Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-05-22
CHAPTER II.

"Ellen my child, what has come over you?"
asked Mrs. Temple, as her daughter entered
the room with a slow, hopeless step, and sank
langudly i'll chair. "You were 50 differ
emily when you went out Are you i'll, dar-
ling ?n and she rose from the sofa.
mo, mother, not ill; but MIR. Truefit has
no more work for us-and so you see my lit
tie sun of hope has sunk quite down within
the last two hours. Oh, mother, mother, it
is SO bard-to be willing to work-to do any
thing to keep US from starvation-and yet
haye that denied to you" and quite overcome,
the girl kuelt down by he: mothers side and
burst into tears.
.aDon't, Nellie don't, darlingE" said Mrs.
Temple, caressingly; untyins her hat strings,
and moothing the rich, wavy hair over the
forehead of the fair kneeler. You are ex-
cited my love; you will become i'll, if you
give way to your feelings sol Let US talk
Calmly together. We must look our future
in the face now. Cheer up my pet, and. an
sure something will yet OCCUR to help u.s."
Ellen gradually grew calmer under her
parents soothing caresses; and when the
paroxysm of her disappointment had passed,
she again talked over their prospects for tho
ensuing winter.
81 might work, if had friends to assist
me in obtaining situation or might give
music lessons if l had piano-and, oh !
mother, that reminds me that the other day
our kind neighbor, the grocers wife in the
next tenement, asked if didn't think her
little Oracle was most old enough to begin TO
learn music, for she las quite an ear for it |
Mother, why can't rent piano and give
lessons I? know could in time get scholars.
Mrs. Braoders would send me her little girl,
think, and. dare say, recommend me to
others. But l forgot-we have no money to
nledpe for the piano rent, and they wouldn't
let. us have one on promise" and the bright
young face fell again.
Mrs. Temple, who had listened quietly to
her daughters words, suddenly grew anima-
ted as Ellen's last plan was unfolded, and
look of resolve settled on her face.
Rising, she stepped into small bed cnam-
ber adjoining the room wherein they sat,
onencd a drawer of her bureau, and drew
thence tiny cabinet, from whence she took
an elegant but antique ring, the sparkle OF
whose gems proclaimed them pure diamonds.
Returning to her daughter she said
"Ellen, this was your fathers first gift to
ME at our betrothal. was then, the only
and petted daughter of a luxurious home,
and he was the young captain of his own ship,
sailing from Liverpool to America. This ring
I have never parted with through all our mis-.
fortunes, but to keep it longer when God
points out the way through it whereby we
NAV obtain comfortable livelihood, would
be wrong. You may take it to goldsmith 3
and dispose of it-rent piano-and, should
YOU succeed in obtaining scholars it will be
much easier for you than to sew go constantly
as you have done of late"
aOh, mother, how beautiful" said Ellen,
taking the ring; and l remember the sparkle
Of these gems SO well upon your hand when
I was little girll I wonder had forgotten
YOU ever wore it. But mother dear, l will
not sell the ring-only pawn it; for | shall
soon earn money enough to redeem it, and
YOU must never part from dear fathers gift
But will first run over to good Mrs. Broaders
and ask if she will give me Gracie for pupil!''
and, springing up and relying her hat strings,
ths hopefIl girl bounded from the room.