Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-05-10
SELECTED STORY
LITTLE PANSIE'S EMERALDS.
BY EMMA GARRISON JONES.

up IN the bleak attic or a Wretched tenement
house pale. sad-eyed woman sat sewing.
The garment upon which she was engaged
was very rich and costly, being handsome
party dress. The twilight closed in rapidly
with binding fall of snow, and bitter
wailing blast, that made the windows rattle
in their easements. Still the sad.faced wo-
man stitched on. 7a
Mother" piped slender voice from the
cot beneath the window, shall you get the
fine dress done? 0, mother, Tn so hungry /;
if | could only have some tea, aud bit of
sausage"
The mother worked on steadily for few
moments, pausing only to brush tear from
her white check, then she arose, and shook
out the glittering robe. =
''Tis done at last" she said; "now
mothers poor little girl can have her supper,
only be patient little longer, Flora Ross,
Ross, where are you my boy p
A manly little fellow came out from the
little bedroom beyond.
''The fine dress is done, Ross" said his
mother, "and you must run home with it
as fast as ever you can. Miss Garefe will
be out of patience, | know Tell her I
couldn't finish it one moment sooner. and
ask her to give you the money. We must
have it tonight. And you can stop in at
Mr.. Rays as you come back and buy some
coal, and we must have some bread and tea,
and mite of butter. and you must get a
sausage, Ross. for poor little Fora''
''I'll get 'em all MOTHER he said, ''and
be back in no time. You shall have big
sausage, little SIS" he added, turning to
wards the cot. 81 gdio1 5aV .a fF
The little girl nodded her curly head,
and her great wistful eyes sparkled with de.
light. a7i q. "a
s'And you shall have half Of it, Ross, 81
she piped, in her slender, bird voice
"Hadn't you better put on your thick
jacket, my boy p continued his mother /;
''the wind cuts like knife" 9erf Z
"Pshaw. little mother I don't mind the
wind" And away he went. down the
creaking flight of stairs, and out in the
storm. 80 siaHgrL 70 ssrot Igo1 ~ ~ .eia41
In her splendid mansion on Fifth Ave-
nue., Miss Garcie Fontenay was in perfect
Juror Of Impotence and anger. Her dear
FIVE hundred friends were assembling in the
halls below, and her handsome dress had
not come home. What did that beggar
woman mean in Disappointing her? At
that moment there. was q. ring at the door,
and VOICE in the hall. ri
"Please tell Miss Garcie my mother could
not finish it sooner, and she wants the mon.
ey tonight" f.s 5s's fis5E III -.
The servant took up the handsome dress,
and message rs
TN never give her another stitch Of work, -
cried the angry beauty; Il ought to have
had it three hours ago. Here Fanchon,
come and dress me at once, there's not a
moment to lose No, I can't pay to night,
I haven't time He must call tomorrow. u
But we've no fire, and nothing to eat,
and my little sister is Sick called the boy,
pushing up the grand stair way. ~
"Shut that door Fanchon p commanded
Miss Garcie. And the door was closed in
his face
From her perch at the parlor window,
little Pansie watched the whole scene, her
violet eyes distended with childish amaze
ment. "Poor little boy" she said, as boss
disappeared down the stairway, "sister Gar
Gle ought to pay him. 1t must be dreadful
to have no fire and nothing to eat"
She stood for moment, balancing her
self on the toe of one dainty foot, her rose
bud face grave and reflective, then sudden
thought flooded her blue eyes with sunshine
and snatchipg something from the table
| oh Iortad 1omp ef, Tho corUanE .haC
! Just closed the street door, but she futteree
past him like humn,ing.bird, and opened
it. On the steps sat Ross, brave little tel
low that he was, bis face in his hands, sob
bling as if his heart would break.
whats the matter little boy?' ques
toned Panse.
Ross looked up. half believing that tn
face of an angel looked down upon hin
through the whirling snowaakes.
:'Oh, I can't 90 home without the mon
ey;" he sobbed "poor mother worked
hard and little Flora is sick, and SO hun
gry," ~. u.s.
Pansie's eyes glittered like stars. =.
''Here' she said, edo you take this, lit
tie boy, and buy her lots of nice things
IT'S worth great deal !; papa bought it TO
my birthday present, but do you take 1t
and welcome"
She extended her dimpled hands, an
something like a shower of falling stal
tinkled to the boys feet. He caught 1t
in maze-a necklace of emeralds, lustrou
cleaning things set in tawny Indian gold
"No, no." he cried, running up to whel
she stood II can't take this. take it back
! n n = Z L L u