New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-03-15

/ OefN J va AeNtA1 SAAAN
"oh! yes, sir, and write, and know great
deal about geography and history, and SO
does Harry, and about arithmetic, too
"Who is Harry"
'The best brother. in the world, sir. He
raises my flowers, works our vegetable gar
den, and studies at night"
"How much have you saved ?"
Harry says it is two thousand dollars
and as our home was left us by our father
it takes very little to keep us; but if find
it is going too fast I must come back here
two hours day with flowers. But we shall
be very careful of our money, for l do not
want to come here any more"
"Why, child, you have been here many
years and always seem perfectly happy"
p" / have been very happy, and am very
happy yet, but Harry is not happy while
am on the street; he has had very bad
fght with Judge Durmonts son because he
called him workey and me a street girl;
not that Harry cared for being called a
workey, it was only about me that he
whipped him."
Then he did whip him, did he?"
"Oh, yes, sir, think Harry would die af.
ter he had once struck a boy before he
would take a whipping but he does not like
to fight; this is his only fight. Then, sir, in
the letter mother left us she said that when
I was twelve she hoped we would be able to
devote ourselves to books
"Did your mother say that you must sell
fowers?"
"Yes, sir, she said that in that way we
might keep our little house, get our educa-
tions, live always together, and be inde-
pendent. She said she hated for her little
girl to be so much on the street, but that
she had committed her to God, and knew that
he would keep her from harm if she but
tried to do right. Oh sir, SO often see
her in my dreams, beautiful angel"
"How did she support you and Harry
after your fathers death ~
"BylteRching, and that is whstI wish to
fit myself for doing"
"Tell me, Nora, where you live, and
will visit you, and perhaps may be able to
do something to assist you and Harry in
your good purposes"
That evening as Mr.. Montague bent his
steps toward the home of the young
orphans the gems Of night seemed vieing
with the gas lights below in an effort to
food the earth with light, beautiful light
and though the street walkers would have
given the palm to the gas lamps, the occu.
pants of the dark attic, in their poverty and
suffering, blessed the light of heaven which
poured in at window and door and saved
them the price of a candle.
well, Nora, is this brother Harry"
Eyes, sir, and we are both very glad to see
you.a
"Child, this does seem charming little
home, and you have everything 80 clean,
orderly, any tasty. must come in day
light and see you when all the flowers are
out. enjoy snch home as this"
"We shall always be glad to sec you, sir.
But all here is due to Harry"
Now, sister, this is not justice to your.
self. Why, sir, do believe she would re.
gard one speck of dust in our little home as
dishonor to our mothers memory"
Mr.. Montague talked for an hour there
was something refreshing in a chat with
those little ones, so natural, so full of warm
impulses and generous thoughts, and when
he arose to leave they had gained friend
for life.
And now let us leave the brother and
sister to pursue the even tenor of their way,
while we take the liberty which is ours by
the usage Of centuries to speed past ten
years Of old times weary, dragging wheels
to look into home of wealth and luxury
the home of one of the first old families Of
New Orleans, the master of which had long
been noted for warm heart, and generous
deeds.
Tonight, Of all the nights Of his old age
! he seems the happiest his step is almost
young again, and delighted smile is play
ing hide and seek amid the soft burrows and
gentle lines Of his noble face.
His halls are filed, yet scarcely one but il
a friend and the guests look upon the ole
mans fresh exuberance of delight with
some surprise, but peculiar pleasure fol
all feel that he deserves the happiness OF hi
old age.
Few know the elixir Of life diffusing itsel
throughout the heart of the good and thu
kind, but it was the daily reward of tina
noble old man but this night, ah what |
night to his kind, loving heart. He hal
but son and daughter both realizationa o
his highest wishes and this morning Ed
ward had brought home lovely bride
all said, the loveliest in New Orleans ant
this night her brother was to wed hi
daughter. Both brother and sister wer'
selfmade, and exactly after the heart of tn,
old man indeed he had loved them year
ago, when his own children were off at col
lege and knew not their fathers younl
friends. Was it any wonder that he wa
happy tonight?
Harry Bartlett, young as he was, wa
already fayorably known at the bar, anl
many an ambitious mamma had asked if he
owned anything? But very few knew thai
he had sister, and as Nora that nigh
leaned upon the arm of her husband in al
the dazzling beauty ofsplendid womanhood
not one recognized the flower girl of Cana
street ten years ago, and some wondered Al
the old mans love Of flowers, displayed il
such profnsion throughout the halls of Mon
tagpe home, never dreaming that there wa
a fond association in the cid mans hear
between them and his lovely new daughter
All, it was very sweet to him to look bacl
to former days aud see again the beautifu