Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1871-10-19

if it was gold, was ali dinted and
mashed fiat, the original pin gone, and
a needle tied in by the eye with a thread
served to fasten it. One large stone was
set in the center, as large as a pea, sur
rounded by nine smaller ones, but one
of these was lost out long ago., and I
had often tried to find a piece of white
glass to fit the small cavity, but had
failed. The stones were all glass, as I
believed. Some of the girls in the vii
lage would ask me why l wore the old
fashioned thing; and then 1 would
show them the dim Mabel on the
back, and tell them I had been named
after the name there. Some one had
given my mother the pin for me when
/ was born and SO mother said 1 should
bear the same name. The peddler kept
it in his hand, and 1 noticed that his
fingers trembled.
"I1l bring it you back in three
months time" said he "'wont be O.
no good to me, but I'll take it on trust.
| Or, if you can pay sooner, / shall be
| about the neighborhood all next week,
and shall sleep each night at the inn."
Be you very sure l did not hesitate
long; the temptation was too great; so,
| thrusting the old pin carelessly into his
| breast pocket, he tied up his bundles,
and with low bows, he left the house.
l could scarcely believe in my good
luck. I spread out my new frock on
the bed, and held it before me to try
the effect. And then 1 began to repent.
Ny father, 1 knew, would not give me
a cross look but still / did hate to tell
| peddler. l would be so saving for the
mex three months, that he would lose
nothing by my bargain, for I'dscrape it
/ together myself. =
When 1 picked up the linen band to
| put it around my neck, l did not know
how to fasten it at first without that
familiar old pin then recollected how
the girls had told me that a bow of rib
bon would look SO much prettier. So,
looking. up a small piece of black vel
vet, / formed a bow and felt NOR than
| satisfied. q 8 q
My father did rot get home to tea or
to supper. I put the children to bed
after their slices of bread and ~treacle,
and a good washing.
At 10 o'clock q note came, saying
some business had detained my father !;
that l had better close the house and
retire. This was, nothing very unusual,
as his business matters often kept him
late. I was quite q staid little woman
in management, and did as l was bid.
| My father would come in with his latch
key. On Sunday morning at breakfast
| the children showed him their watches
and doll. I said nothing about the
dress, for it struck me he was looking
anxious.
"Where's your breastpin, Mabel 2" he
asked, as the children ran out before
the door after breakfast.
The breastpin HI was frightened at
once. He had never asked after it or
noticed it before. He must nave heard
of what I'd done and was angry I
Father, L have not got iti''aI ex-
claimed at once, ready to cry.
"Not got it'll What. do you mean,
child You surely wore it yesterday y
"Yes, sir,n / replied, sand it's all
safe. I was just going to tell you about
it when you frightened me-" I
DWELL, 1 don't wish to frighten you,
my,dear; l had no thought Of such Q
tell you of a letterI received yesterday,
and then you can get the pin at your
leisure. You can get it !
L get it, father. Or rather, you
AN. But l hope you will not blame
me. What have you heard about it?"
WELL my dear, listen.e~ We have
never attached any value to the old
pin, only that a good, Kind woman gave
it to your mother to keep for you, and
so we did keep it because of that. She
was a stranger to us, poor lady, and
i your mother was kind to her. But she
left the place soon after o were born,
and we never heard more of her. Yes
terday, I got a letter from a long dis
lance asking about that very pin, and
describing it, even to the name on the
back. It is very valuable, Mabel"
My heart was beating ten strokes
where it should have beat but one.
"The pin we have set no store by il
of great value, Mabel. The center dia
mond alone is worth what to us poor
people would be a fortune. And it il
all yours, my dear you can convert the
diamonds into money and be at youl
ease all your life"
What with the overpowerIng surprise
and what with fear of my father
anger, 1 tainted. When 1 came to my
self on the sofa in the parlor, the chill
dren were there, and it was too late tc
go to church. l felt bewildered, ano
trembled yet, but listened attentively
to my father as he read the important
letter from London. Then 1 sprang uI
wildly. E~,tt ,
"Oh, father, father, godown to the
Black Horsep' l exclaimed. "The
peddler is there, and he has my pin"
Ny fathers first thought was that the
good fortune had turned my brain. ]
explained all to him. He was very
kind, never scolding me; but, as te
finding the pin and the peddler, he
knew more of the world than his foolish
child, and was not so hopeful.
However, he thought best to go and
for me to go with him. So in a few
minutes we were walking down to the
Black Horse. The landlord was sitting
in his front porch smoking quietly. He
looked surprised when we walked UP
the steps, but very politely invited us
into the parlor, explaining that his
women folks had gone to church.
"Is there a peddler staying with you
Nj. Ford 2" began my father.
"a peddler mo-" exclaimed the
landlord, as if the question vexed him.
81 nave not seen a peddler for three
weeks, and the one hat was here then
did not pay his bill"
1 must have turned very pale at this,
and felt faint again. Mr.. Ford wanted
me to take a cordial. Myfather turned
it off, saying l was tired. Then he said
that 1 had made a little bargain with a
peddler the day before, and that we
wished to settle with him.
SCOT cheated, 1 warrant said the
bluff old landlord "but no such man