New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-15

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The fire had burr ed low, the kettle had
stopped it's singing; she went to the shoes
in an agony of fear.
| "One, two, three, four, five, si1, eeven
Thank God, they are all herer'
Then stirring the fire and snufiDg the
| candle, she hurried into the next room. All
| her little ones we're sleeping peacefully. She
| kissed Tootsum SO ioyfully that it almost
1 awoke the little fellow. Then she walked
! quietly into Williams den-a corner of the
! room divided off and walled up with wrap
! ping paper. In it there was door, and a
! window that looked out of the big window
! and all was as neat as pin. She touched
her lips gently to the boys forehead, for he
was light sleeper.
! my brave boy" she murmured, go lose
! you and the others would be worse than the
! worst poverty"'
A rousing knock. and CHEEKY voice
calling, BETSY, open the door" com
pleted her new found happiness.
'Ah, John: I've had such a bad dream:
but, you see, was tired and hungry. Oh,
I'm so glad you've comet and they kissed
heartily.
well, we'll, lass, don't wonder you're
hungry, and had bad dreams, not having
tea, yet; and its past ten o'clock; but this
III make amends" And from his capacious
pockets he drew q string OF sausage, po.
of marmalade. some tea, and . paper Of
| cakes.
"Whas treat, John: i. must have been
a good order, this time.'
! "Aha: lass it's better than that! But put
| on the sausages, and I'll tell you, while we
| are taking our tea. We're fashionable, this
| time, for its SO late that our dinner is al
most supper" and he laughed hearty
laugh as he hung up his great coat, and
washed his face and hands.
Soon the sausage vas kissing and epiut-
terng on the fire. That and the aroma Of
the tea and toast filed the room.
'Well. wife. what do you .bink' I've sold
my key"
"Iaw
key altering while it was being turned in
the lock, and its having 60 be readjusted
before it could unlock again was quite new.
and he'd give me fifty pound for it, as was
too poor to get it patented. and j: was too
good an invention TO be lost. Betsey.
thought of you and the little ones, SO took
the money. although knew it was worth
much more. ! was thankful, too, for it was
beginning, and We don't know what it
may Lead to; 90. you see. my ship's coming
home!'
She thought of her dreams. and murmur.
ed softly TO herself:
'Oh. this is my pot Of gold"'
MAY come inw asked William, stand.
ing in the doorway. in his sbir. and
trowsers and stocking feet. 1.-The sausages
made such a noise. and smelt 60 good. that
they woke me up
''Yes, como in lad. and cat supper with
u.s." So the boy put on his jacket, and tax.
ing his mothers slips from under the bed
you see he vas privileged character. being
the son and heir-he sat down to the table.
"Whew: sausages. marmalade. cake
What's up! All: dldn't1 hear something
about key. or did I dream it!'
''No. no, lad, its all true. Father has sold
his key. and 3or such a fortune, fifty
pounds
''Aha! Iknew you'd come ou. all right.
father y and William got up and shook his
fathers hand warmly. and would have
kissed him, only he felt ashamed.
''fm in luck, too, father. did no. have
courage to tell mother till you came. You
know the cabinetmaker's on my way to the
shop: Well. when first you brought your
clock home. thought ia like to be able to
carve such pretty figures as are on j.. SO !
took broken knife. an old file and piece
Of wood and went TO work. Going by the
cabinetmaker's ! noticed some carved chairs
that didn't look much better than mine, SO
showed him what ! had done, and he said
if I could manage the chair backs he'd give
me shilling piece. Father. hope you
won't think hard Of me for doing this with.
out frs: telling you, but l intended to do it
at night, and not give up my place.
Hard Of you: No, no. lad. like to see
one have a mind Of his own when it's for
good. Now, let's see what you've done "
William went to his "den,' and from un'
derneath his bed he brough. out a box.
How his parents admired the contents: |
There were few nicely carved little fig. i!
ures. vase made Of a knot Of wood aud |
some twigs. and pretty little frame.
''Wby. we've got quite q genius in the !
family. Lad. when did you do these!'
''In the leisure moments had in the
shop"
"Well, Betsy, you SEQ that order for the
French clock wasn't so bad after all: it !
started our boy on what may prove for.
tune TO him."
How happy William felt as his father pat.
ted him on the shoulder and said he was
proud Of him.
Was there ever a supper that tasted like
this onel Was ever tea 80 fragrant, or
sausages so savory! But, then, mo one can
cook like mother" was Williams thought.
1t was well. William. you had no wife to
tell it to.
No one felt sleepy. Their eyes were too
wide awake with happiness. So father
wandered off into telling anecdotes: old.
old anecdotes that they had heard twenty
times betoreo Yet, o how fresh and funny
hey seemed that night. and how they all
aughed, especially at the dentist pulling
,ut The clerks tooth, while the finely
dressed lady ran off with the shawl: for
;ather made such funny face at the pull.
ng that one could not help making funny
ace, too, in sympathy.
William suggested that father should
ing The Bay of Biscay," but he said it
would wake the children, besides it was so
lear Sunday morning that it wouldn't be
proper.