Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-08-04

Isn't 70 right Can't you pay her =
said the child, with start Of alarm.
Yes, indeed, the work is all right It's
done beautifully. But | want 10 see your
sister about some more and perhaps can
do her good"
II would have made the kind lady's heart
ache had she seen the eagemess with which
the half-famished child dcvoured the lunch
set before her in the kitchen.
Mrs. Stirling removed her costly garments,
aud soon, simply dressed, with little basket
Of dainties in her hand, she followed the
child across the city TO a locality hitherto
unknown TO her. They stoppedl at a half
ruined house in narrow court, went up
/ two flights OF stairs, "and entered a hack
room lighted by one window. The atmos-
phero struck her with sudden chill. Evil
IDENTIFY the sun never came there. At the
window, attempting to sew, sat the older
sister, but she was evidently very i'll. Every
/ few moments a spasm Of coughing seized
| her, compelling her TO lay down her work,
aud clasp both hands on her side, while the
paleness Of her thin check flushed into hec-
/ tic Mrs. Stirling had not seen her before
since spring. She sat down beside her.
"Iour sister said YOU were sick, and so
came to see If | could be Of use to YOU" sh,
said, in gentle, comforting tones. "You
have changed terribly since spring. must
hear all about it; but first, | want you 10
eat what | have brought you. Here is some
wine Jelly and bit Of cold chcken-they
will do you good"
The poor girl looked at the tempting food
with The involuntary grecdinoss of hunger.
| Then she blushcd deeply, aud said, in a low
voice:
am very grateful, madame but, If you
please, ! will wait. Allow mo at present to
attend TO YOU"
"No indocdl" Mrs. Sterling spoke in
her pretty, absolute fashion " want 10
| talk with you a while, aud ! shall not do 50
until You have taken something to strengthen
you. Little Jane has lunched already"
So she sat and waited, feeling in a new
prospect Of being useful, a genuine glow Of
delight. When the girl had finished her
generous meal, Mrs. Stirling began to talk.
as this consumption, Anne she asked,
| gently. Your cough alarms me-"
"No. ma'am, am very sure it is not yet.
/ There is no consumption in the family. My
father died young, but it was from violent
| fever. | think that it was grief that made
my mother follow him in only three months.
1t is seven years since she died, on the day
! little Jane was born"
How old were you, then 4"
Fifteen and there were no children be
tween us two"
Have you supported yourself and her ever
since +"
ooh, no fathers books and furniture
sold for enough TO keep us some time, and
my aunt brought US to Boston. She took
care Of Jane, and | worked in shop and
earned money enough to buy our clothes and
help Aunt Martha with tho living. 1t is
only since she died, three years ago, that |
have been all alone with Jenny"
"You came out Of the shop, then ?
! Yes, for | could not have Jenny with me,
and she had no one else to see to her and
| indeed, have made more money since;
have embroidered so much"
"But, surely, you have suffered more than
usual this summer !"
"Oh, yes, ma'am; the ladies I work for
are mostly out Of town in the summer, and
so winters try TO save something TO help us
| through But last winter had not as much
work as usual, and this summer we have not
| been very well of. | had to give up the
comfortable room we used to have, and !
| suppose the dampness here has not agreed
with me-"
She tried to smile, but the tears came
Mrs. Stirling took her hand.
"Don't cry. Better times are coming.
am sure can procure you good deal more
work. You shall have enough TO do, ant
must move out of this damp, unhealthy
place"
Sister Anne smiled sadly.
"'rhe landlord has seen to that. | can
only stay here three days longer, and fear
shall not be able to go out and find another
place"
"Well, you must not feel anxious, If you
are not able to 60, | will find place for you,
| Tomorrow you shall see me again, and
meanwhile the pay for the work little Jane
brought home will make you comfortable"
So SAYING. she put into the girls hand
twice the customary price, and without
waiting for thanks, went out of the room.
On the way home she stopped but once
nor was that to exchange her hundred dollar
note for silks or satins.
She met her husband at their five o'clock
dinner with beamng smile. The meal
was well cooked and neatly served the wife
opposite him was young and fair and when
John Stirling rose and went with her into
their pleasant evening room, it is no wonder
| he felt that beng in ones own home was
not so bad thing, after all.
What is it, Nellie ?" he asked, after a
while, noticing the questioning look in his
wifes eyes. She drew nearer to him.
"You are sure, John, you can spare me
| that five hundred dollars without any injus.
| tice to yourself or your business--wthout
putting aside any rightful claims? 2"
." hope, Nellie, if had not thought so, !
should not have given it to you, much as /
love to please you"
"rhen what ?" she spoke hesitatingly
"what il wanted very much indeed to use
it for something else Z"
81 do not understand what you can mean 2
For answer she told him the events of the
day. Then she said 1t seems so hard
John, for that poor girl, minister's daughter
TO be suffering for food, and dying by inches
in that miserable place ! stopped at Nurse
Smead's, on my way home, and found that
she had a nice good-sized room, where th,
sun lies half the day, which she would lei
for seventy dollars a year there is a stove
in it, and carpet, and thirty dollars more
would supply it with everything needed fo
comfort. Now ii | could pay the rent o
that room a year in advance for Anne lIadley
and tit it up neatly, what fine start j
would give her. She would have time 10 ge
well, and with the work she could easily do
she could live so nicely, and Jenny could g
to school. have it all planned, and there
with your permission, goes the hundred dol
lars in my pocket"
John Stirling looked at his wife, an,
thought her face was as the face OF an angel
But he answered, as il raising an objection
"But what would you wear to the party
Nellie You should not look shabby"
81 can wear my wedding dress. 1t i
such rich, heavy white silk, and not soile'
at all. But are you quite set upon giyinl
| the party 2"