Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-12-23

daunted by wind or tempest.
See, sis, what Il jolly glove I have
found he calculated, diving suddenly
into a narrow doorway, and coming
upon a small room only half lighted
by kerosene lamp, beside which sat
a young woman at work. Halo is
the fire out ?
Wrap this old shawl around you,
Ben, said the woman, looking up with
a smile that partOok more of tears
than of mirth, 'and you won't mind
the cold so much. All the coal is
gone, and can't buy any more until
| am paid for the caps, Did you sell
any more matches z?
Only two boxes, sighed the boy
i was SO cold, Clara, that couldn't
90 round to the houses,
well, never mind, Ben, she said,
checrfully. SIT close to me, dear-
we'll keep each other warm. Oh !!
Ben, | should like to have given you
a nice whole coat for Christmas
Don't cry, sir said the boy leaning
his head against her knee. Didn't you
give me your shawl for a comforter,
only | lost it that windy day ? You
are just as good and sweet as you can
be, Clara, and l love you just as well
as if you was my whole sister, instead
of only a half one
She smiled througe her tears.
What was it about a glove, Ben 2
He sprang suddenly as if remember
ing.
"A gentleman dropped it in the
street | ran after the carriage, but it
went too fast for me to catch up
Isn't it nice, sis 2
Very nice, Ben
She drew the fur glove abstractedly
on her hand, and looked at the rich
dark fur.
sWhy. Ben. what's this 2
Her finger had come in contact with
something in the little finger Of the
glove, and she drew it out. Even by
the dim light of the lamp she saw the
myriad sparkling fascets of a diamond
ring.
The gentleman must have drawn it
off with his glove : she said, while
little Ben stood by in surprise and
delight.
Ben, this is very valuable. We
ought to turn it over to the owner at
once
How can we if we don't know who
he is 2 said Ben.
1T will be advertised, dear every
effort will be made to recover so valu.
able jewel. Tomorrow morning
you must borrow newspaper, and we
will look over the advertisements
Sister said Ben, under his breath,
is it valuable ? Is it worth a hund
red dollars 2
More than that, Ben. Why 2
oh, Clara Y he sobbed, burying his
face in his lap; "a hundred dollars
would be so nice | wish it wasn't
wrong to keep it,
Clara did not answer. She only
smoothed her little brothers tangled
curls, and he never knew how hard it
was TO keep back her own tears. =
Mr. Almayne was walking impati-
emily up and down his long, glltterine
suite of rooms in the Christmas bright
ness of the next days noon, when his
pretty footman presented himself in
the doorway.
"Well, Porter?"
"There's young person and a lit
tie boy down stairs, sir, about the ad
vertisement.'
Ask them to walk in, Porter.
Porter glanced obviously at the vel
vet chairs and Wilton carpet.
They're very shabby and muddy
SIR
Never mind show them in.
Porter departed. by no means pleas
ed, and in minute or two threw opel
the door and announced
The young person and the littl
boy
BE seated, said Mr.. Almayne
courteously. Can you give any in
formation is regard to the ring l hav'
lost ?
Ben Morrowss sister was wrapped
in faded shawl, with thick greer
veil over her face. She held out tn
fur glove, and within it a little pape
box, from which blazed the white fir,
of the lost ring.
MY brother found it in this glov,