The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-07-22
wANTED-A GOvERNEss.


window ourtained with coarse white
muslin, the floor covered by q scanty
carpet-somehow, the broad March
sunshine brought out every element
of poverty in the abode of the poor
widow and her daughter.
''Put on a little more coal, Amy"
said Mrs. Arde .lham shudderingly,
drawing her shawl closer around
her frail figure. as she dropped her
needle-work; ''it is bitter cold this
morning" ~,
Amy obeyed silently, yet she could
not help noticing how nearly the lit
tie stock of fuel was exhausted; and
remembering how inadequate their
slender purse was to the replenish-
ment thereof. her heart sank little.
Only little though, for Amy was
not one of the desponding kind.
No; she was sunshiny little crea-
ture. full of bright, infectious hope
fulness and somehow, in that squa-
lid room, she seemed like a fresh
rose blossoming in O sandy desert!
She was very pretty, with brown,
tender eyes, just the shade of the
heavy braid of her hair above-a
small, coral mouth, and cheeks deli
cately shaded; and as she took up
The newspaper, you couldn't help
noticing what q snowy, taper little
hand she had, with pink-tipped fin
gers, and dimples at every joint.
Mamma" she said, suddenly,
heres an advertisement for q COVER
ness"
"Well. what of it?" asked her
mother.
"Why, mamma" hesitated Amy,
"you know we are very, very poor,
and should like very much to earn
little money"
Mrs. Ardenham had bowed her
face upon her hands, and in an in
slant, Amy was kneeling beside her.
"Mamma, darling, don't cry" she
said.
"I did not mean to be so foolish.
love; but it all came back to me at
that moment-the wealth and station
we have lost-the poverty to which
hard!'
'.But, think, mammal said Amy.
cheerfully, chow delightful it will be
for me to make all my school accom-
plishments help us along in the
world. May I try for this situation?
l should like it so much"
"lf you think it best, my child"
acquiesced Mrs. Ardenham, resigned
ly.
"Then I must lose no time" said
Amy, as she began to arrange her
hair and adjust the details Of her
simple toilet. "How do I look,
mamma?" she laughed, when, at
length, she was ready to depart.
And Mrs. Ardenham's admiring.
affectionate glance brought the roses
to her cheeks as she tripped away.
For she did look exquisitely pretty.
The coarse shawl took graceful
curves about her slender form. and
the cheap straw hat, with its plain
black ribbon, might have been the
most fashionable of bonnets without
being whit more becoming.
Darling Amy!" pondered the
mother, as her light footstep died
away on the stair; "she is o perfect
little sunbeam in the darkness of INV
daily existence. Her heart has never
ached with the bitter pangs of life's
sharpest trials"
But Mrs. Ardenham was mistaken:
Amy had tasted the bitter cup-nay,
she had drunk it to the very dregs!
There was vein of poetic appre-
ciotion somewhere in the jumble of
fun and sentiment, good humor and
sarcasm that constituted Frank
Ashley, as he lay lazily on the sofa,
playing with two or three golden
haired children, who were toddling
about the room. "I'll tell you what,
Lizzie" said he to his sister, who sat
embroldering, "you spoil those
young imps about as completely as
any mamma OF my acquaintance"
"As if you didn't spoil them ten
times worsel responded Mrs. Jay,
laughing. when succeed in oh.
tanning governess, perhaps they
will be put under some sort of disoi-
pline. But really, Frank. 7 have
always wondered that you have never
married" )
"Indeed-why?" I'll
"You would make such nice
domestic sort of a husband-yon are
SO fond of home. I know that, by