National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-10-27
MAHEL'S SIORY.

MtBEL'S STORY.
We lived far away in the country IN
rustic district MY father was Postma
ter OF the little place, and kept few grc
cere, for sale. But he hal enough to d
TO maintain his family scantily and cloth
them decentIy. was sixteen, and hous,
keeper: my mother was dead, and | wa
the eldest Of us four children.
Ny one great trouble then was IN
clothes. Othor Young girls / our STATIC
that | associated with, dressed bette
than | could, and it grieyed me Vanit,
begins earlier than that in the femal
heart. had made up and remad, ever
article Of NY mothers wardrobe for th
children or for me, lad worked up ever,
shred to the be advantage: and nov
that was all gone, anl | did need a new
dress FOE the coming Winter. | made m,
shoes last as long again as other girls did
tor | knew my father needed every six
pence he could earn, and dreaded want.
ing ANYTHING. Not thar he ever wa
cross, but he otter sighed, and looked SC
panied ind sorrowiul when | asked for
money, that ] tried to do with as little a,
possible.
But here il was the last of October
my Summer dresses poor enough at all
times, looked very thin and paltry now.
One Saturday afternoon | shall never
forget. LIS what | Gm going TO tell of
Nv work all done, the children al play IN
the orchard. combed out my long brown
hair, put on my best cotton frock. selected
plain linen collar Of my own making, and
pinned it round my neck with an Cd
brcistpin, the only bit of jcwclry | had
ever owned. With me, | think it was an
instinct to dress we'll Not fine; only
neat. Then, taking out my last Winters
best frock. sat down by the wiAd1w to
see what | could do at rcnovating IT. l.
was light blue menno very light in
deed now and / knew it was too short
for me, as | was still growing, and was
very shabby. But by turning and put
ting in a wide band of trimming which
had | thought it might be made to an
swer so | set to work with a will.
The work was vexirg | was trying to
do what scarcely could be done; and as
sat sewing and contrlving. | felt fit to cry
over ou: poverty. Just thea the dog Oh
The shop sill set up a loud barking, and |
looked to see what il was at. A man
was coming IN at the gate with & pack Oh
his back travelling peddler. / knew.
lie smiled and CAM in, although | said
did not want anything; and the children.
seeing MIN, came running in too.
a. cannot alloro to buy indeed | can
not" ! kept saying But the man only
kept on smiling, and opened bis pack on
the parlor fJor Aud it was too great a
treat to me to see the things, to make
great opposition.
The first that came out was inst the
very thing that | hal most longed fora
beautiful fine French mcrino, OF a dark
crimson color. | had once seen dress OF
this kind, but none had ever been offered
for sale in our little place that could equal
this in shade or texture.
The pe1Gler looked at me with his
keen black eyes as | knelt down to feel
the prize had no hope OF winning. The
lady will buy he said but shook my
head, and crossing my hanIs behind me,
stood up resolutely, trying hard not to
long iCr the much-deslred piece of goods.
Not buy y he exclaimed IN IA broken
LANGUAGE of some sort, | could not tell
whether German or French and he look
ed SO astonlshed, even pititul, that | felt |
sorry at once, ard confessed that | had no
money, and could not purchase.
But the beautiful young lady have |
some old siver-old iewelry- old silk |
dresses Just good as money ?" said be-
laughed at the idea, but he only open
ed another package to display to the boys
some dumb watches with vcry gay chains,
and handing them each one, he took oCt a
small doll for my little sister, and told
them tn run away now, It'll sister bought
her dress | motloned to the boys 10
stay near the doorstep, and then taking
up the much-coveted dress s-piece, again
examined it, Satan was tempting me, or
some vexatous spirit that does duty for
him, and never had been so sorely beset.
How could let it 60, yet how pay for it
The black eyes never left my face, but
he fellow was respectful only bowing
lower as he said, You think it good Z"
"Oh, yes" | replied, too good for
me.n
Not so,n he said at suits you
much, and You shall have cheap"
tell you / have no mon5y."
No matter, | trust. You give me
something TO keep for you, and | come
again." he said
But have nothing" insisted. Still
ne only seemed more eager; said some
thing of hard times, of having to stay at
the tavern and expenses over Sunday. of
beng SO Every tire"-and | wi the
merlno in my hand all the while.
Suddenly be stepped close to me, point
ing to the roor brooch wore. could
,ive him that, he said; that is, lend it to
him In trust until lie came again. Did | |
thlnk much o. il, he asked.
laughed as | undid it. | did not
tnink much of it, but it was all the jew
cry possessed in the world. l showed
nm my name on the back, Mabel.n
But lt'was worn nearly illegible now.
Nearly quite" said he, turning it
ABOUT in his hands. at very poor"
=, And this was true: the poor thin gold.
" II was pold was all dlnf.d and nm ashad