New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-15

Will.
The work was vexing. 1 was trying to
do what scarcely could be done; ana as s,l
sat sewing and contriving. felt tit to cry
over our poverty. just then the dog on
| the shop-s,ll set up loud barking. and
| looked to see what it was at. A man was
| coming in at the gate with pack on h!l
| back; a travelling peddler. l knew: he
| smiled aad came in, although | said cld
not want anything. and the children, seeing
| him, came running III too.
II can not afford to buy; indeed car
not" Kept saying. But the man only kept
| on snillur. and opened his pack on the
parlor floor. And it was too great treat
| to me to see the things to make great Cpp0
| sition.
The first that came out was just the very
thing l had most longed fora beautiful
! fine French merino Of "a dark crimson color
| had once seen dress Of this kind, but
none had ever been offered for sale in ou1
little place that could equal this IN shade
| or texture.
The peddler looked at me with his keen
black eyes as knelt down to feel the prize
l had no hope of winning. The lady Will
buy" he said: but l shook my head. and
| crossing my hands behind NE, stood up res
olutely trying hard not to long fer tie
much.des;red piece of goods.
Not buy" he exclaimed III q broken
| language Of some sort, l could not tell
whether German or French: and he looked
SO astouislled even pitiful, that felt sorry
at once and confessed that had no money,
and could not purchase.
bat the beautiful young lady have some
old silver. old jewelry, old silk dresses
just good as money" said he.
laughed at the idea. but he only opened
another package to display to the boys
some dumb watches with very gay. chains.
aud handing them each one, he took out a
small doll for my little sister. and told them
to run away now, It'll sister bought her
dress" ImotiOned to the boys to stay near
the doorstep, and then taking up the much
coveted dress-piece, l again examined it.
Satan was tempting ME. or some vexatiOus
spirit that does duty for him, and never had
been SO sorely beset. How conld let it
go, yet how pay for it!
The black eyes never left my face, but the
fellow was respectful, Odly bowling lower as
he said, "Yeu think it good Z"
"Oh. yes y replied. ''tOo good for me.
Not So" he said. 1t suits you much.
and you shall have cheap"
Il tell you l have no money
mo matter, trust. You give me some
thing to keep for you, and l come again"
he said.
But have nothing" insisted Still he
only seemed more eager; said something OF
hard times, OF having to stay at the tavern,
and expenses over Sunday, Of being SO
very tire"-and with the merino in my
hand all the while.
Suddenly lie stepped close to me pointing
to the poor brooch wore. l could give him
that. he said; that is. lend it to him in trust
unit! he came again. Did I think much of
it, he asked.
laughed as I undid it, l did not think
much about it, but it was all the jewelry l
possessed in the world. showed him my
name on the back, Mabel" But it was
worn nearly illegible now.
Nearly quite. said he. turning it about
in his hsnds. 1T is very poor"
And this was true: the poor thin gold. if
it was gold, was all Ginted and mashed ria:,
the original pin gone. and a needle tiet in
by the eye with thread served to fasten
IT, One large stone was set in the centre as
large as pea, surrounded By nine smaller
ones. but one of those was lost ont long ago.
and had often tried to find piece Of white
glass to fit the small cavity, but had failed.
The stones were all glass as believed.
Some of the girls Of the village would ask
ne why wore the old fashioned thing, and
then would show them the dim Mabel"
IN the back, and tell them | had been |
named after the name there Some one had !
given my mother the pin for me when l |
was born: and she said should bear the |
same name. The peddlar kept it in his |
land, and | noticed that his fingers trem-
,led
I'm bring it back to you in three mouths
line, said he; '''twon't be o no good TO
Ne, but Ill take it on trust. Or, if you can
'ay sooner, | shall be about the neighbor.
lood all next week, and shall sleep each
light at the inn.
Be Won very sure did not hesitate very
ong; the temptation was too great; so.
trusting the old pin carelessly into lis
reast pocket, he tied up his bundles, and
With low bows left the house.
l could scarcely believe in my good luck.
spread out my new trOck on the bed. and
ED it before me to try the effect. And
len | began to repent. My father, l
new. would not give NE one cross look /;
Ut still did hate to tell him Of the twelve
billings l owed the peddler. would be
} saving for the next three months that he
ould lose nothing by my bargain, for re
rape it together myself
When lpicked up the linen band to pu: +,
round my neck. did not know how to :
lsten it at first without that familiar old ,
IN: then | recOliected how often the girls
al told me that a bow OF ribbon would {
ok so much prettier. SO, looking up I
nail piece OF black velvet. | formed a 1
Nv. and felt more than satisfied
Ny father did not get home to tea or to
upper. ! put the children to bed after +
leir slices vi bread and treacle and good =
ASKING. =
At ten o'clock note came, saving some !
:siness had detained my father: that | q
at better close the house and retire. !
his was nothing very unusual as his n
lsincss matters often kept him late. I }
As quite staid little woman in manage =
ent, and did as l was bid. NJ father $
ould come in with his latch key On y
,uday morning at breakfast the children q
owed him their watches and doll. l j
I'd nothing about the dress, for it struck n
c he was looking anxious. .
where's your breastpin, Mabel!" he ~
kcd. as the children ran out before the !.
or after breakfast. =
The breasrpin l was frightened at once. h
? had never asked after it or noticed it +
fore. He must have heard Of what I'd =,
ne and was angry. -
Father, have not got it," exclaimed W
ce. ready to cry. ~
. Not got it! What do you mean, child p
~ surely wore it yesterday!' f.
Yes, sir" I replied, land it's all safe. a,
Is just going to tell you about it when
u frightened me-"
We'll, | don't wish to frighten YOU. nv -
ar; l had 10 thought OF such a thing &c .,
LIN yourself, Mabel, while tell you of o.
ter 1 received yesterday, and then you a,
get the pin at your leisure You can "
4 can get it, father or rather you can. W
1t l hope you will not blame me. What ~
ye you heard about it, -
Well, my dear, listen. We have never o'
ached any value to that old pin, only
It good, kind woman gave it to your
ther to keep for you, and 80 we did keen
because of that. She was a stranger to
poor lady. and was in distress. and vonr tn