Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-07-27
THE LOST BRACELET.


1t was the day before Christmas, and
late in the afternoon, beautiful and richly
dressed lady as walking up Broadway with
her arms laden with brown paper parcels.
Hundreds Of people were hurryng' along,
jostlng each other as they passed up and
down the crowded thoroughfare; but her
bright, happy face was like ray Of sun-
light in the gathering darkness of the win
ter afternoon, and the owner Of the G, ,a,-
terings shoes that had been foowi:oo ber
some distance, took courage fror, its r
'dest plea for just one penny: '
1t was low, pleading voice -, .,o,v
audible in the noise end bus, t., aronnd W.,
the lady heard it, for sh, .;s ':;o ' .,I:,s
Cd an instant at the =" ,.,,, ".os...o hos,..
,oa,;o M s'a" garment was poor pro-
'''0" from u. frosty air, and her hands
'"u pa'e '',ce locked blue and punched
""' '',' co:d; her miserable hood had CaI-
w ~ nsf SD oulder, and pair of eIo-
4uo"' eyes 'ooked zip into toe lady's face,
"n"e' W.T." Fer little s,umpy broom, she
swept cross ling.
Never mind said she to herself, I can
walk ho .me-this poor little thing needs
this M ,re than do : and she dropped in
TO tue open palm before her the only six
Penc' left. There, child, a merry Christ
mas TO you,' she said in a sweet, syrnpa-
th'7 ing voice, which made the tears come
INT 0 ,.ae dark eyes Of the little girl, as she
'n o.l to think her.
Il WAS long walk that the lady had be-
fore her, and the ominbuses ruttlod along
with a provoking empty scat or two inside,
s,at her heart was light and happy with
hhe liltle sacrifice which she had made,
as~fl just as the jets Of gas began to blaze
out CT Ae windows, she reached her home.
She had beeh married only short time,
au,. as she looked s'aund Ler pretty tea:2
Y ~ her ,k.s,- -;,st ,st1 1Gad furnished tor her in
their boarding house, size felt more than
ever grateful that God hat given her such
happy home. She had not removed her
hat and cleak, wher she heard her hus-
brnd's step in tho hall, and with smllc
and Kiss. she met him at the door.
why, Kate, how tired you look-have
you done great deal of walking to-
day:'
Kate bushed and smiled, but deception
was not part Of her nature, and she re-
piled: Yes, Henry, walked all the way
home
You shoulden'1 have done that said he,
little reproachfuIly, and he laughed
as he continue 4: did you spend all your
money, SO that you couldn't afford Six
pence to ride home with 2
well, I suppose must tell, said Kate,
with another blush. 4 did have just one
sixpence left, and was going to ride up,
when such poor little gill;
YES. that's it, I know what's coming.
Why, Kate, you make the very mischief
among The poor people and my pennies
they are the most ungrateful set in the
world
But said Kate, earnestly, she was such
delicate, half-clothed. and, sm afraid.
:ha'f>starved little street sweeper
tStreet-sweeper,' and her husband held
up bis hands ir mock horror; 'vhy Kate
they pick up handfulls Of money in day,
and didlyou walk home, and give one a
whole sxpence. Oh, oh, what wouldn't
your innocent little heart do nex,;'
Kate bore this qu:zzing very well, ard
was about to reply, when, on passing her
hand up her arm, she exclaimed suddenly:
o. Henry, my bracelet is gone-your gift,
last Christnas-what shallI do; where
can have lost it9'
'1hat IS too bad,' said he though,fuly,
Out the next moment he continued, shrrp-
g'ng up h's soulders nischievously May
oe some honest person has picked it up.'
Seeing the tears come irto his wifs's ewes
at this speech, he put his arm around Ler
and kissed her, with, Never mind, though,
1 can replace it some time
Her husband, who really loved his little
wife senderly. took her hand and put some.
.to'ng In it, closing her slender fingers tight.
~ over it, saying Don't distress yourself
any more about bracelets and street. .sweep-
.eFs; here's your Christmas gift, and the
next time you 60 down town get pretty
set OF turs With it, Kate's hand closed
over a hundred dollar bill. :,
The day after Christmas she was aoaio
40 Broadway, and as she was passing by
Inc identical spot where she had. o;von