The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-06-07
BREAD UPON THE WATER.


inmate. She was a confirmed invalid
you might trace that in her hollew checks
and the strange, unnatural lustre of he
large blue eyes; the flame of life wa
burning low on the altar of her childish
being, yet here she was alone, in the ole
arm chair, in which she reclined with ont
pillow, and a rude pine box was the only
support for her tiny, blue veined feet
There was no carpet on the moudy floor
and in more than one place door and win
dow had yielded to the remorseless hanG
of decay, and presented most dilapida
ted aspect. Yet all the scanty furniture
was arranged as neatly as possible, anc
there were even some attempts at taste, "a:
in a bit of gaily colored chintz spread
over child's footstool, and solitary
flower placed in the window seat, where
the sunbeams could touch its emerald
/ leaves.
That fower It had been poor Katy's
companion long. It's royal beauty and
luxuriance seemed strangely out of place
in the squalid, low-ceiled room, yet il
grew and fourished as if in the velvet sod
of Beldeme's stream. And little Katy
| lay back in her comfortless chair, and
looked at the splendid rose which quiv-
cred like ruby drop among the leaves,
and watched the sunlight writing its gol-
den message on the crimson folds of the
blossoms with vague feeling of wonder
1t was so strange that the radiant sun.
whose glory lay on marble pillars and
stately dwellings far away, should come
I to peep into her lonely room.
''Is that you, Jamie2'' said she softly,
as the door opened and boy of twelve
came in.
eyes. Do you feel any better Katy?
Are you tired of being left alope?"
"Not very; but there. is such weary
aching around my heart, and sometimes
it feels all on FIRE. How cool your hands
feel, jamie"
"Nevcr mind: Katy, I've been saving
wood, and earned whole quarter, and
I'm going to lay it out in oranges and ap-
Piles to sell down town. I'll make mint
of money, and then won't we have good
supper when mother comes home from
work. l shouldn't wonder if we had a
bit of cake and a bunch of grapes over
and above the medicine the dispensary
uOclOr oIOeTeu lot you!
Katy smiled and shook her head as if
in depreciating this piece Of extraya-
gancc.
'sYes, we will. Katy resumed her
brother; q 'tan't often we taste anything
but dry bread and cheese. and l havn't
forgotten that tits your birthday. sis; you
are ten years old to-day. Besides you
noed something to put shade of color
into those checks; the doctor said you
must have something to tempt your ap-
petite.
He bent down to kiss the marble fore
head as he spoke.
"How lovely that rose is to be sure!
It's almost as good as company to you
Katy, isn't it? Are you willing should
leave you alone for little while, dear?'
Eyes, Jamie, don't mind it much, y
she answered, with a deep, weary sigh;
| 'but be back as soon as possible, please.
and her wistful, hollow eyes watched him
from the room with that earnest, startling
look that we only find beneath the very
shadow Of death.
Down at the piers all was confusion and
1proar-busy passengers hurrying from
newly arrived boats-turbid waters dash
| ing and rolling against messy posts
swaying crowds, and loud dissonant vol
ces, created small bedlam around the
docks, and little jamie wandered around
With his board of fruit, feeling very lonely
and bewildered. He had piled up the
golden oranges with their sunniest side
upward; he had polished the red checked
apples until they shone like mirrors, yet
nobody stopped to buy.
''Carriage, sir? Take you to the Astoi
House. Up Broadway in twinkling
madam"
"'Ere your 'erald, Tribune and Times
--latest steamer from Europe! have pa
per, sir?"
Poor jamie! amid all this tumult, ,whai
chance had he of being noticed? He
had picked out the very bunch of grapes
that he intended for Katy, in Taylor's
window, as he came by-a plump, apo
plectic bunch, dangling from crimson
thread, where the sunshine lay full on the
purple bloom, and the amethystine shad
oMs lurked among its fullness Of fruit
age. Just at present the tempting NOR
sci seems very far off to JAMES imagina
ton.
Determined not to give way without ,
vigorous effort, however, Jamie stepped
boldly forward to the first person he saw
and held up his wares with modest
''Buy an orange, sir?"
Now, as i'll fortune would have it. thi
possible customer wasa fat, ill-tempered
pussy old man, whose choler had just bee,
Iinfamed to fever heat by tho inadysrten
descent of heavy nailed boot-heel on hi
favorite corn. At all times he consider
ed orange boys nuisance; but just nov
his slender quota of patience was entirel,
exhausted. He aimed muttered oatl
end furious blow at the fair haired boy
and rushed past to catch a retreating ON
nibus.
Jamie sprang aside just in time to es
cape the brutal blow; but it descended
full upon his stock in trade, scattering
apples far and wide! He was standing
close to the pier, and most of the frui
flew into the water where it went bobbins
up and down in the most tantalizing man
/ ner. a few apples rolled under the fee
of The crowd, but it was impossible to Sc
cure them again.
| To,o;o's Grst Saosofiop uos that nf in