The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-04-19
SELECT STORY.
A CHECK FOR A CARPET.
And how about the carpet" i"

COaAlDSIyJ WIN hSl hduuS CldSpeu Ou
her husbands arm. He looked down
at her moment before he answered.
She had teen his wife for five years,
but her face was as sunny and as gi.lish
as when he first wooed her. Her blue
eyes had scarcely shed a tear in all
those years, except the lazy, luxurious
tears such happy little souls weep over
the ideal woes Of story book heroines.
Her monthly rose in the French window
was not pinker than her cheeks-her
scarlet geranium was not brighter or
redder than her lips-and the pet cana
ry chipping above the blossoms was no
gayer or merryer than the little bird
ike woman who waited for John Lanes
answer He smiled as he looked at her,
and brushed back her soft, brown hair
with an unconscious tenderness.
"Yes, about the carpet, Annie. i'll
tho't we needed it, l would get it, of
course. But we use the drawing room
so little. The carpet that is on it now
is almost as bright as it was the day we
chose it, and you know how pretty we
both thought it then.
The girlish young wife pouted her
dainty lip
"Well John, but it has been down
five years, and it is only nice because
I've taken such nice care Of it. If I'd
been careless and let it get spoiled,
you'd have got another without grum-
bling, you know you would. It's too
bad, if I've got to sec things round for.
ever, Just because I'm careful Of them
Don't you get tired of seeing the same
things always, John.
Not easily, 50 long as they are the
same fresh and bright as ever. 1 am
not tired OF you, yet
She laughed, and her pink cheeks
flushed little.
"But I'm not carpet. Ours is only
Brussels, you know, and did so want
a Wilton, like Mrs. Mayne's.
80 Mrs. Mayne is the serpent in oul
Eden? Well, Annie, give me till night
70 think OF it" and he bent toward hel
for his goodbye.
After he had gone, she went into the
drawing. and took a survey of heI
possessions. The carpet was that soft
many.shaded moss-l like green, on which
everything looks so well. She comics
sed to herself that it had a more refined
air than Mrs. Maynes large-fgurcG
Wilton, which held your gaze like thu
eve OF the ancient mariner, from thu
moment you catered the room. Blu
then, she thought, she needn't buy {
great guady thing and a Wilton wa
really so much more in keeping will
her rosewood and brocatcle. Then sh
began busting some Of her books ant
ornaments.
While she stood there she heard tn
bell ring, and short parley at the door
a child's voice, apparently asking 70
food, and the cooks answer that -da.
there was nothing to spare. A SCUM
in the young sad voice, sort of uncon
planning hopelessness, struck her, an
She stepped down stairs just as Bridge
was about to shut the door.
"Come back a moment, little girl,
she said, in those gentle tones that job
Lane liked so well to hear.
The child turned, an eager light CON
ing into her face for moment, an
then going out Mrs. Lane was actin
on impulse. She almost always did
it was a good thing, therefore, that mos
of her impulses were sweet and gent
and true,
care you huugry?" she asked, pit!
ingly.
alt doesn't matter so much about n
ma'am, could bear to be hungry, br
4 | do not know what to do for my mothe
y I have tried to find place to work, br
no one will take me. They say chill
ten years old is more plague than prof
Mother had to work so hard to keep u
- and Low she has been sick while, an
she can't work, and so we have eaten u
everything. So l came out to see
anybody would give me something fl
mother, and I've asked at every houi
in the street, and everywhere they sal
just the same, and that they had nOtl
ing to-day.
Where do you live-is it far
Mrs. Lane asked
"Only few steps, ma'am-thrt
streets off
"Well, then, I'll 60 home with 20
and see your mother. Come into Il
house, while | put on my bonnet, al
Bridget will give you some bread al
butter and cold meat.
Mrs. Lanes sweet young face W
full of pity, as she hurriedly packed
basket with bread and tea aud sugar
the sick mother. Then she ran up sta
and tied on her pretty summer hat, a
down again while the hungry girl "
flushing her breakfast.
"Come little girl" she said, "what
your name"
"Ellen Stanton but my father
ways called me Nelly, and so dc
mother"
"And is your father dead ?"