The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-08-05

stairs to lay aside their warm brigt
wrappiDgs, and the glitter of silver an
glass in the dining. room below betc
kened a dinner party. Mrs. Moore stoo
by the fire warming her chilled fingers
but with deadly chill at her heart {
she thought of the suffering child a
home. She glanced from the window
and found that the wintry sun had a
most set, and she felt inclined to g
home penniless as she had come. "Wai
a few moments" Mrs. May had sal
and now an hour had passed away
The servants were all out of her reach
she could not intrude herself anon;
the brilliant guests below, even if sh
had known the way thither. Sh
glanced around the room where she sat
and her eye fell on the child's bed
where the soft warm blanket and pill
lows were ready to Unfold the little
sleeper. Then, as she remembered he
own bright, noble bcy in his ricket!
chair and tattered covering at home
she groaned aloud, and fairly wrune
her hands in agony. The tears, 81
bFavely kept back. were falling nov
like rain, for the thin hand could no
check them; and, upstrung by wan
and sorrow, she could not be brave any
longer
a slight rustic. tiny football, and {
childish voice at her side lisping out
"Is you sick ?''rouscd her; and she
looked with wonder at the little Great
ure that stood beside her in rosy robes
and floating ribbons, with blue eyes
like stars amidst cloud of golden ring
lets, the tiny hands clasprd behind her
as she bent forward to look in her face,
rs you sick?" and the sweet sympa.
thy of childhood for sorrow and woe
dimmed her blue eyes as she repeated
her query. 1t was some moments be-
fore she could speak to tell the grief
that was so heavy at her beart Grave
ly and silently the baby angel listened, /,
still with the small hands claspcd be-
hind her, until the short tale was told,
when she said, with smile, 81 know
mamma fordot;" and away she bound
ed, leaving hope and a prayer in the
scamstrcss's heart. 1t was not many
moments before she returned dragging
mamma by her rich robe, saying, all
the way as she, came up stairs, one foot
at time, "You fordot, didn't you,
mamma 2" ..
Pretty little Mrs. May, with her
bright attire and cheeks all aglow, came
hurrying in SO full of compunction for
her carelessness, of heart felt sorrow for
her fault, that, sorely tried as Mrs
Moore had been, she could net feel ang
ry longer. The bill was soon adjusted;
but in her quick way Mrs. May said,
"Wait J" and off she flew. F.Here, Sa-
rah, right away ! get a basket. Now
big quilt from the room up stairs; and,
Thomas-quick l-be ready to take
this bundle-put in as much wood and
coal as you can carry. Sarah, go to
cook for some cold meat, and-1'll get
a bottle Of wine, and Lilly shall help
put up sugar and tea for u.s. And
thus she flew around chattering, and
adding to the burden until the stout
man began to eye it askanee,
and afterward remarked to the cook,
That the missus hadn't no reason IN
her at all, scndin' sich cart loads Of
things to onst." And the said cook,
being in a severe mood, echoed the SEN
like her, sending you
out when it's most dinncr-time J" and
she punched the game she was prepar-
ing for the Ere viciously. Small differ
cnce it would have made to Mrs. May
al that moment what their views might
be- She was too full of clf-reproach-
es to heed them and after sho had
the messenger and received
Mrs, Moore's heart felt thanks, the did
what just such a warm hearted, careless
little woman would be sure to do-she
'had good cry and scolded herself
in this wise /; Freezing and starving,
and l was keeping her waiting. I'll
never be good for anv thing, am
afraid" Then Lilly's soft voice and
caress recalled her, and she bathed her
eyes and smootbrd her thick ringlets
anew and if there was in her manner
that night new grace, aud in her eye
L new light, it was the grace of humili
~ when she remembered duty procras
tinated, and the glow of charity from
he ouIgushing of warm heart.
Through the long avenues, down the
GOLD, dark alley, and up, up to the
cheerless room walked, or rather ran,
poor Mrs. Moore with step SO rapid
hat Thomas could scarcely keep pace
With her. But when the crazy door
vas opened, and the white form of the
little child was seen in the chair pale
ind stiff, when from the lips no answer.
ng caress greeted the poor mother,
tout hearted Thomas fairly qua1led be-
'oreher bittergri Atfrst they thought
him dead, but faint futter of the heart
ind tremor of the eyelIds gave them
nope. Pouring wine down his throat, rub
'ing his stifened limbs, and wrapping
him close in the warm covering thehy had
brought, at last they saw the life
lowly ebbing back and by the time
he fire was lighte1 on the hearth the
10Y opened his eyes as if in dream,
md smiled as he spoke that one dear
word "Mother"
For long while in the years that
'ame after this, when Mrs Moore and
Ter son had gone off to the country,
md they met no more, Lilly woul list
IN to 10 story with so much pleasure
IS this; and when she inclined to put
IF unit tomorrow what was the task |
for today, as she was very likely to do
Mrs. May would only touch her hand |
lightly and say, "Lilly, we remember
Harry Moore, don't we, and how sorry
mamma was that she put off her duty?"
md the work as done without anoth-
r word. Years rolled away, and lent
lew beauty to the augel face of liar |