The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-10-23
@iscellanp.
;lTHR BALLET GIRL.
Her Thanksgiving.
BY GILBxRT FOREST,

~ GILBxRr FOREST, rrRs9 =.
Oh how it showed that Thanksgiving I've,
and what merry antics the wind carried on,
whisking the fakes into the coach window, and
taking al sorts Of liberties with both rich and
poor, for your wind and cold, snow and rain, are
not acquainted with ''caste," and see no differ
eace between the lofty and the lowly. iGH
The theatres were closing fast; Hamlet had
died the gorgeous transformation had been be-.
held, and the actors had thrown off the
buskin to don the costume Of the present day
Ellen Morley was no leading actress, but sim.
pie ballet girl Her female associates termed
her prude, partly from her beautiful face, face
% lovely that 1t would have been the ruin of
many a one in SO humble sphere of life but to
this beauty she added a mind and soul SO pure
that not even the slightest whisper of calumny
had ever touched her.
Not only had she herself to support. but =
mother had been for some time dependent on
her exertions, until one wild night poor Elmer
returned home TO find herself without parent;
called from her by her Maker leaving the poor
girl to battle with the world by herself Al
though the blow nearly crushed her, still she
was obliged by stern necessity to bear up. She
had at heart for the ordinary duties of life,
while suffering from the first stroke of her Attic.
ti0n, and there was lonely feeling of desolation
In her heart, for no other can take the place of
dear, faithful mother in the heart of her child,
who has trusted and loved her before all others,
or that of the child who has considered its moth
or the type of females. A wife or husband may
comfort and by their love and kindness, in a
measure, soothe the agony. But none may hope
to stay the bitter tide of woe that sweeps across
the heart-string, when the sad truth quivers
across the brsast-"Mother is dead y All of
Lies agony may be contained in that SENTENCE
OF course words were powerless to soothe poor
Elinor at first. But she was q Christian, and
her heart leaned on Him who suffered all. The
managers and all the employees of the theatre.
gave the poor woman decent funeral, and sim
cerer tears never wet the ooffin-plate than those
that fell from the eyes of ElinOr Morley, although
she was "only ballet girl" .bUC
Elinor was not allowed long to pine away, for
Ter livelihood depended on her profession, and a
week after her mothers burial she was once
more before the public it was better that it was
90, for had she been left to herself she would
soon have followed her mother to her last long
home tt ""t
Among those connected '.behind the scenes"
was young carpenter who had become deeply
smittsn with Einor, aud she was not adverse to
his advances he was not very great favorite
with his brother worknlen; he was principally
disliked en- account of his white hands, and "the
~oSo
Little this mattered to Harry Kirke, as he
called himself, for his soul was SO wrapped up
in his love for Elinor that he was insensibe to
all other objects
1t was Thanksgiving Eve ; and Elinor was GO
ing home, accompanied by Harry arrived there
he went in and staid few moments as was his
wont. ,HlN.U e
Darling Elinor, this is the eve of day when
we to offer up our thanks for all our blessings
let me offer mine up for the blessing you alone
can bestow upon me-"
"What 10 that, Harry?"
"Giye me your word to be my wife let me
have the sweet assurance that you are willing to
trust your life in my keeping until the end"
ut would be wrong and wicked in me. Harry,
to say your love is not returned, but you are
young yet and have the world to choose FROM
Will you not soon get tired of me ?"
"Old asI grow, my love for you shall know no
change"
"Well, then, dear Harry" she replied, "givs
me one week in which to decide"
"Tis long to wait"
"Have no fear, think the answer will be
yes"
With that he departed. But . short time
passed before Elinor heard knock at her door,
and to her summons of "Come in" there appear
cd the fat form OF Mrs. Banks, the landlady.
"Miss Morly, there's been man here tonight
and brought you this letter which he said was
important and rearing as how you might 20 to
bod without reading on il, if put it in the room
thought it proper and beseeming Of me to wait
up until the theatre was over and give it into
your own hands," said Mrs. B.
~ thank you sincerely, Mrs Banks, and
shall not soon forget you" was Eliuor's reply.
ut is a pleasure to do anything for 90 good,
honest and virtuous girl u you are"
And IN that one sentence COrnnYiaod the
eret of Einor's attraction to all who value these
characteristics.
The door had but Just closed when Elinor
opened the letter, for she thought it vas merely
from some of her would-be admirers, and oil such
she used to light the fire with; this, however,
was traced in lead pencil hardly legible she fl.
nally made out the following:
"As you are woman, as you are Chris.
tian come to me; am passing from this earth,
but canuot leave it with = secret upon my con-
science which so vitality concerns you and your
welfare; delay not moment. Come-oome
Gone, aud cheer the parting soul of
GERTRUDE DEvERNY."
The number and street were given, but the
letter had been left hours ago, and the writer
might, ere this, be dead and cold, thought Eli
nor.
However. she resolved to venture, and set out
on her errand Of mercy. Down Broad way flor
this is story of New York; that city of itself
that never seems to Sleep where day and night,
and night and day-work is going on--the evil
Jostliny against the good-tho lAhorer with his
greeu Jacket to his back, happy Ms the owner
OF block of stoses--where men toll for dali
~ bread--where churches tower above our very
heads, and whose bells ring of hereafter vet to
oome-here we behold the armless sleeve of the
soldier, him tor whom some wife or mother
prayed to spare q life to them so prec:ous--here
We may see many a little wan face looking be-