The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-30

y We lived far away in the country in
-.tic district. Ny father was POStmas
y ! u the little place, and kept few gro
y garieS for sale. But he hal enough 10 Dc
2s laaintain his lamily Scantily and clotht
ffthcm dcecntly. Iwas sixteen, and house
yecFer: my mother was dead, and was
tW,fc eldest Of us four children.
n My one gIeat trouble then was ms
:i6thes, Othor young girls Of our station
that associated with, dressed better
N han could, md it grieved me. Vanity
egins earlier than that in the female
Gt:aFt. had made up and remudc every
.Iiiclc Of my mothers wardrobe for the
children or for me, had worked up oycry
shred tn the best advantage; and now
that was all gone, anal did need a new
dress foe the coming Winter, made my
shoes last rs long again as other girls did,
for | knew my father needed every six.
pence he could earn, and dreaded want.
ing anything Not that he ever was
cross, but he often sighed, and looked so
panied and sorowfnl when asked for
monev, that tried to do with nS little as
possible.
Bat here it was the last of October
my Summer ;sses, poor enough at all
times, lOoted very thin and paltry now.
One Saturday afternoon shall never
forget. 1t is what nm going to tell Of
Ny work all done, the children at play in
the orchard, | comhed out my long brown
hair. put on my best cotton irock. selected
plain linen collar Of my own making, and
pinned It round my neck with an cd
brcAstpin, the only bit of jcwclry I had
ever owned. With me, | think 1t was an
instinct to dress well. Not fine; only
neat. Then. taking out my last Winters
btst trock, sat down BY the window to
soc what could do at rcnovAting it. l.
was n light blue merlno very light in.
deed now-nnd l knew 1t was too short
for me, as | was still growing, and was
very shabby. But by turning and put
ting in wide band Of trimming which !
had, | thought it might be made to an.
swer so set tn work with will.
The work was vexirg. | was trying to
do what scarcely could be done; and ms |
sat sewing and contriving, ! felt III to cry
over ou- poverty. Just thea the dog on
the shop sill set up loud barking, and !
looked to sec what 1t was mt. A man
was coming in at the gate with a pack oil
his back /; a travelling pcddler, l knew,
He smiled and cam, in, although ! said |
did not want anything; and the children
seeing him, came running in too.
"l cannot iIloru to buy indeed | can.
not" kept saying. But tue man only
kept on sniling, and opened his pack OIL
the parlor floor. And 1t was too great d
treat to ME to see the things, to make
great opposition. ......
The first that came out was Just the
yery thing that I had most longed for-a
beautiful fine French mcrino, Of dark
crimson color. ! bad once seen a dress o.
this kind, but none had ever been Offered
for sale in our little place that could equal
this in shade or texture.
The pedGler looked at me with hi.
keen black eyes rs | knelt down to fee
the prize had no hope Of winning. "Tht
lady will buy he said; but shook ms
head, anil crossing my hanls behind me
stood IN resolutely, trying hard not tt
long Tor the much-dcsired piece Of goods.
&Not buy!n be exclaimed in broker
lanUuage of some sort, could not tel
whether German or French; and he look
ed so astonishcd, even pitiful, that fell
sorry at ONE, ard confessed that | had ms
money, and could not purchase.
"But the beautiful young lady hay,
some old silvcr-old jewelry-old sill
dresses-iust good as money 2" said he.
laughed at the ido,, but he only open
ed another package to display to the boy
some dumb watches with ycry gay chains
and handing them each one, he took oct I
small doll for my little sister, and toll
them to run away now, It'll sister boueh
her dress mot;oned to the boys Il
stny near the doorstep, and then takini
up the much-covetrd drcss.piece, ! agaii
examined It. Satan was tempting me, o
some yexatious spirit that does duty 70
him, and never had been 50 surcly beset
How could let it go, yet how pay for il
Tho black eyes never leit-my face, bu
he fellow was respectful, only bowinI
lower rs he said. q You think 1t good N
"oh, yes | replied, "too good TO
me.n .- .tHlt
"Not so,n he said. at suits 20,
much, and you shall have cheap
az tell you have no money"
mo matter, ] trust, You give m
something TO keep for you, and J com
again. he said ,..o... -,
"But have nothing" ! insisted. Sti
he only seemed more cagcr; said 'oint
thing Of hard times, Of having to stay a
the tavern and expenses over Sunday,
being 40 livery tiren-und ] with th
merino in my hand all the while.
Suddenly be stepped close to me, poin
ing TO the pOor brooch wore. ] coul
give him that, he said; that Is, lend II
him In trust until lie came again. Did
think much o. 1t, he asked. -gI
] laughed as ! undid II. ] did M
think much Of Il, but it was all the jew
elry ] possessed 10 the world. l Shove
him my name on the back, "Mabtl
But Il was worn nearly illegible now.
"Nearly quite.n said he, turning
about in his hands. ut very poor"
And this was true; the poor thin gol,
II " wAs cold NIL dintnd and maShc