The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-12-21
SELECT STORY
TIE EMERALOS.

wretched tenement house, q pale,
sad-eyed woman sat sewing. The
garment upon which she was en-
gagged was very rich and costly, be-
ing a handsome party dress. The
twilight closed in rapidly, with a
binding fall Of snow, and made the
windows rattle in the easements.
Still the pale-faced woman stitched
on.
Mother" piped a slender voice
from beneath the window, 'ssshal
you get that fine dress done! Oh,
mother, I am getting SO hungry; If
I could only have cup of tea and
bit of sausage"
The mother worked on steadily,
only pausing to brush tear from
her white cheek then arose and
shook out the glittering robe.
"Tis done Flora, she said; ssnow
mothers girl can have some supper,
only be patient little longer, Flora.
Ross. Ross where are you my boy
A manly little fellow came out
from the bedroom beyond.
"The fine dress is done, Ross"
said the mother, s'and you must run
home with it as fast as you can.
Miss Oracle will be out of patience,
/ know. Tell her that I could not
finish it one moment sooner, ,and ask
her to give you the money. We
must have it tonight And you can
stop into Mr.. Rays and buy some
coal, and we must have some bread
and tea, and a mite of butter, and
you may get sausage, Ross, for
poor little sick Flora"
s.In get EN- all, mother he said,
ssand be back in no time. You shall
have a big sausage, little sis" he
added, turning toward the cot.
! The little girl nodded her curly
head, and her great wistful eyes
sparkled with keen delight.
"And you shall have half of it,
Ross, said she, in her slender bird
| like voice.
'sHadn't you better put on your
thick jacket,my boy!" continued the
mother, 'the wind cuts like knife. y
| "Pshaw, mother, 1 don't mind
the wind" and away he went, down
the stairs and in the storm
Miss Oracle Fontenear was in a
perfect furore of impatience and an
ger. Her dear five hundred friends
were assembled in the halls below
and her handsome dress had not
4 come home yet. What did the beg
ger woman mean by Disappointing
her? At that moment there was a
| ring at the door and q voice In the
hall said:
/ ssPlease tell Miss Oracle my
mother could not finish it sooner,
and she wants the money tonight. .
| The servant took up the hand
some dress and the message.
"In never give her another stitch
of work for I ought to have had il
three hours ago. cried the angry
beauty. ''Here, Fanchon, come ano
dress me at once; there's not a mo
ment to lose. No, I can't pay to
night; i haven't time. He mus
call tomorrow"
"But we've no fire and nothing
to eat, and sister is sick, called th,
boy, pushing up the grand stair
way.
"Shut that door, Fanchon!' com
lnanded Miss Oracle. And the doc
was closed in his face.
From the perch at the parlo
window little Pansie watched til,
whole scene, her violet eyes distend
ed with childish amazement. 9Pool
little boy she said, 'ssister Graci
ought to pay him. It must b,
dreadful to have no fire and nc
thing to eat"
She stood for a moment, balane
ing herself on the tip of her daint
foot, her rosebud face grave and r.
Elective; then sudden though
flooded her blue eyes with sunshin
and taking something from the tabl
she started down stairs. The Sci
want had just closed the street dool
but she 1uttered past him like
humming- bird and opened it. O
the steps sat Ross, brave little fe
, low that he was, sobbing as if h
!, heart would break.
!, "What is the matter little boy
questioned Pansie.
{ Ross looked up, half believin
. that it was the face of an ang
f looking down upon him through Il
9 whirling flakes.
{ "Oh, / cannot go home witho1
|, the money-poor mother worked
: hard, and poor sister Flora is 81,
! and SO hungry" and he sobbed pi
9 fully.
{ Pansie's eyes glistened like star
; "Here," said she, do you tai
I this and buy her lots of nice thing
: 'Tis worth q great deal. Pap
: bought it for my birth day pesen
q bnt You take it in welcome"
{ She extended her tiny hand, a,
0 something like shower of spar
h tinkled to the boys feet. He caug
+ it up in amazement, necklace
} emeralds, lustrous, cleaning thing
set in tawny Indian gold
"No, NOT he cried, running up
/ where she stood; 81 cannot take th
i take it back
It But Pansie shook her curly hes
9 "You shall take it, she CO
n manded imperiously. I've lots
jewelry and fine things. Rum ho1
now and buy your sister somethi
to cal"
y y She closed the door with bar
!" und Ross stood irresOlute in