The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-10-05
him my name on the back, Mabel"
But it was worn nearly illegible now.
Nearly quite" said he, turning it

MIN my name on Jne DAck, " maDel.
But it was worn nearly illegible now.
Nearly quite" said he, turning it
about in his hands. g It very poor"
And this was true the poor thin gold,
if it was gold, was all dinted and mashed
fiat, the original pin gone, and q needle
| tied in by the eye with thread served
to fasten it. One large stone was set in
the centre as large as a pea, surrounded
by nine smaller ones, but one of these
was lost out long ago, and had often
tried to find a piece of white glass to fit
the cavity, but had failed. The stones
were all glass, as l believed. Some of
the girls in the village would ask me
why l wore the old-fsshioned thing
and then 1 would show them the dim
Mabel on the back, and tell them
had been named after the name there
Some one had given my mother the pin
for me when was born and she, moth
er, said l should bear the same name
The pedler kept it in his hand, and no.
ticed that his fingers trembled.
"Ill bring it you back in three months
time," said he; "'twon't 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 1 did not hesitate
long the temptation was too great; 80,
thrusting the old pin carelessly into his
breast pocket, he tied up his bundles,
and with low bows left the house.
l could scarcely believe in my good
luck. 1 spread out my new frock on
the bed, and held it before me to try the
effect. And then I began to repent.
My father, knew, would not give me
one cross look but still L did hate to tell
him of the twelve shiliings 1 owed the
peddler. l would be so saving for the
next three months, that he would lose
nothing by my bargain, for I'd scrspe it
together myself
When l picked up the linen band to
put it round my neck, 1 did not know
how to fasten it at first without that
familiar old pin; then 1 recollected how
often the girls had told me that bow
of ribbon would look so much prettier
So looking up small piece of black
velvet, formed bow, and felt more
than satisfied.
My father did not get Home to tea or
to supper. put the children to bed
after their slices of bread and treacle
and good washing.
At ten o'clock note came, saying
some business had detained my father ;
that had better close the house and re-
tire. This was nothing very unusual,
as his business matters often kept him
late. was quite staid little woman
in manag and did as 1 was bid
My father would come in with his
latch-key. On Sunday morning at
breakfast the children showed him their
watches and doll. said nothing about
the dress, for it struck me he was look
ing anxious. .... ...r. t...
where's your breast-pin, Mabel ?"
he asked, as the children ran out before
the door after breakfast.
The breast-pin! l was frightened at
once. He had never asked after it or
noticed it before. He must have heard
of what I'd done and was angry.
"Father, I have not got itl" I ex-
claimed at once, ready to cry.
"Not got it, What do you mean,
child? You surely wore it yesterday !"
"Yes, Sir" replied, sand it's all
safe. was just goingto tell you about
it when you frightened me-"
"Well, 1 don't wish to frighten you,
my dear; l had no thought of such a
thing. Calm yourself, Mabel, while tell
you of letter l received yesterday, and
then you can get the pin at your leisure.
You can get it !"
81 can get it, father. Or, rather you
can. But l hope you will not blame
me. What have you heard about itI
a. Eofa VI
never attached any value to that old
pin, only that good, kind woman gave
it to your mother to keep for you, and
so we did keep it because of that. She
was stranger to us, poor lady, and was
in distress, and your mother was kind
to her. But she left the place soon after
you were born, and we never heard more
of her. Yesterday, however, l got a
letter from long distance, asking about
that very pin, and describing it, even to
the name on the back. 1t is very valu-
able, Mabel" .F.--.-.r d .....
My heart was beating ten strokes
where it should have beat but one.
"The pin we have set no store by is
of great value, Mabel. The centre dia-
mond alone is worth what to US poor
people would be fortune. And it is
all yours, my dear; you can convert the
diamonds into money and be at ease for
life."
What with the overpowering surprise
and what with fear of my fathers anger,
l tainted. When l came to myself on
the sofa in the parlor. the children were
there, and it was too late to go to church.
l felt bewildertd, and trembled yet, but
listened attentively to my father as he
read the important letter from London.
Then l sprang up wildly.
"Oh, father, father, go down to the
Black Horse !" l exclaimed. "The ped
dler is there, and 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 to find
ing the pin and the peddler, he knew
more of the world than his foolish child,
and was not so hopeful.
However, he thought it best to go,
and for me to go with him. So in few
moments we were walking down to the
Black Horse. The landlord was sitting
alone in his front porch, smoking quiet
ly. He looked surprised when we
walked up the front steps, but very
politely invited us into the parlor, ex-
planning that his women folks had gone
to church.
"Is there peddler staying with you,
Mr.. Ford z" began my father.
"a peddler mo-" exclaimed the
landlord, as if the question vexed him.
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