South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-10-15
Bread Upon the Waters.
1T nstss rosrsr oaAvu.

1t was . gloomy room, in . crowded
tenement house. low, narrow, and un.
wholesome; and pale.faced child vas
Its only inmate She was q confirmed
invalid-you might trace that in her hol.
low cheeks and the strange unnatural
luster OF her large blue eyes-the fame
OF life was burning low on the altar OF
der childish being; yet here she was q
lone. The old armchair in which she
reclined. with one or two pillows. and
rude pine box, was the sole support OF
her tiny blue.veined feet. There was no
carpet on the moldering floor. and in
more than one place, door and window,
had yielded to the rcmorseless hand Of
decay, and presented most dilapidated
aspect. Yet all the scanty furniture
was arranged ~ neatly IS possible, and
there was even some faint attempts at
taste. AZ, in . bit of gaily-colored chintz
spread over the child's foot-stool, and q
solitary flower placed in the window seat,
where tile sunbeams could touch its e.
merald leaves.
That flower; it had been poor Katy's
companion long. Its royal beauty and
luxuriance seemed strangely out ofplace
in the squalid, low-ceiled room; vet it
grew aud flourished as if in the velvet
sod Of Bendemeer's stream. And little
Katy lay hack in her comfortless chair,
and looked at the splendid rose which
quivered like q ruby drop among the
leaves, and watched the sunlight writ
ing its golden message on the crimson
folds Of the blossom with vague feeling
Of wonder.
1t was so strange that the radiant sun,
whose glory lay on marble pillars and
stately dwellings far away. should come
to peep into her lonely. lonely room.
us that you. Jamie?" said she soft
ly. as the door opened, and q boy of
twelve came in.
yes. Do you feel any better Katy?
Are you tired Of being left alone?" And
the boy looked tenderly into her blue
eyes. and parted the auburn hair from
her forehead. with loving touch.
"Not very, but there is such weary
aching around my heart, and sometimes
it seems all on fire. How cool your
hand feels, Jamie?"
Newer mind, Katy, I've been saving
wood. and, earned whole quarter, and
am going to lay it out in apples and or
anges, to sell down town. I'll make a
mint OF money, and then won't we have
good supper when mother comes home
from work? / shouldn't wonder if we
had bit Of cake aud bunch OF grapes
over and above the medicine the dispen.
sary doctor ordered for yon."
Katy smiled and shook her head. as if
deprecating this piece of extravaganza.
Eyes, we will, Katy" resumed her
brother; "taint often we taste ANYTHING
but dry bread and cheese. and / haven't
forgotten that it's your birthday, sis,
you're ten years old to-day. Besides
you need something to put shade of
color into these cheeks; the doctor said
you must have something to tempt your
Appetite
He bent down to kiss the marble fore.
head as he spoke.
How lovely that rose is, to be sure
It's almost as good as company TO You.
Katy, isn'Git it? Are you willing I should
leave you alone for little while, dear?"
"Yes, Jamie, / don't mind it much"
she answered, with deep, weary sigh,
"but be back as soon as possible, please"
And her wistful, hollow eyes watched
him from the room with that earnest,
startling look that we only find beneath
the very shadow Of Death.
Down Mt the piers all was confusion
and uproar-busy passengers hurrying
from newly-arrived boats-turbid waters
dashing and rolling against messy posts
-swaying crowds, and loud. dissonant
voices. created a small bedlam around
the docks. and little jamie wandered a.
round with his board of fruit, feeling
very lonely and bewildered. lie had
piled mp the golden oranges with their
sunniest side upward; he had polished
the red-chceked apples until they shone
like mirrors. yet nobody stopped to buy.
Carriage. sir?" Take you to the As.
tor Ilouse?" up Broadway i'm n twink.
ling, ma'am J" "Eere's your Erald, Tri.
bune. and Times. Latest steamer from
Europe Have paper. sir?"
Poor Jamie amid all this tumult.
what chance has he Of being noticed?-
lie had picked ont the very same bunck
or grapes chat he intended for KATY. in
Taylor's window. as he came by-a
plump. apoplectic bunch dangling from
n crimson thread, where the sunshine Law
full on the purple bloom. and amethys.
tic shadows lurked among it's fitness Of
fruitage. just ut present the tempting
morsel seemed very far Off to JAMES
Imagination.
Determined not TO give way without
= vigorous effort, however. Jamie step.
ped boldly forward to the first person ne
saw. and held up his wares with mod.
est. buy an orange, sir7"
Now, as ill.fortune would have Il.
this possible customer was a fat, I'LL.
tempered pursy old man. whose color
had just been inhamed to fever heat by
the inadyertent descent Of heavy nail.
ed boot heel on his favorite corn. At
all times he considered orange boys q
but just now his slender quo.
Is OF patience was entirely exhausted
lie aimed muttcred oath and furious
blow Mt the fair.haired boy, and rushed
past TO catch a retreating omnibus.