Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-07-31

And ye shall return every one, unto
his possession, and ye shall return
every one, unto his family"
II was the reading of these words in
her daily lesson that first suggested
the idea. and it was the extra five dol
lars that the rich Miss Macintosh
paid her her for that SIX weeks work
on her bridal outfit, that enabled the
dressmaker TO carry out that idea and
give her old friend, Mrs. Blossom, who
met her at the parsonage door, such Il
pleasant surprise.
why, Esther Brandt Am | dream
ing. or j. il really and truly yourself,
and not shadow
And half laughing, half CRYING in
her excitement, the little lady drew
her visitor into the house. in the midst
OF a perfect shower Of welcome ques
tions. and ordinations.
Where have YOU kept yourself this
long. long time
She had been assisting 10 remove
her friends wrappings, and as the light
itll inlA uIiDA Aslt nv" btittt Itail ,
revealing the pale, sad face. and the
once rounded form now painfully slight
and fragile. the quick tears arose TO
the little woman's eyes, and there was
far less pity than curiosity IN the tone
with which she repeated her question,
a question, that made Esther Brandt 5
pale check flush painfully, as she an
swered with an evident effort:
In the city earning my bread as a
! seamstress.
That's an honest calling" and Mrs.
/ Blossom spoke the words with a sturdy
/ chceriness that faltered little as she
added with an involuntary glance at
the plain, we'll worn, black dress and
1 faded shawl:
But not very easy, or profitable
one, I'm afraid
Esther smiled, a smile so wan and
! hopeless, that it was more significant
than the words that accompanied it.
Not very, but have lived by it,
Il have thought of you SO often
and longed to hear from, even if
couldn't see; and / have felt almost
| hurt sometimes to think you didn',
care enough for old friends to write
aad let US know where you were at any
rate"
And the warm-hearted little lad,
laid her plump hand carelessly upon
her friends shoulder, and looked into
! ,yf.h Snnh fru,lr lnuinu
light beaming from her own, that the
ice of reserve that, in those long years
Of poverty and strangerhood had gath
cred SO thickly about the lonely girl.
heart, was melted as by touch, and
tears, soft and restful, such tears a.
her tired eyes had long been a stranger
to, flowed once more.
..Oh, Mattel % lit was the old time
diminutive in the old time tones, anc
Mrs. Blossoms warm heart bounded
at the sound) sit was my pride, tn,
old. foolish, wicked pride that hinder
ed. could not bear to have 1t said
here in Brandtville, that the last rep
resentative of the oldest and ono,
richest family in town was woIkin.
with her needle to keep herself from
starvation. Among strangers who
knew nothing Of my former life,
could bear it, but it seemed 10 me tha
the priva6ons and even the harsl
exactions TO which l was sometime
subjected, were preferable TO bearin.
the pitying comments of my old neigh
bors."
The plump hand came down with
reproving pat:
"You was wrong, dear, wrong. Blu
seeing you've come back to you
senses, at last, I'm not going to scol'
you. until you've had some supper, a
any rate; and now, if you'll excus
me, Ill speak to-here Willie," as
bright little face glanced in at th
door, run up to the study and tel
papa there is some one down here tha
: he will be glad to see," and as tn
willing messenger disappeared, she rt
, marked with little prideful plumin
e of her maternal feathers:
That's our oldest child, Willard
named for Heberts old school chuu