshine their bun
ches of summer savory and pennyroyal dang
ling from the beams-and the worn trunks |
and boxes piled against one another, like
pilgrims whose journey is done. Somehow
there was an atmosphere about this silent
garret that made Agnes Miller feel as if she
was breathing the influence of half century
ba ck-as if she was an intruding ghost on the
hush of the past! 81 But the cracked mirror
leaning against tho chimney reflected the
image of a pretty little ghost,with pink calico
dress and cheeks to match, whose small feet
patted on the massive shingles above in the
days of April and violets ss1Isra. .7s.H "a
There tho knitting needles lay in the great
wicker basket, which, with all its contents,
useful or otherwise as Aunt Hepsey's
will said, was bequeatned to Agnes Miller
They were rusty and discolored, but Ag-
mes knew she could rub them bright solshe
took the basket in her bands, and rrip-
ped away down stairs, lightly, softly as she |