The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-19
the ashes that We're smouIdering ON the

the ashes that We're smouIdering on the
hearth
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"Please, ma'am, there's a woman at
the door as has come for the dollar she
says yourself promised her to-day"
"Goodness, Bridget' "a little shadow
of cloud came over the bright forehead
OF the lady-''I spent the last cent in the
house tor these Strawberries, and | can't
leave this cake to sec her now, either.
Tell her to call again tomorrow; she
shall certainly have it, and more too"
''Oeh, Mrs. Huntley, but YOU ought
to have seen the look on her face, when
| told her you'd not the money to-day!
Surely, the puir thing's in throube OF
some kind, it's plain enough to be SEEM"
said the rather loquacious Bridget to her
mistress when she returned to the kitch-
en-.
''Oh, dear! if had known; but the
strawberries are bought, and it can't be
her tomorrow, Bridget" And Mrs.
Huntley showered the berries on the
daintily-fashioned cake, and hummed a
sweet tune to the swift motion Of her
hands, and the little shadow of a cloud
went out from her brow.
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Three days had passed.
''What can be the reason," nurlnered
Mrs. Huntley to herself, as She sat in her
dressing room, tn 1t Mrs. GRAY has not
called for the dollar. have laid by two
for her, as Mrs. Macy told me they were
very poor; and as | ana intending to
call on that lady this afternoon, | will
learn the residence of Mrs. Gray, and
take this myself; for somehow thai wo-
mans non-appearance troubles me-"
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Goodness whataplaee! had noidea
cd to herself the lady with gracefully
plurned hat, and shawl of strange, gof-
geous device, wrought in the looms of
the midas, AS she carefully picked her
way up the rickety dilapidated stairs
wherein dwelt Mrs. Gray.
She reached the door to which she
had been directed, and 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 opened door revealed.
In the centre of that Wretched apart
ment stood a small deal table, on which
was placed a coffin; and bending over
this, every feature of her haggard face
written with Il history of terrible suffer-
ing, was Mrs. Gray. A moment later,
she raised her eyes and confronted those
of her appalled, visitor.
a startling change came over the wo-
man'sface. Shestepped swiftly, quietly
from the coffin to the side of Mrs. Hunt
ley, and laying her hand on the lady's
arm, said, in Il low hoarse voice
"Come with me-
The two stood together beside the cot
fin, and 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. IIuntlcy, he was all l had, and
he is dead, and God will hold you re-
sponsible, for you have killed him. The
dollar You promised me, and then with
held, would have saved his life; and
when other help came, it was too late"
ooh! forgive me! Mrs. Gray. 1t, l
in broken tones, while the tears poured
down her cheeks.
And Mrs. Gray looked on her visitor,
and the sternness went out from her fea-
lures, and the muscles around her COM
pressed mouth relaxed she turned to
the dead child, and put away tenderly
the rich brown curls that lay in thick
clusters on his marble forehead.
GAY, they can all weep for you now,
my boy" she said-''all but your moth
err. who has not shed tear since they
took away your little arms from her
neck. Oh! Mrs. Huntley, she continued
and the pathos of that breaking heart
was in every word; she was my child,
my Willie, my treasure, and / loved
him just rs well rs you could love yours,
though you decked him with Jewels and
nursed him in luxury, while / had not a
crust to give him when he cried to me
for food. Oh! Willie! my beautiful,
my darling, you are gone, you are gone,
and would have died to save you'll"
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Yes, Henry, have left nothing un-
done for that poor woman's comfort, and
she seems calm and more resigned now;
but oh! | would give all Ipossess to
bring back that dead boy" and with a
fresh burst Of remorsefill tears, Mrs.
Huntley laid her head on her husbands
shoulder. 4sHf
He put his arm around her.
"Don't cry, darling" he said, you
meant no harm; besides, it was ali done