The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-06-21
@ L A R A Will L l s
The damon Ring.

It was the night before Christmas. Mr.
Almayne did not observe the little blue
nosed boy crouching by the brilliantly
illuminated plates glass window, as b,
sprang out Of his carriage and went int
the thronged shop. How should he?-
But little Ben Morrow's eyes, eager will
the sickly sight of extreme poverty, tool
in every detail of the rich mans eqipage
and his purple fingers clasped one anothe
tight as he looked.
"Ohi'' he thought, chow nice it must b,
to be rich-to have cushioned carriages
and big red fires, and mince pies ever,
day. Oh, wish were rich!"
And Ben shrank closer into his corner
as the wind futtered his thin, worn cloth
ing, and lifted the curls with freezing
touch, from his forehead.
| Nor Mr.. Almayne observe him wher
he re-entered his carriage, drawing on hi.
lcxpensive fur gloves, and leaning amons
his velvet cushions with asigh scarcely
Hess earnest than Ben's had been.
the child's idea of ga big, red fire
would have been quite realized if he had
seen the scarlet shine that Illuminated Mr.
Almayne's luxurious drawing-room that
night, glowing softly on gilded tables, al
abaster vases, and walls of rose and gold
while, just before the genial flame, the
pale widower sat, thoughtfully watching
the Pickering spires of green amethyst
light, and very lonely in his splendid SOL
itude.
II wonder what made me think of home
just then?' he murmured, idly tapping
his foot upon the velvet rug. 81 wonder
what alchemy conjured up the old house
under the walnut tree, and the old bridge,
where the willow branches swept the wa
ters-the bridge where little Clara Will
lis used to sit and study her lessons, while
anglod vainly for the fish that never
would bite. How lovely she was, that
golden haired girl, with the blue-veined
forehead ,and dark, downcast eyesl l was
very much in love with Clara Willis in
those boy-and- girl days. should like to
know on what shore the waves of time
have cast her barque. 1t is not often that
a person one has known in lang syne van
ishes SO entirely and utterly from one S
horizon. Poor Clara! what glittering air
palaces we built in the future-how SOL
eInniy We plighted our childish troth!-
And when l came back with the fortune
on whose golden colonades our fairy cas-
tie of happiness upreared its pinnacles,
she was gone. And Mary was good
wife to me, true one; but she was no.
Clara Willis.
AS the thought passed over his brain,
he instinctively glanced down at the fin
ger upon which he wore the betrothal
ring of his dead wife. The ring was
gone.
'sLost-it can't be lost" he murmured
to himself, trying to think when and
where he had last observed it. "Can it
have dropped from my finger without my
knowledge I must notify the police at
once and have it advertised. Poor Mary
ringl I would not lose it for twice its
value, and that would be no mean sum-
1t was a narrow and murky little street
with here and there dim lamp faring
Ifeebly through the white obscurity of the
driven snow; but little Ben Morrow knew
every one of its covered flag stones BY
heart, and ran whistling down the alley.
way of tall, weather stained building
undaunted by wind or tempest.
s,See, s,what jolly glove I've found,
he CALCULATED, diving suddenly into mar
row doorway, and coming upon small
room only half-lighted by a kerosene
lamp, beside which sat young woman
| busily at work. "Halloa! is the fire out2
"Wrap this old shawl around you, Ben,
said the woman, looking up with Smil
that partook more of tears than of mirth
and you won't mind the cold so much
All the coal is gone, and can't buy an,
|, more until I am paid for the caps. Di
you sell any more matches?'
"Only two boxes" sighed the boy. !"
was SO cold, Clara, that | couldn't 6
! round to the houses.
"Well, never mind, Ben" she sal
eheerfully. 'Sit close to me, dear-we'l
keep each other warm. Oh! Ben,I shoul
like to have given you nice whole Goa
for Christmas"
'.Don't cry, sis" said the boy, leanin
t his head against her knee. Didn't 20
give me your shawl for a comforter, onl
lost it that windy day? You're just a
good and sweet as you can be, and | lov
. you just as well as if you was my Who'll
sister, instead of only half a one.'
} She smiled through her tears.
4 s'What is it about glove, Benz
. lie sprang suddenly, as if remembe
: ing. .
IA gentleman dropped it in the stree
j ran after the carriage, but it went te
E fast for me to catch up. Isn't it nice sis
q s'Very nice, Ben"
! She drew the fur glove abstractedly {
' her hand and looked at the rich dark fu
"Why, Ben, what's this?"
Her finger had come in contact wi
+ something in the little finger of the GLOW
e and she drew i. out. Even by the di
ollight of the lamp she saw the myri'
IS sparkling fascets of diamond ring.
la "The gentleman must have drawn 1T I
3. with his glove" she said, while little b
lie stood by in surprise and delight.
1T ben, this is very valuable. We oug
a, to turn it over to the owner at once.
4, "How can we. if we don't know WI
lie he is7'' said Ben.