The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1873-06-04

~ "'. aed -" coffe-room, left the hOus
Il III ~alF'i mp the street toward IL
ma .. roJ the town.
T.. Quaint old Norham - The wints
p moonlight lay clear and cold on its al
81 cjent cathedral, standing in its spaciou
c square Of sombrc, stately houses. tn
% stranger stood still and gazed upon il
: That stranger knew a little boy viii
e had attended many service in tha
i catholral-awed by its sweet music
wondering at it's white-robed choristers
J. That little boy had known every fac
, on that quaint gargoyles Of the ancien
j. chapter-h0use, and with cbildlike IA
;. niliarity he had given a name to eacl
f one Of those contOrted co1ntenances
? That little boy, mufed in black weep
ers, had stood beside an open gray,
l right under the great west window, anC
listened to the funeral services over
little sister. The stranger went to Sc el
that graVe-went straight to it withou
enc mistaken step. But it is not q little
grave any more, for under the name O.
Amy Rogerson, aged four" is written
Also the Rev. Roger8on, father of the
above aged 70. Also his wife Amelia,
aged &c. Also their sou Thomas, aged
49,"
Oh, little sister, WHO went 50 long be-
fore, how muoh did you know Of earth
while you were growing up in heaven
Was not your father very glad on the
day when he entered rest a"d joined the
folded lamb Of happier times? Oh, lit
tIe sister, is there any look on the face
Of an angel, whose human heart was
broken ?
The stranger stood still by that house
hold tomb, and looked around. There
was another grave which that little boy
had known-the family grave of that
little boys playfellows, the Herous.
But the stranger knew that he could not
find that grave in the twilight, though
he could have found the way to their
| houses in the utter darkness
He crossed the Cathedral square, and
issued ont on Norham High street. The
shops were very bright with Christmas
goods, and busy with Christmas trade.
There was a little, thin, sharp-looking
widow, with q boy on one side and
girl on the other, gazing intently into
the best diapers shop. The stranger
stood still when he first saw them, and
. then he went up slowly and stood be-
hind them.
cts no good wasting our time, Mar
gey," said the mother, for we can't af-
ford to buy anything"
"But looking dosen't spend, man.
ma, pleaded Margey, and I'd like to
plan what I'd give you if could, NAM
spla, and to chose what I should like you
to give me. There, you should have
that beautiful thick black silk, and it
should be made with one deep founce
like the mayors wife's, and you should
have That soft gray shawl to wear with
it. And I would have two of those
merinos,-a dark brown fer every day,
and an olive green for Sundays, and one
of those neat, plain black-cloth jackets.
And there's Tom gone off to look at the
watches. Tom is going to save sixpence
a week to buy one, mamma, but won't
it take long time p
"Ah, I wish I could give you chill
dren pleasant surprises, " said mamma,
wistfully. 81 was so fond of that kind
of tricks once upon a time"
"And so you are still, nanny DEAR"
Margey replied, pressing fondly to her.
" Isn't it always a pleasant surprise
when you make us fig pudding? I'm
sure we agsa. very happy, and I won't
talk any more Of my nonsense if it
worries you.
Then the little group passed on; and
the tall stranger followed them out of
the glare of the gas-hght into a small
by-way, where they entered house
with "Mrs. 7. Rogerson's day school
for young ladies, written on the door.
Then he went back to the High street,
and that same night large parcel from
The drapers came. g For Mrs. Roger
son and Miss Margery," and little
packet from the jewelers. for " Master
Tom Rogerson." +
Everything We wanted" sighed
Margery, happily. II only hope they
are real. How could they have come?
The shop-people say they were ordered
oy tail, dark gentleman, very pale. I
wish mamma would let us believe in
ghosts, and then we could understand
t easily, for that description is like ,
lear plpa. But I never did hear of
my ghost that had money. I wonder t
what Aunt Mary will say when she ,
zones tomorrow T. {
The stranger went back to the Four '
swans Next morning he went to the I
and stole into a shady cor t
Ter to take part in the service. The t
harp little widow came in, looking {
weeter and happier than would have {
eemed possible the night before. Be- !
idle Margery and Tom, she had lady s
nth her-an elderly, fragile-looking '
adv, with one of those pale, fair faces, "a
hat look as if perfect repose was their &
My remaining atmosphere of life, and s
ny jarring element, even of JOY, would
hake and rend the tender spirit from i
Is feeble dwelling. A face bright with
piritual JOY, and pleasant fancies and
entiments God often sends pleasant {
lncies 10 those pure but weakly souls {
hat could never rise to create and I
rasP pleasant facts. What are such
ancies but the daints aroma of tine ]
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