The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-05-06
geIeft Story.
THE LOST P0ekEf BOOK.

drftIng snow before IL like binding
mist; aud the clouds hung so low a.
5 to almost touch the black roofs of the
houses.
I: allow desolate it is" Mrs Halpint
sighed, glancing from her attic wind
ow on the gloomy prespect below, !. .as
Il she smoothed aud folded the garment
Fshe had just completed; "and the
/ colds bitter Q Iadonit like to send you
ont, Louise, but there's not a lump OF
coal, or dust of flour, and Willie must
have that medicine. I'd go myself
\ but" ,sF., ...r-..,.,I, --f--..to....
= "0, mother, 10 let me go-Ia don't
mind if it is cold. I'll hurry back p
and the little girl sprang up from her
loU seat beside the 10 faat' t'sscfadlo, and
began to fasten ON Her faded cloak and
hood.
- EWell, I suppose you. must" the
mother continued as she wrapt up the
delicately embroidered garment. You
know the place 7 Mr. RaEdop's. on
Tenth street-that brown stone''
"Ies, yes, mother ! know"
"Well, dear, run fast, and keep
yourself warm, and say to Mrs. Raw
CON that I'd have finished the work be
fore, if Willie hadn't been SO sick =
Three dollars she owes Eme. You can
call by the bakers and getka loaf or
two"
The child took the buadle and van
ishcd out of sight down a dreary flight
of steps while the mother turned
back to the. cradle, where the sick
child lay. He held up Hislt'le hands
and moaned piteously. "Give me some
more tea, mamma, I'm SO dry
:. Yes, darling, just as soon as Louise
comes" -. s. o.r 49,
9 Her eyes filled with tears as she
raised the little fellow to her bosom,
clasping him closely to keep him warm
for there was no FIRE anithe3stove. and
the desoaate attic room was comtcrtlcss-
Yet there had been day when this
same palefaeed, meek eyed woman sat
in luxurious chamber, with every
comfort that heart could wish within
her reach e and doting husbands s
strong arms of love to eneircleA and
protect her. But her husband was
dead, lying unknown on some distant.
battlefield, and her riches had made
themselves wings ana flown away =
Forlorn and frieDdless, sick at heart,
and weary of inceesanttoil, she sat,
with Eer Wailing babe upon her bosom,
gazing out with hopeless, fearless ey 8,
upon the dismal scene beneath. Ler at
tic window. nf .sr si@lHis5 iso4I st- -i..
- In the meanwhile, little Louise made
her way through narrow by streets and
squalid alleys into the most pppulous
and fashionable parts of the city. The
biting wind still continued to bow
with dreary, saddeping wall, drifting
the low, leaden- clouds, and the mist
like snow But sic ua'ked on brave
ly, 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. Rlwdow
was giving erarld party in honor Of
her eldest daughters birth night
Louise 'crept up the marble st1ps, and
pulled the bell A footman in livery
answered her timid dsummons.S. : =
'eCan see, Mrs Rawlon, please
SIR ?" she asked -. ,.,.5i7-.,-t d. r,a-=ge.,,
"See Mrs. Rawdon. indeed and
She in the parlnr in the very middle of
the conn anvil OF course yru can't"
He was closing the door, bu. Louise
caught at his sleeve, and cried implof.
rinelys -ent 81 - u. 81 3r lt.ii's =
&c, sir, please wait !vl2Here,s the
work she wanted; Miss Violet's frock,
} you know Mother promised by to-
night; do let me take il mp to her"
~ The mane Aesitated moment and
then turnad back $50 - aLses ss ,sii !
"Miss Violet's frock," he said ;;'"sbe
wanted it, 1 know | heard her fuss
ing because it didn't come home -
May be she'll see you I'll try, any
how. Come here and watt a is.
Louise followed him through the
arcAed hall, and past the glittering
parlors, into a kind of ante-room ad
joining the supper apartment. Here
motiouing her uto-I a scat. mo went IN
search of his mistress Bat it was a
full half hour before Mrs. Rawdon
could disengage herself from. her
guests; and poor little Louise, tired
out with waiting and benumbed with
cold, was just onathe point of bursting
into terrs, when the lady stepped into
the room. f--rs5r-., .-s.srsi,,1s .,f.,- i
."Tbis is pretty business, now isn't
it f"she began. as she received and unj1
folded the bundls that Louise profer.
ed, her. II thought you promised TO
bring this yesterday 2" .-sTa ~ l. IL
eyes, ma'am but little Willie
was so sick that mother couldn't sew"
GO, yes, that's always the way
you've some excuse ready but I shant
trust you again. you may depend upon
it Here Violet's been crying for an
hour, and refused to come down be.
cause she was SO disappointed about
her dress. John. ring the bell for
Jane to take it up to her. I must go
back to the parlor now"
10 She was sweeping out again, her
satin robes rustling after her; but
Louise sprsng upawith a piteousA cry.
10 :. 40. pa.aIn, little brothers.. so ill,
must have his medicine please let
me have thesmoRey pnoizaP e go ~ 4
hif"I can't topnight-I'm entirely out
of change. You can call day after to
morrow" 7sJ, 70 ~. -
: But Louise was % net it to be repplsed.
She caught the lady's hand in both her
little frozen palms. . One of the rings
that adorned} one Of Mrs. Rawdon's
soft fingers would have procured all
the comforts, her mother and little
willie SO sorely needed. Some such
tbought flashed through the child's
mind as she made her appeal s 5an4