The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-10-25
THE aELic.

teen years oi age, VINO, clad IN deep
mourning, knocked at the door of rich
mans house in one of our largest cities,
and asked eagerly for the owner. The
servant, no doubt, partaking of the de-
meanor of his master, who was deemed
a harsh and severe man by all who knew
him, was about to turn the suppliant from
the door, when her opportunities touched
a lingering cord of sympathy in his heart
and he announced her to the kordly owner
of the mansion. He was indeed stern
man. and, apparently, hard and unfeel
ing in his nature There were deep
wrinkles on his brow, which seemed to
denote that he had not passed through
lie without = a>ia- of some of its cor
rows and many of its cares. He was in
a deep reverie when the servant entered;
perhaps counting his gains, or, it may
be, bringing back the past before him as
N glass, anu counting up his hours from
childhood to his weary age Who knows?
| low few care? But strange it was, even
to his servant, who knew SO we'll the for
bidding nature of his master, when, after
a moments hesitation, the rich man said,
'.Let her come in"
In moment the poor girl was in his
presence. 1t was strange contrast;
that weak, trembling being, treading upon
| soft carpets i'll the meek habiliments Of
poverty, in the presence of the owner of
| the owner of millions-she in her deep
humility, and he in all the loneliness of
wealth. She stood before him, and in
low, trembling tones, that were full Of
melancholy sweetness, said:
''Sir. l am stranger and in distress
| am fatherless child, and my loved
m other is now severely i'll For months
my hands have labored to sustain her,
! but poverty come too fast upon u.s. We
are poor, but we are not beggars we
came from far country, and are strang-
ers. One by one we have parted with
all our little valuables, and here is the
last relic of a loved father. He gave it
to me rs keepsake-something to keep
| Tor his dear memory; but, alas starva-
| ton is a stern thing, and necessity knows
no law. You are rich-some say You are
unkind, and yet 1 have ventured will
you buy it, sir ?''
She ceased speaking, and the rich man
appeared touched; he looked at the speak.
er with glance in which tenderness
| S :emed struggling with the morose feel
| ngs which had, for SO many years, cont
| Eealed into ice the more tender emotions
IF his nature
Look up, young lady said he.
His voice had in it a tone of sympathy
which gave her confidence; and she
used her eyes timidly to the penetrating
| glance of him in whose presence she
| stood
Let me examine the article which you
wish me to buy, '::he continued; ssand al.
| though not doing business in that line,
vet, perhaps, / may be Induced TO help
your present necessities.
The girl, with trembling hands, took
from her neck black ribbon, at the end
of which there was attached rich Jewel
of gold. 1t was of singular shape, and
upon its two sides were engraved certain
| characters. of which its pleading posses
sor knew not the meaning and yet she
priced it much, as the gift of a dearly
loved parent; and as she almost reluct-
antly placed it in the hands of him
whom she had sought to be its purchaser,
she pleaded:
''When times come good again, sir,
can buy it back, but, oh, buy it now, sir.
that / may get bread for my mother, and
procure that medicine which her malady
requires"
The rich man had taken the Jewel in
his hand, he passed the ribbon through
his fingers, and at last looked upon the
article which he was solicited to buy.
Why does he Start ? why turn ghastly
pale, and then sink into the richly cush-
ioned chair that was behind him, cover
his face with his hands, and weep like .
little child? Why press that jewel to
his lips, then to his breast, and again
/ weep
Reader. do you ask why? Let me tell
lyou. The jewel-the last relic Of tha
poor, unfriended girl and her Athlete
mother-was that of Mark Master, and
it belonged to the only brother Of him
to whom it was offered for sale. Oh!
how deep was the struggle within the
mans breastl He was rich in all that
this world can afford of worldly wealth,
but meagre in those deep and de At a6ec-
tons which make life desirable. He had
lived for himself; and he had horded up
the dross of wealth, and permitted the
fountains of deep affections to dry up in
his soul. He had forgotten his kindred,
he remembered not the old homestead,
nor the familiar faces that used to bless
him by the freside. But now, a. il
i Providence had directed it all, little
jewel. his brothers mark, came to him,