Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-01-22
RUTH AMORY.
81 nElroHAETE

-AUuA EAALh 0AA A0h HAAaAAah :
afternoon ; out in the country, the
trees cast cool shadows over the
dusty roads aud Jaisy-spOtted hc.ds
and the school children trudging
homvward, stopped 70 wade in the
brook where il grew wide and ,ha.-
low, at the fording.p.lce. But only
the vision OF those COO! water, and
shcdy woods came with mOeEiug
vividness TO taunt the sld heart VI
the weary sewing girl, who SAL
with pale cheeks aud thrUhblug
temples, bending over the costly ia
brio into which her busy fingers
were weaving the silken threads IN
10 a pattern OF exquisite beauty and
taste. All day long .he Lad at
there, in the puOrly-turni,hed r9OIn,
stitch, stitch, stitching, till the in
tricate pattern Of her embroidery
ran into wild confusion before her
strained and weary eyes. Fain
was she to throw down her work
and rest her weary fingers and acil-
ing head, but she dared not releat-
less poverty urged her on, and she
must not stop, though lie knew
that she was weaving her own life
into that delicate tracery OF .eai and
flower.
She was a pale, delicate looking
girl Of twenty, slender and graceful
In form and her face, though not
beautiful, had a charm that its sad,
weary look could not hide. A very
classic head she had, with its crown
of dark brown hair brushed plainly
back from the low, white brow,
and gathered into smoothe, heavy
braids, at the back aud her large,
mounfnl, brown eyes just matched
1t in their rich velvety hazel. A
sweet, sad face it was, but there
was firmness and decision IN the
lines about the expressive mouth,
and untold power lay hidden be-
hind the sadness in her hazel eyes.
II was q face that told Of power and
genius kept down BY the crushing
weight Of poverty.
Stitch, stitch, stitch, went the
flying fingers, for ten, fifteen min
utes longer then q light step sound.
ed in the hall, o bird.like voice
sent thrills of sweetest melody into
the room, and there entered such a
vision Of lOveliness, that the little
plain room seemed turned TO q par
adise IN the sunshine Of her pres
ence. The newcomer was a young
girl Of sixteen, aud "sweet.sixteen'
she was indeed. Such rare, daz-
zling beauty, one does not see more
than once in a Lifetime. Her face
was that perfect oval which pain.
tiers affect, her features eXquisitely
moulded, aud her complexion a
beautiful migling of the rose and
lilly. Her eyes were purple, a real
violet purple lands wreath Of wav-
ing hair tossed and hoated around
her head, like a golden mist. Her
form was like a fairy's; SUCH q
graceful, splrit-like creature that
one almost looked for her 10 take
wings and Gy.
This girl should have worn the
costilest fabrics from India looms.
the richest jewels from Brazilian
mines, but her dress was as
plain N that Of the sewing girl,
whose sad face grew wonderfully
bright, as she came in, her 6eauti-
ful face oil in a glow OF girlish tri-
umph.
"Three more pupils, Ruth" she
cried, gleefully Mrs. Raymond
has promised her two daughters
and her niece"
"That is good news answered
Ruth.
But the young girl saw how
wearily she smiled az her, and she
came and .knelt down by the side oil
Ruth, twining her arms about the
neck ofthe sewing girl, and press
ing her red lips 10 the pale, war
cheek, as she said, tenderly:
Ruth, dear, you are tired out.
know. Can you not lay aside
your work for a little while, and
20 for q short walk n
mo Lillian ; | have promised tC
carry this home tonight, and II
went out, ! should not have time
to finish L." said Ruth, YEARLY
But ! must 60 on with my work
so 20 aud get tea, my little maid-oI
.alI-wOrk," she added, with an at
tempt at gayety.
Then, with q sigh, she took W
her embroidery, and turned onc(
more to her task, but her face wa
less sad and weary now. The pres
eucs Of that bright young creature
seemed to cast q genial sunshine
over all within It's sphere; and
Ruth's eyes grew very soft and gen,
tie, as now and then they rested
upon her, as she fitted about the
room preparing their frugal meal
A very scant supper It was, ou,
Lillian summoned Ruth to partakC
Of Il, with . ceremoniOus dignity
very amusing in such q gay, grace
full thing and then came gravely e
escort her TO the table, bowling like
some gallant courtier, as she offered
her pretty arm.
Ruth and Lillian ArmOry were
orphans. Time had been wbeI
they lived In comfort and plenty
with kind friends TO love and cart
for them, aud no sorrow to cloud
their Happiness ; but that wa past
Death had deprived them Of bOtt
their parents, and then came grin
, poverty to make their burden
harder.
Ruth gained a livelihood by sew.
ing, while Lillian gave instruction
in music, for which she had a rart
falauN