Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-12-24


inquired in what house Mr.. Wilson iIised
The woman directed her with. AN ominouss
shake Of her head and Emily, rejecting upon;
tine force of pref udice among all classes, purs
sued her way on foot, leading the pony by the
bride. Il ls4Irsa asF43 49,. - 4, 4
The smallest, oldest. and sdirtiestof aH4the
habitatlons on the fats was the one which
had been poin.ediout to her. Hitching the
pony to a staple in the window. sill-for there
was no other place, not a1tree or shrub grow
ing in theyicinity- Emily knock ed upon the
sdoorsand awaited with peculiar feelings the
answer. 1t. soon CAME in the person ofS hon.
as, who for moment was rendered. speech-
iess by surprise then, in a voice ) Is hich re-
yealed beth pain and mortification. he said:
Will youscome in y You wiilbfin it a.
s3retshed place, but we can't help il Just.
now :. r.. : - -,
Emily made no reply, but followed him in.
to the house. In the first room were table,
three chairs, an old cooking stove and an olds
fashioned washstand. In one of the chairs
curled up asleep, was little girl of about Eve
summers, her long, black hair falling aoyer5 a.
thin pale face. on which tear stains4were vet
visible Thomas saw Emily glance at the
child, and he simply said :.stMy sister, But
there was anguish in every accent ..Nly
mother is in the next room Would YOU like
to see her?" he added, presently The mai
den inclined her head, and followed him into
the chamber, where, upon low, cot bed. Law
woman evidently in the last stages of con-
sumption. Her skin was nearly transparent;
and her eyes, large and black, gave to her
conntenanre a briliancy weird, almost fright,
full. As Emily entered the invalid glanced
upon her inquiringly, and said:
:tCuriosity is sometimes cruelty. Why did
you cone ?'
''With the hope Of being met as friend"
answered Emily, with gentle reproof, at the
same time placing her hand on the sufferers
brow
"Foreive me- but there is so much cold>
ness in this world. so little love. OH re-
member now; you are the young lady who
helped Tom this afternoon. Poor Tom he
is nearly worn out. He tries to work out
SIDE, and take care of Alice and me too but
he can't do it all. so he has let outside work
go sometimes, and then, L suppose. his em-
pioyers think he is Idle. 1t weakened me
very much moving and I have not been so
well since. What d" people say Of us, miss ?'
She paused for au answer. but Emily cva>
ded the question. aud then the woman went
on: ''Ies, it is always so you wish to snare
my feelings; your motive is good. but I can
see through 1t. My husbands msfortunes
tlrst set him on the downward path. and then
ny degrees poverty came until all was lost
Now we must bear his unfortunate reunta-
non, but not long-not long" She raised
her eyes heaVenward. as if mplorny death.
Dear mother. do not speak so ; YOU are all
4 baVe pt. earth ~ = said Tom ,ystnuleus
voice. ''''''
"My dear boy-my life-my BLESSING ~
she murmured. tenderly.
Eniiy's eyes filed with tears rs she saw
the mothers wan hand caress the ietty curls
that fell on her sons brow. Then. hoping to
cheer them, she said ''You will be better
soon, Mrs. Wilson. Do not give way to sad
ness. Rememher [ am your friend" The
invalid smiled family, and shook her head -
knowing that further conversation would he
Injurious to her. Emily babe her adieu. clos
ing the chamber door as she went out Once
again IN the front room, the maiden said =
'Mr Wilson, will you do me favor 2" He
acquesc'd, wonderingly, and Emily, placing
= ten dollar note in llis hand added Run
d'wn t" the store and buy what your mother
needs; be sure not t" forget fruit and ielies."
God bless your bright face" he murmur>
ed, IN choked voice, and impressively pres
scd her hand
"l will stay here until you return" she
SAID. as he took his hat and hurried away
When the young tpan returned he found the
Kettle singing over the fire, and the table set
while little Alice, who had been awakened
by the cheerful sound, sat up in her chair,
gazing at Emily in amazement "You are too
good, miss; did not believe that there was
one left in the world as good as YOU are. said
Tom, regarding her as if she was something
more than human. "Don't praise me. but
take out your bundles, and I'll have supper
presently. OF course you got some steak 2"
eyes, though | was afraid 1 was doing
wrong"
Emily reproved him for that sentence and
then went on with her preparations In a
short time repast, which, to Tom and A lice
seemed banquet, was placed on the table.
and then Emily departed, SAYING she would
come on the morrow and wash the dishes
Toms gaze followed her until she was invisi-
BILE, when he returned to the house. dropped
on his knees beside his mothers bed and
thanked God for the friend which had been
sent to them when starvation seemed inevita
ble
The next day, aud every day for week;
Emily Wharton brought the sunlight of her
presence to that wrctckcd abode. and cheered
and comforted the invalid and her children.
not forgetting to enlist the services of the vii
lage physician in the same cause. But he
could do little for the sufferer she could only
be made easy during her brief stay on earth
she could not recover. And at length the
time came when his words were to be verified.
and Tom Wilson. standing at the side of the
little couch. knew that his mother would not
live an hour. Oh. Emily would only come!
He would not bear this terrible blow alone,
with little Alice clingine to him in fear
And still the terrible minutes dragged on,
and at length Emily came and stood by his
side; and to make him stronger she took one
of his hands in her own Together the three
looked down upon the blanched face and
wasted form of the invalid, and saw the chest
1nnra With lahnrad aEort and H. L.. - &c