Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-05-22
THE PAWNED RING.
CHAPTER I.

aches SO badly. that L m AFRAID snail nave w
Give up. and not finish this work tonigbt!
and the speaker-Ellen Temple-afair young
girl-bends her throbbipg forehead on the.
table where she sat at work on an unfinished
garment.
first as last. Poverty must come, and we
cannot prevent it !" and Mrs. Temple raised
her thin, emaciated form on her pillow, as she
spoke. o.y,
-" Oh, nv dear child" she continued, "tSat
should live to see the day! Our once afHu.
ent home exchanged for this poor room; and
nv. dear daughter suffering, toiling away her
young life, 10 obtain US mere subsistence!
Can It be right? oiten ask. And yet, |
would not question Thy viii. my Heavenly
Father! Teach, me resignation and rope !"
and she bowed her lead in prayer.
The mothers distress reused the daughter
to a new struggle with her own depressed
spirits.
-" We will not rcpinc, dear mother!" said
Ellen. "This trial is sent upon us for some
wise purpose; but l am sure that God will
not wholly forget or overlook US. We will
trust him. His promises are sure; for has
he not said, that not d sparrow can fall to
he ground wi hout His notice !! Let US hope
set, dearest mother"
eyes, yes. Ellen, know that wise Parent
holds rule over all His creatures. and that
our ofiictious and sorrows are but his will !;
hut som times it is hard to believe it-lying
here so week and ill-uaable to rise-and
seeing you, my dear child. who was born to a
batter fate. toling youp young life away. 1t
does seem very hard, sometimes, to think it
right % and Mrs. Temple, sighing deeply, laid
her weary head back again On her pillow,
"But, mother, it is not SO bad, and we
won't despair Just yeti" said the young girl,
an attempt at smile lightning up her pale,
lovely face, like transient beam ofsunshinc.
{" / was wrong Just now, to yield to my mo.
mentary gloom; for see. dear mother |" and
she held up the garment upon which she had
been engaged, SIT is nearly completed, and
already nv head feels great deal better; SO
I shall soon have it fnished-and then with
the pay for it, l will procure. you the port
wine the doctor ordered and | dare say
shall get mare work, when / take this home,
and when you are we'll again ne shall laugh
at the memory of our hours of detection"
and again she RESUMED her task, and thestiteh,
stitch, of her swift flying needle, alone broke
the silence of the quiet room.
1t was scantily furnished apartment
that in which Mrs. Temple and her fair young
daughter sat. Yet there was an air of refine
ment amid their fallen fortunes, and that in.
describable .js nc sais quoi, us the French
term it, shed over all their mcager surround
ings which bespoke that better days had once
been the fate of the two occupants OF that
rented chamber il an obscure, though respec
table street, of the great New Englan me-
tropois. 1t revealed itself in the arrange
ment of the few books aud magazines upon
the table-the folds of The simple, but snowy
white muslin draperies over the spotless Win
dows-the thrifty growth Of scarlettea-
rose, magnificent calla lilly, and rose
scented geranium upon little stand-and the
tasteful arrangement OF the furniture. The
gauds and tinsels Of wealth, and expensive
upholstery ca: not make the lady, nor can
their lack destroy her spell or influence.
But, as Mrs. Temple-lying upon the pill
lows of the neat nhintz covered couch, and
looking upon the graceful figure Of her bend
ing over her. scwiug-thought CT her own
sunny, eare.frae girlhcod in happy England
homo across the sea, she could not refrain
from saving, with deep Sigh
Ellen. Your youth apd mine differ 80 wide.
10 Rut if-so some belieye-~l certain share
If sorrow must be dropped into the cup Of
life from which every one drinks, Gcd grant
that your young lips have drained the deep
est. and that the red wine of enjoyment and
happiness may be in store for you And yet,
how loug-how long such fate is coming !!
I have so often dreamed that my dear Robert
was returned to us again-then walked to find
il only dream; and go ] have settled myself
to that calm, cold despair which asks. and
hopes nothing for its future"
Mother, don't cease hoping" exclaimed
the young girl, looking up brightly, deeper
blush dyeing her cheek. " Father may be
living yetI we never heard certainly of his
deathGall YES wrapped in mystery. If the
shin was lost, he may have been saved; such
things have been; and Oh; mother, l can't
give up the belief that cheers my days, and
Visits me in dreams by night--that father will
some time return to us!" and again that smile
lighted up the lovely face of Ellen Temple.
aWell, my daughter, to your young heart
hope whispers more fatteringly than TO mlne;
But I will not repine wholly for / know all
things are possible to our Heavenly Father,
I" Yes, indeed, dear mother: and we will
hope on, hope ever'-lhe old MOTTO, yop
tnow. There will yet be sunshine, snd the
wine of happiness, forus both, / feel assured l"
said ELLEN. cheerfuliy. Sand now, see what
Little perseverance has Rccomplished,' she
said. rising and holding UP tbs gsrmelt. . II
| i I had given up q K.tls while ago, the thought
of fhis nnasishsd w0aid asSs walghaa d. ms