The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-10-18

=
you are not quite so small rs you were,
my boy, when I first took you in my
arms, and carried you about our poor
gnrret, trying to put you to sleep.
Mother had died the day before I was
ten years old, aud you were only born.
I was very little nurse, wasn't II But
it seemed to mo that my heart was n
hundred years old. How proud I was
Of you, and how I loved you'll"
And you worked for me, didn't you,
Krescenzl"
"Ah, didn't II We were alone in
the world, only you and me. paid n
poor old woman-a very, very old
woman, who could not do anything else
u penny day for taking care OF you,
and worked for us two. 1 was strong
little girl, and rs Industrious as a bee.
People gave mo work to do; it was very
hard until I was about fourteen, and
then learned to sew, and things began
to be better. At sixteen was able to
rent n little room for myself, md so
bring home my little brother. All, Max,
how often We have been hungry togeth-
er | and yet you are abravc boy for your
age. l have pulled you through the
worst. and now God has taken us both
into happiness md safety. No moro
scanty crusts for you. No more sitting
mp all night, sewing by candle, for me.
No more plnching at the heart when
rent-day is coming round. Who could
have thought Of it; that Karl, whom
every one admires, should have sought
out mol 1 did not accept him hastily,
Max, for was afraid he might change
his mind; afraid that he had not known
what lie was saying, or that ho did not
know perfectly how much people thought
OF him. But he would persist in loving
inc, lie would, indeed; and that is why
I laugh SO much when the people tell
idle tales. Ii you only knew, my good
people, I think; il you only knew
how vol l know And NIax-you see
1 do not mind saying anything to you-
I must confess that the greatest trouble
I have had lately, hns been the fear that
so much sitting up at night was taking
away nil my good looks. I look 30 sick
ly sometimes when tho morning light
comes in. Stare mo well in the face,
Max, and tell me il l am getting ugly"
"You are tho prettiest and loveliest
girl in the town, sister Krescenz.
"Bnt am not rosy, like Gretchen,
nor arc my oycs so big and bright rs
Luisc's, nor y 3 = Nl1
"No natter" persisted Max. "Not
one Of them can smile the way you do. "
"After that I must say something
nice to you, Max. Sit down here on the
grass, and let me tell You the kind Of
life We shall have over in our little house
yondcr. We shall have four rooms Of
our own, and there are vines growing
round all the windows. We shnll have
q pretty garden with bees and flowers,
and field with COW init. I shall do
my sewing sitting under tree, looking
down on the Moselle. You will go to
work with Karl, aud in the evening you
will both come home, aud we shall have
supper in the garden"
81 wish we had some now, Krescenz. +"
81 wish we had, my boy aud think
it is time to go and look for some coffee
and bread"
Tho sister and brother turned their
steps towards a pleasant summer.house
Of refreshment, built among trees, upon
the high overhanging bank of the river,
where the people oi Trier love to drink
coffee III the cool Of tho evening. AS
the girl and child took their simple meal
in n nook Of tho projecting terrace, the
blue Mosclle rushed under their feet,
and Tricr lay bathed in ruddy glory i'll
the distance before their eyes, with its
strange contrasting outlines softcred
into magnificent harmony, and the fierce
black Roman gates making frown on
tho very front of the sunny landscape.
"How splendid it looks, the dear old
town. 2" cried Kresccnz. "Do you know,
Max, l cannot understand why people
ever leave their homes to go out into the
world"
~ should like to go out aud sec the
world" said Max. - r.
"You mustn't say so, Max. Nothing
would ever induce me tO leave Trier."
They were rambling among the trees
on the hillside, stopping now and then
to lean forward and take fresh peep at
the beauty OF the rivcrand tho exquisite
CLEANS of the diatauce on either sile.
"Oh, Krcscenz, Krescenz! | have
found puir Of lovers"
"No! Have you, Max y said Krcs.
,auy ,,;}1, inIoraet
"Behinl that large tree, in such n
pretty nook. Just Peep around and you
eau see."
"Hide, thon, while I Peep, so care.
fully"
Max retired while Krcsccnz leanedfo
ward with smile OF mischieyous de-
light, and pecred from behind screen
of leaves. herself unseen by tho objects
of her interest. When tho boy thought
ho hal waited long enough, ho came
forth again, and pluckCd her by the
skirt.
She turned to him slowly, and put her
finger on her lip.
"Kresccnz Krcsccuz!" whispered
the child, "what makes your fncc SO
dreadful! Are they ghosts!"
Hush, Max! cannot sec, take mo
by tho hand, and get Inc Into some quiet
place, where nobody will find us"
"Oh, Krescenz, you are i'll! Are
you going to der
"No, dear, shall not die. Fetch me
some water, aud tell nobody"
Max obeyel, md while the red light
paled on tho Moselle, and purple
mingled with the crimson and olive OF
its banks, tho girls white face lay on tho
moss, gazing blankly upward with fixed
eyes. The tears tricklcd over Max's in.
noccnt checks MS he nestled ut her side