The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-09-07

remembrance and telling them the
story connected with it, that they may
be uroed to keep forever in the family
The virtues which it represents and il
lnstrates, and that the daughters may
each in turn merit such q memorial
from, and prove herself to be indeed a
crown to, her husband.
'.JouN FLAKEwHITE."
Having placed the box and letter on
the table, where Mrs. F. would be sure
to see it in the morning as soon as she
got up, stole back again into bed, and
unusual thing for Intellectually wish
ed for daylight.
| In the morning woke early, as in-
deed did nearly every hour during
the night, fearing to oversleep, and at
once glanced at the little table, where
all, as yet, was just as left it, and lay
quietly awaiting the discovery of the
box by Mrs. akewhite-which could
not now be long delayed--when /
should feign the profoundest slumber.
In little while she moved. and seeing
me, as she supposed, fast asleep, qui-
city arose, and, just,as [ had hoped,
and saw through half closed eyelids-l
she noticed the box at once, walked
towards it, read the address to herself
on the letter, and with smile of Won
der and curiosity, opened it, and I
watched her read it slowly to the very
end. ou
Now it was my turn to be surprised,
for had expected that her natural fe
male curiosity would already have
been hard at work diving into the box,
and her little fingers would have ex-
plored to the very last parcel in it /; but,
no-she actually dropped into a chair
i by the table, and without so much as
; touching the box, covered her face
with her hands, sobbing convulsively,
while tears commenced coming thick
and fast, tricbling through her fingers
onto the letter that lay in her lap.
t saw at once that it would never do
to let this thing go on, and besides, q
a lump in my own throat, that grew
] there in the most sudden manner.
e warned me that it was quite time to
S wake up; so with a would-bc sleepy
y yawn, and very decidedly sheepisl
a face-only that fortunately for me Mrs
" F. didn't see that satu in bed, and
,e as nothing more appropriate for thi
unlocked for turn OF affairs suggested
n itself to me, simply said:
Il "WIy, Mrs. Flakewhite~
&c She looked up at mes and smiled
"a through her tears-and if I did not Sc,
,e a distinct rainbow shining in front o
Al her face, it was because my own eye
f. were decidedly misty for the momen
I. and she came around to my side @
Ut the bed, and putting her arm aroun
" my neck, managed to say, betwee
as great gasping sobs-- A
Al John, dear! you are-entirely to
10 good-to me-that-letter- the nj
a. cest-present-I ever had-in all IN
o. life-I do thank you q hundred time
:, for whatever is in the box-but tia
letter has made me SO happy wi
:, treasure it so long as live" and o
~ she wont again-sobbing rs hard 6
ever. i
~ We soon gained our composure-ft
- I must confess that such happy tea
were contagious, and I had myself
'' slight attac1-and while dressed. Mr.
r Flakewhite fully equaled my expect;
= tons in her delight at what the be
contained. She put on her best DIRE
to give foil effect to her new magni
" ccnce, everything fitted exactly, al
''S with nice shawl she already, b;
Ia" ~ thrown over her shoulders, and t
10 new hat poised gracefully on her hea
. making an oval frame around her swe
y. face, charmingly colorcd with pleasu
p, and excitement, it was now my time
- to tire of looking at her, as / put Il
through her PAGES up and down
,o room, not forgetting a glance at t
- new CATERS as they tripped in and o
~ when suddenly she stopped, and loo
gnu ing me straight in the eyes, sa
~ d" John! these beautiful things cost
~ ~, great deal of money, and now l
wv ~ waiting for you to tell me where it
''',i came from, for know you didn't b
~. row, and am just as sure you did
''''', hare it,"
CIV at was merely part of some m
'1'' ey advanced on an order for q la
~ picture like my last one, thatyou ku
US | sold," said l, trying to look indif
nv ent and unconeerned, and being C
ioi scious at the same time of maxim
wretched failure of it. >.
III III. ooh! you sly old fellow, to k
I =, such a splendid secret from me {
90 ,,D since yesterday morning.! How
you dare so to sleep with all tina
VI your mind, and these collars and hf
kerclliefs and new dresses and hat
I'M the while tucked away in some {
Mfs. corner. / wouldn't have believed
ming vou,n
The incidents above related hap