South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-09-01
pavement, Mamie felt that her, cup of bit
terness was indeed fnIl


had said to the genial and kind hearted snr-
geon who set the bones, but to lie still for
no body knows how long, and nv wife and
little ones with not cent ahead in the world,
Tue rent must be paid and the grocer's
bill, and coal is SO high, and the children
must wear clothes. God help Us {. don't
know what the end of all this is to be-
But Mamie know-and towards twilight,
when Frank had fallen into troubled
Siumber, aud little Aunie sat watching bo-
side his pillow, with careful Injunction 20
Keep Harry and Rose and the three year
old baby quiet, she put on her bonnet aud
stole unseen to au employment ware house
a few streets distant
When she returned it was with bun
die under her nrm-plain sewing which she
obtained
Dob, Mamie have We come to this Mr.
Eavasor asked sadly, as she sat down by
his bedside to commence her task
We cannot starve, dear-and there are
only few shillings in your purse =
Il know it-but-
lie stopped abruptly aud turned his face
to the wall with groau, whose bitterness
was deeper than any sob
Little Rose came to her mother with
pleading eyes at this moment.
'Mamma, can Harry and | have Uncle
Jared's big brown Bible to look at the fun
ny pictures?'
Mamie reached down the dusty tome
from Its obscure resting place on the top
OF dingy old secretary, and placed it on
chair, where the children could turn over
the leaves at their leisure
DO careful not to tear it, dear she
said, thinking sadly how all the other gay
wedding gifts had vanished one by one be-
fore the simeon breath of poverty, and how
this alone remained relic of the days of
prosperity. Uncle Jared was dead and
buried long ago, and his money had gone to
found hospital. Alice Dupre was conn
pnnion' to rich old vixen abroad, and
Mary Bolton was a country ministers wife
in Yorkshire.
She was thinking of all the sorrowful
changes ten years had wrought, as she
stitched away at the plain shirts that had
been entrusted her to make at lriie a
piece. Mamie had always been quick at
her needle, aud now she was thankful for
the truly feminine accomplishment.
Mamma, cried little Rose from her
chair, 'here are two leaves stuck together
tightlyp
Mamie leaned over to see Tho child
was right. Two leaves of the Book of
Psalms were pasted together by their edges
on al. their sides. She took up the scissors
to separate them, with vague, Indifferent
sensation of curiosity, and remorseful con-
science that she had not strictly obeyed
Uncle Jared's injuUctons to Study Its pa
yes well else sue would have discovered
this popularity long ago.
To her astonishment, two thin slips Of
paper dropped out
Mamma, what are these ? said inouisi.
tive Rose, STOPPING to pick them up.
And Mamie, scrutiniziDg them more
closely, saw that they were bank notes for
Eve hundred dollars each
She sat a moment in sort of bewilder-
ment, and then, like sudden 4nspiration,
came back to her the stories she had often
heard Of Uncle Jared's strange eccentrici-
ties and odd ways. This was one of them
tho bridal gift he had intended to be-
stow upon her had been hidden away in
this strange casket and now, like a spe-
ciul bencfcence Of Providence, it came to
supply her utmost needs
She leaned over and placed her hand up
on her sleeping husbands brow. lie awoke
with a start
i have been asleep Mamie be said,
looking confusodly at her with that strange
commiugling Of reality and fancy which
sometimes follows us out Of deep slum-
ber--'i have been dreaming thai we were
rich
We are rich, dear Frank, she said,
in voice that trembIcd with scarcely
suppressed emotion; aud she told him her
tale
One thousand dollars We arc rich in.
deed he exclaimed. 1T will support us
until my arm gots WE'LL
1t will do that, and leave little 10 be-
gin Che world anew With, please God, said
Mamie, with tears in her eyes. Poor.
dear, Uncle Jarcd-if ho could only see
how happy he has made US
When Mr. Vavasor's tedious recovery
was complete, there were nearly Eve hun.
dred dollars left out Of Nannie's carefully
boarded funds-and that money, for,u-
natcly invested, was the germ from which
sprang, Grst q modest little competence.
then a fortune
Frank Vavasor is a rich man now, but
be dates bis prosperity back 10 Uncle jar
eds Bridal present.
A GREAT YrrrD or Wupar F,r,.,,,,l