Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-06-14

ucE DUG eyes Will SuA5AAAAC9 alA
snatching something from the table,
she started down stairs. The ser
want had just closed the street door,
but she fluttered past him like 8
humming-bird and opened it.
On the steps sat Ross, brave little
fellow that he was, his face IN his
hands, sobbing as if his heart would
break.
''What's the matter, little boy %
questioned Pansis.
Ross looked up half believing that
| il was the face Of an angel looking
down upon him through the whirl-
ing snow.
money" he sObbed; poor mother
worked hard and Flora is sick and
so hungry"
Pansie's eyes glistened like stars
"Here," she said, "do you take
this, little boy, and buy her lots o
nice things.-Tis worth a great
deal; papa bought it for my birth.
day present, but do you take it and
welcome"
She extended her dimpled hands
and something like a shower of fall
ing stars tinkled to the boys feet
He caught it up in 2maze-a necklacC
of emeralds lustroUs, cleaning
things, set in tawuy Indian gold.
''No, no." he cried, running up e
where she stood, 81 can't take tins
necklace-t2ke it back
BHt Ransia shook her curly mead
= on shall lake II She commanded
impeTiously. 'I've lots of jewelry
and fine things-run home now and
buy your sister something TO eat.
She closed the door with bang,
and Ross stood irresolute in the
stormy gloom. Should ne ring the
bell and return the jewels to Pansie's
father, or should he do as she had
bid himl He thought of his mother
and poor hungry little Flora watch
ing wistfully for his return. He
could not GO back and see them
starve. With sudden feelings of des-
peration, he thrust the gittering
necklace in his bosom and dashed
down the snowy street.
The gas-light blazsd brilliantly in
a fashionable jewelry establishment,
and its bland proprietor looked
down inquiringly on little Ross as
he approached the glittering cOun-
ter.
would you like to buy this, sir?"
There was a tremor in the boys
voice as he asked the question, and
the hand that held up the emerald
necklace shook Visibly. The lapida-
ry took the gems, examined them
closely for q moment, and then shot
sharp glance at the child.
"See here" he said presently his
voice stern and commanding, 81
want to know how you came by
this?"
The boys clear eyes fell, he blush
ed and stammered, evidently embar-
rassed. The jeWeler put aside the
emeralds, and taking the lads arm,
led him into a small ante-room.
"You are thief, SIR" he added.
''That necklace belongs to Mr..
Fontenag-he bought it of me not
one month ago. You stole it. You
are a thief"
The little fellow Strengthened
himself and his brown eyes blazed:
81 am no thief" he retorted. "a
kind little girl gave it to me, and
know it was wrong for me to take
it, but-but-my mother and sister
are starving"
The jeWeler hesitated.
''You don't lock like thief" he
said, but 1 will send fer Mr.. Fonte-
nay, that will settle the matter at
once"
He dispatched messenger accord
ingly and Ross sat down in one cor
ner, and sobbed bitterly as he heard
the driving winds and thought of his
mother and poor little Flora. In
half an hour Mr.. FOntenay came,
bringing his daughter, little Pansie,
with him. The little creature dart
ed like a humming bird, her cheeks
ablaze, her eyes flashed like Tighten
ing ,,,,,. 49,,
she cried. "I gave 'em to him to
sell 'em and buy bread for his little
sister,"
Ross sprang to his feet, struggling
hard to keep back his tears. He
put out his little brown hand which
Pansie instantly clasped in her club
by palms.
81 am not thief, sir" he said at
last, addressing Mr.. Fontenay; Sand
never stole any thing in my life
know it was wrong to take the neck
lace-but-but, sir, my little sister
is starving
The merchant drew his hand
across his eyes.
You're a manly little fellow" he
said, patting the lads head, "and l
do not in the least blame you, but
viii take Pansle's emeralds, and she
shall give you something more avail
able. "Here Pansie, give this to
your little friend"
He put a gold piece into Pansie's
hands, which she rendered to Ross,
run straight home and buy lots of
goodies for his sister-a command
he was not slow to obey.
81 think we will not lose sight of
the little fellow" continued Mr..
Fontenay, as Ross disappeared in the
stormy darkness, shall we, pet?
He's promising young lad and an
honest one, Pm sure, Mr.. Lennox,
you're in need of an errand boy, why
not try him? l wish you would"
The jeweler consented, to Pahsie's S
great delight, and on the following
day Ross was duly installed as an
errand boy, in the fashionable estab-
lishment.
Fifteen years after, one clustering
March morning, a young man SAT
behind the counter of a thriving Jew
elry establishment in one of the
Northern cities. He was a hand
some man, q scholar and traveller, a
man of taste, intellect and money,
for he was junior partner in the firm,
which was a prosperous one. But
despite all his good fortune, Ross
Dunbar was not happy. His moth
er and his little Flora had gone 10
their long home, and he was utterly
alone, without kith or kin in the
wide world.
Sitting alone one morning with
the roar of the March wind in his
ears his thoughts were running
back to the DAYS of his boyhood, 70
his mothers humble home. How
vivid the past seemed and how dear
and sacred despite its priYations
and sorrow. His eyes grew dim
and his heart swelled. All were
gone over the wide waters of time
and change.
a tender smile softened his sad
face as he recalled that stormy night
when he sat sobbing on the steps oi
Ar. Foutenay's mansion and little
Psnsie, the remembrance of heE
sweet face, as he saw it through the
snow wreathssthat night, haunted
him certainly. In all the fifteen
years never for one hour had he for.
gotten her. But she was gone; lost
to him forever.
His reVery was broken by the EN-.
trance of q customer, a lady closely
clOaked and yelled. She approach.
ed the counter with a jewel case il
her hand.
Would you buy these?' she ask.
ed simplv. in q clear sweet voice thai