National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-06-14

OWN room anu lluIStu nv, anu sal
up with me nights, after working
hard all day and when she tho't |
was asleep | heard her prayn' for
me Her prayers wasn't out o the
prayer book, but | know the saints
heard 'em."
She stopped and wiped her eyes
on the corners of her calico apron.
Man though | was, | could have
wept with her easily. 1t went to my
very heart to think + thepoOr Young
thing doing patiently and secretly
such works of mercy. But | was
not surprised. | had read the true
eanest nature, the power of self
sacrifice, in her eyes. ':GCd bless
aud keep her~' | said to myself,
every time | thought of her, and
those times were nota few.
That day purchased Clytie,
the fac simiIe OF my own. AT night
| took it home with me, and wrote,
to go with it these words:
"Will Miss Hastings permit her
fellow -boarder to offer her Gift,
the acceptance Of Which will confer
much pleasure Her admiration of
the Clytie was so hearty aud gen
uine, ,hat he thinks to possess it
may contribute Slightly to her hap
pincSs.'
| rang for Ellen, and begged her
to take the bust and the little note
up stairs. Presently She came back,
bringing with her few lines, writ
ten in pencil;
Il accept your Gift, as | am sure
it was meant. You have designed
to give pleasure to one who possess
es few resources for amusement,
and be sure that you have succeed
ed. | thank you more than | eau
say"
She had received it, as | was sure
She would, with a simple dignity
and gratitude which, had my mo-
tives been evil, would have repealed
me far more "ttectualy than any sal-
castle refusal respected al Wo-
men. 1t was a part OF my @allN
training at the hands OF the best OF
mothers but already rcycrcnccd
that young sewing girl more than
any woman that had ever seen.
Mrs Lee puzzled me not little
when we met, as we usually did in
the parIor after tea. One or two OF
the other bodTderS Wee there at
first, but presently they went out
and we were alone. 1t seemed 10
me that her manner toward me was
far more like that of young glrl
to whom had been making love,
than ike a Iaudlady's simple oourte-
/ sy toward her inmate.
Il alu not sure that / had better
stay hele with YOU" she began.
"Gou do heguIle me, as you did last
night, into saying unWanantabie
things, revealing all my heart TO
YOU
| was utterly confounded. What
had ! been doing ! | bcthought my
self OF Mrs. Baldelrs suit against
the respected President Of the Pick
wick Club, and trembled III my pa
tent feathers. Mr. WelleI's advice
came into my mind, and | answered
a little stii1ly,-
Il had not meant to force your
confidence, dear Madam, aud / did
not know that you had ever Sald
any thing to me which the whole
world might not properly hear
4 Perhaps she thought she had been
progressing too fast. She smiled,
shook her long, iair curls, and rust
led the folds OF her black silk. She
said was - naughty man, very
naughty man, to take up things so
OF course she had not SAID any
thing To me of consequence only
it was just possible some people
might think ii little queer that She
, mad confessed not to have loved Nj
Lee quite as adorlngIy as lac hat
+, loved her. But why need she iron
/ 6le herself, when she knew II woult
. 90 no farther "
: "Of course it would not | an
+ swered. ANY thing that she dc
. me the honor 10 conlide WAS sacred.
i Then there was a pause, and
!. felt very awkward. 1t would b
: very dinlcult to say any thing more
/ thought, but Mis-. Lee did not hu'
# it So. Verify the tact 0. woman
Il wonderful In five minutes We ha
r gone back twoulys, and were tail
r. lng together on our 0Id terms
r. pleasant, easy familiarity. / Wa
+. somewhat more aUsentinihded tina
II formerly, perhaps, ior many OF III
If thoughts were wl,h the llttle Siil
|, the attic.
/ 1t was three days after lhad sci
g. her the Clytie before saw her agai
Of Then | met her on the stairs.
n. was eight o'clock, or past, in Il
evening. was going out, after Ii
rs customary chat with Mrs. Lee
n the parlol, and | met her coming /
h. her lace was very pale, and 81
as stepped YEARLY. She SMILED "a |
st tie when she saw me, anu, stoppin
to held out hc hand.
You are very KIND, Mr.. Prcseo
n. and | am molc grateful than q
vs. say
I,e II only wish" l responded eag'
in ~, that could, that you wou
let ne contribute TO your pleas,li
yc now and then. You look tired, al
y. | can't bear to STE II young girl Ii
he you wearing herself out"
ut cant be helped, sir. lam {
- iy too thankful that have son
,r. thlng to do. | need nothing
,e. ny wants are suppIlpd. 1t is pies