National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-03-06


The twilight of evening had come,
and the sitting room was lighted.
Mr.. Smith took out his portfolio,
rang the bell and Bridge entered.
Bridget said Mr., Smith, Il am
sorry. but Mrs. Smith says She will
dispense with your services after
tomorrow. You have been here
two months-I wish l could say
two years-and / am sorry to part
with you. Sign this receipt, and
here is bonus with your wages
And he placed package OF coin
by the side of the paper.
Mr.. Smith took up the receipt and
glanced at the name, and then walk
ed across the room and held the pa.
per before his wife.
Mrs. Smith, said he, 'her name
is Flances-not Bridget
A blush sutfused Mrs. Smiths
face.
Frances, what State are you
fromr inquired Mrs. Smith as she
was leaving the room.
Massachusetts, she replied.
what part, Frances
Lowell
'Werp You acquainted with Mr..
Robert Dupue's family 7 she eager
ly inquired: they have the same
name as YOURSELF
Yes, quite wen,' she answered
very quietly.
'And is the old gentleman still
livingP Mrs. Smith earnestly asked,
and continued, i have not heard
from there i'll Il long time
NO, he is dead she replied with
sigh. He has been dead almost
one year
Dead. poor old man" Mrs
Smith exclaimed, and she brushed a
tear from her cheek. TEL me,
Frances, all you know about him,
and his death, and | will be thank
full to you for it,
Il suppose his death was like that
of many other poor men, she began
; and continued as sad expression
, stole over her face: The Old gen
tleman had two daughters. The
, Youngest got married and emigrated
to st. Louis with her husband, leav-
ing the eldest at home with her
, father. Finally. she too, married,
, and like her younger sister emigrat'
, ed to the West with her husband,
! and left the old gentleman alone
and believe he never heard from
l her afterwards, only through stran
:. gers. ] heard that they came tt
California, and it was said that hel
= husband. Mr. Smith, was rich.-
I Frances, hasten your recital eX.
claimed Mrs. Smith, impatiently,
| and tell me about Mr.. Dupue's
= death
, 'The tale is short one, Madam,
!. replied Fiances-and she gave Mrs
Smith y look that made her tremble
, The old gentleman she continued
+ was left alone to the tender mer
p cies of strangers. a long sickness
, followed, and exhausted his onc'
Z competent means; for, IN the all
i sence of those who should hav
y been at his bedside, there was n
: one to take care OF his affairs
Il After all was gone they mercifull.
=, sent him to the aims house!
= .Oh, my God! and he died there
4 exclaimed Mrs. Smith, between tn
70 choking sobs that escaped from he
i. lips.
's ooh, no, he did not die there
Frances replied, for his younges
a. daughter returned. She buried he
90, husband at st. Louis. and alte
,d gathering her estate together, sil
turned her attention to her father
>, house. The misfortune other parci
u. was n sore grief; but soon she PR
y paled a home for him, and for nea
~ ly q year she nursed and watche
VI over him. and on his death.bed r.
~ ~ ceived his last blessing in rewar
81 sc former dutiful conduct. Heis burie
Is beside his wife in the old buryln
~ ~ ground
w w Frances grew pale at this recita
en- and her tears fell as did those OF III
ne hearers.
''' "s 'Ah, then, my poor father is dead
~, ~ exclaimed Mrs. Smith, 'and Ella, II
,i'i ,a sister, where is she"
,cr 'She remained in Lowell som
time after her fathers DEATH Fra
, ces continued, expecting to he
'I, nu from her sister Elizabeth, to who
+! she had often written without
~. ~" ceiving any reply. She finally CT
.e,,' cluded to 20 to California. She ;
nu, rived here two months ago, and
,,io ,no strange fatality was introduc
'hv into her sisters house as a serval
''"l where sue has been ever slnce.'
,,;s Her words were so carclessly sp6
non en- that Mrs. Smith was startled.
,et. .How could this ber cxclaim
lac. Mrs. Smith, as she sprang iowa
as Frances, sand | not know you! a
lor. Ella Frances, my sister, and NJ
ave Smith extended her arms to c
md brace her. But Frances quietly p
an. vented her from doing so, as she
md piled:
up NO. Elizabeth, came here
your servant, rs such you have tire
re. ed me, and rs such will leave
$50 sa. And she left the room. Not
prayers OF her sister, nor the
sor. treaties of her biothcrin law, co
and change her resolve
1t was terrible lesson to i
..l e,I.t ..1 .t,a will never fprp II