Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-06-13

bic loving heart vet without hope.
a few evenings after the above con.
versa;ion, John Fairleigh stood in the
door of his humble cottage. Coming
down the street, bent, and with feeble
steps. he saw an old woman. When
she had reached his door she stopped
and said. in "A low, trembling voice
May | stop here aud rest bit on
your steps. please:'
Not on the steps, but come in.
Mother will give you cup OF tea.
Come And, with tender care he as
sisted her mp the steps and in, calling,
'Mother-Clara, here is an old lady
very tired. Make her comfortable,
please.
The door was opened, aad pleas
ant, gentle-io oking woman came out,
followed by 4 beautiful girl of sixteen.
who drew the wearied traveller in,
seated ner in comfortable chair, say
ing she would rest only a few minutes
Clara drew up a stand and placed a
cup Of tea aud biscuits before the old
lady. While she fingered with them,
John came into the room and said:
I'm going out now, mother, and may
not bc in before ten.
'Ah. know where answered his
mother, n she observed his careful
toilet. oh, my bov, is it we'll: She
can never be yours. Why will you
linger near her: Every hour will make
it harder FOR you To resign her to an
other. as il must be-
Don't mother dear. must see her
be with her while | may Do not
mention the future ; live only in the
present. There. good-bve. I'm off,
But stop. Coming up TO the old wo-
man, he said: You have walked far.
| know. Now do ride as near Your
home as gossible.' And he dropped
piece Of silver in her hand. The hand
trcmblsd as it closed tightly over the
money. lie ha,tened out and heard
not the low whispered thanks and
blessings which reached his mother,
ears
Yes, yes, You are right. lie j.
gool-my noble boy But he has a
heavy burden on his young shoulders.
Would that it could be- otherwise :.
Nrs. FairleiIh answered.
The old woman rose IA ~. Thry
babe her come again, whcne,e -,
was near. And with many thanks She
len them.
The days passed by until the one
came which gave Lucy the night ever
after 10 use A. she choose her wealth.
She entered her guardian, and said
I've come. Guariy. 10 crave a birth-
day boon. You must not refuse
Well. tell nae what II j.. IN no,
refuse unless for your own good.
.'ur tvut "svt tits.. ...i. ''t.srts 49, ss
his ear
lie started in real amazement.
Ten thousand, Why, child. what
can YOU want with so much. Oh.
-urmlse; heard your cousins talkin.
of n set Of diamonds. But really. Lucy
let me advise YOU
No, no. Guardy. You know might
insist; but only plead. Let me have
it and Ill promise to economise enough
to satisfy YOU for the next three years.
And intend 10 come TO YOU, as here
tDtore, for every dollar until-well, |
10 longer belong 10 myself
"A fear my child you will make Il very
poor Investment. Diamonds are not
likely 10 increase in value.'
I've not told yon that is what want
the money for.
An. but know
We'll, YES. shall invest that
amount in diamonds, if YOU insist on
my telling you
The check was drawn and Lucy weut
away quite happy; while her guardian
felt very anxious indeed. He said:
She is a good girl, very good girl.
but dreadful eXtrayagant She'll 20
through her fortune right away, il do
not manage TO check her. \ miserable
Investment l must Try aud make it
up IN some other way. I'll try my
hand at investing for hor now
II was not long before the Fairleighs
again saw the old woman, who came to
claim their hospitality once more
I'm going away she said. Il wanted
to see you again, you were 50 kind TO
me | shall never forget you.
She remained but little while, and
then bade them good by. \ few mo-
ments after. when Clara stopped down
to pick up spool of cotton, she saw
lying behind the armchair where the
old woman sat, a little lag, which was
Immediately recognized as belonging
to her. Picking it up she ran out t.
the front steps. and looked up and
down the street hoping to see the own
er, but she was nowhere in signt.-
Thinking she would most likely miss it
and return, she went back. But the
evening passed without seeing or hear
ing again of the OLE woman. The
next morning Clara said
Il think we ought 10 look in the bag
and, if it is of any value, try to find
the owner
John thought SO too. II was opened,
and, to their great surprise, in it was a
note addressed:
10 nv kind friends.'
Opening which, John read aloud
Il have not left my bag by mistake
! came to do SO. You have all been
kind to the old woman YOU will never
see again, But tnat you might think
of her often, she leaves YOU a token OF
thanks | will relieve the young shuul
ders OF their burden. and his heart too
perhaps. You need not try to find me
But little while. and earth will know
no more the old woman. have NOR,
than enough still To maintain me
should / live more than the allotted
time. You will find with this, certifi
Gates of money placed in the Unior
Bank. subject to the order OF John
Fairleigh. Eo with IL as YOU choose
Gratefully yours,
OLD WOMAN.
4 t,+as tau-.ll..o1 a.