The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-10-24
THE LOST PooKET-BooK.

1t was checrless afLerDoon.-l
A biting. freezing wind drove the
slowly sitting snow before it like
binding mist; and the clouds
hung 80 low as almost to touch the
blari roofs of the houses.
"low desolatoit is" Mrs. Hal
pine sighed, glahcing out from her
attic window on the gloomy pros.
pect below, as She smoothed and
folded the garment she bad just
completed "and the colds bitter.
don't like to send you out, Louise,
but there's not q lump of coal, or
dust offour, and Willie must have
that medicine. I'd go myself
but"
20, mother, no let me go-I
don't mind lift is cold. I'll hurry
back !" and the little girl sprang
up from her low seat beside the
infants cradle, and began to fasten
on her faded cloak and hood.
"Well, l suppose you must" the
mother continued as she wrapt up
the delicately embroidered gar
ment. You know the place2 Mr..
Rawdon's on Tenth street-that
brown-stone."
"Yes, yes, mother! know"
"Well, dear, run fast, and keep
yourself warm, and say to Mrs.
Rawdon that I'd have finished the
work before, if Willie hadn't been
so sick. Three dollars she owes
mo. You can call by tho bakers
and get a loaf or two
The child took the bundle and
vanished out of sight down the
drcary fight of steps while the
mother turned back to the cradle,
where the sick child lay. lie held
up his little hands and moancd
pitcously. "Give me some more
tea, mamma, I'm so dry"
"Ycs, darling, just as soon as
Louise comes" :"
Her eyes filled with tears as she
raised the little fellow TO her bosom.
clasping him closely to keep him
warm, tor there was no fire in the
stove, and the desolate attic room
was very comfortless. Yet there
had been a day when this same
pale. faced, meek eyed woman, sat
in luxurious chamber, with every
comfort that heart could wish with
in her reach; and q doting hus-
bands strong arms of love to en-
circle and protect her. But her
husband was dead, lying unknown
on some distant battle, field, and
her riches had made themselves
wings and flown away. Forlorn
and friendless, sick at heart, and
weary from inccssant toll, she sat,
with her wailing babe upon her
bosom, gazing out with hopeless,
fearful eyes, upon the dismal scene
beneath her attic window.
In the meanwhile, little Louise
made her way through narrow by
streets, and squalid alleys into the
most populous and fashionable parts
of the city. The biting wind still
continued to blow with q dreary,
saddening wall, drifting the low,
lcaden clouds, and the mist-like
snow. But sho walked on bravely,
and reached at last, Mrs. Rawdon's.
A dazzling glow of light poured
from all the lofty windows, and
sounds of music and merry, making
foated out upon the frosty air
Mrs. Rawdon was giving grand
party in honor of her eldest daugh
ter's birth-night. Louise crept up
the marble steps, and pulled the
bell. A tootman in livery answered
her timid summons.
"Can rsec Mrs. Rawdon, please,
sir p she asked.
"See Mrs. Rawdon, indeed ! and
she in the parlor in the very mid.
die of the company? Of course,
you can't"
He was closing tho door, but
Louise caught at his sleeve, and
cried imploringly,
30, sir, please wait Here's the
work she wanted Miss Violet's
frocll, you know. Mother promised
it by tonight ; do lot me take it up
to her."
The man hesitated q moment,
and then turned back.
"Miss Violet's frock," he said
:. "she wanted it, l know, heard
her fussilg because it didn't come
home. May be she'll see you. Ill
. try, anyhow. Come here and wait.
houise followed him through tho
. arched hall, and past tho glittering
parlors, into kind of ante-room
, adjoining tho supper apartment
Here motioning her to q seat, he
went in search of his mistross.-
t But it was full half hour before
t Mrs. Rawdon could disengage her
, self from her guests; and poor, lit
G tic Louise, tired out with waiting
and benumbed with cold, was jus'
+, on the point of bursting into tears
!. when the lady stepped into tht
room.
"This is pretty business, now
n isn't it?" she began, as she recelv
cd and unNlded the bundle tha
= Louise proffercd her. II though
!. you promised to bring this yesler
q day2' ,.
"Yes, ma'am ; but little Wilt
i was SO sick that mother couldn'
q Sow"
q 10, yes that's always the wa.
v s-you'vo some excuse ready; bu
d | shan't trust you again, you ma
,r ,depcnd on it. Here Yiolet's bee
. crying for an hour, and refused t
oomo down hpcauso she was s