Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-08-14
THE EMERALDS.

, One wintry afternoon in January
away up in the bleak attic of a tene
mant house, pale, sad eyed woman
sat sewing. The garment on which
/. she was engaged was a very rich
dress. The twihghtclosed in rapidly,
with binding fall of snow, bitter
l. wailiug blast, that made the windows
rattle iu their easements. Still the
pale hced woman stitched on.
Mother" piped a slender voice
from the cot beneath the window,
"shall you get the fine dress done?
Oh, my mother, I'm SO hungry, if |
could only bave some tea and bit
of sausage
The mother worked on steadily for
few moments, paused only to brush
tear from her white check, then she
arose and shook out the glimmering
robe.
"'Tis done at last she said; "now
mothers little girl can have her sup
per, only be patient little longer,
Flora. Ross; Ross, where are you
my boy?'
A manly little fellow came out
from the little bed room beyond.
"The fne dress is done, Ross,
said his mother, "and you must run
home with it as fast as ever you can.
Miss Gracia will be out of patience,
| know Tell her | 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 car come back and
buy some coal, and We must have
some bread md tea, and a mite of
butter, aud you must get sausage, |
Ross, for poor little Flora"
"Tll get 'em all mother be said,
'aud be pack in no time. You shall
have big sausage, little sis, he added,
turniog toward the cot.
The girl nodded her curly head,
and her great wistful eyes sparkled
with delight.
And you shall have half of it
Ross, she PiPcd, in her slender, bird
voice.
''HadnE you better put on your
thick Jacket, my boy?' continued bis
mother: "the wind cuts like a knife
"?shaw, little mother; ! dou't
mind tue wind" Aud away he went
down the creaking stairs. and out in
the sjUrm. Miss Gracia Fontenay
vas in perfect furore Of impatience
aud anger. Her dear five hundred
friends were assembled in the halls
below, and her handsome dress had
not cone home What djI that bcg
gar woman mean by Disappointing
herr At that moment there was
ring at the door, aud a voice in the
hall.
Please tell Miss Gracio, my moth
cr could DOT finish it sooner; she
vents the money tonight" The
servant took the dress aud message.
"Ill never give her another stitch
of work cried the angry beauty; |
ought 20 have had it three hours ago
Here, Fauchon, and dress me at
once, there's not moment to lose.
No, | can't pay tonight, | havn't
lime. lie must call to morrow
But we've no FIRE aud nothing to
eat, and my little sister io sick called
the boy pushing up the grand stair
way
aShut that door Fauchon!9 com
manded Miss Gracia. And the door
was closed in his face
From the porch at the parlOr win
dow. Pausic watched the whole scene,
her violet eyes distendcd With child
ish amazgmcnt.
Poor little boy as Ross disap-
pcarcj down the stairway, "Sistcr
Grac oughtto pay him Ituust be
dr, a lful, 10 have no fire aud nothing
& eat"
She stood for a momcut, balancing
herself on the tip Of one dainty too,,
her rosebud face grave and reflective;
then a sudden thought aooded her
blue eyes with sunshine, aud snatch
ing something from the table, she
ar ed down stairs. The servant had |
lust closed the sre,t door, but she |
Huttgred past him like humming |
. bird aud oIaaed 1t
On tie steps sat Ross, brave ! tile |
fellow that he was. His face in b :
Lanus, sol bjug Q if his heart would
break.
whats the after, little boy2'
"a STONED Pau,ic
Ross looked up half believing that
7 it was the face of an angel looking
down upon him through the whirbng
snow.
/ Oh. I cannot 90 home without the
money he soobed poor mother
worked hard; aud Flora is sick and
hungry
Pausie's eyes glistened like stars.
Here. she said, do you take this,
| little boy, AMI buy her lots o nice
things. 'Tis worth great deal papa
/ bought it for birthday present but
DO YOU take it aud welcome
She extended her djmplcd hands,
and something like a shower Of fall
ing stars tiuklod to the boys feet
lie caught it up in amazo-a neck
Ilace of emeralds, lustrous, gle ming
things, set in tawny Indian gold.
ono, no, he cried running up to
where she stood: Il can't take this
n,cklar.-takc it back
But pausio shook her curly head.
"You shall take it," she command
ed. imperiously. I've lots Of jew
e!ry and fine thiugs-run home now
and buy your sister methlns. to
cat"