Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1877-10-03

"Well, Alice" said Mrs. Morton,
''come and let me appoint you your
first duties.-
This done, Alice was left alone
tor awhile at heI work. She looked
around upon the costly furniture,
the walls handsomely hung with
pictures aud paintings in busts, and
in landscapes of old ruins of cities
and castles, everything strangely
contrasting with her own compare.
lively humble home. At the thought
of home, the sweet sad face of her
mother, the bright faces of the
younger children, too young to let
care and trouble mar their peaceful
dreams, the tears rose to her eyes,
but she dashed them away, knowing
she had for them given up those en-
dearmentS: that it was for them she
had sought work. among strangers.
Strengthened with the thought she
had promised to be brave, she set
about her work of sweeping and
busting, keeping herself ready to be
called at any moment.
This was Bertic's work.
n month passed away, and still
another. Nothing Of interest had
occurred in Berries life more than
that she had given entire satisfac.
ton and was considered indiSpen.
slblc in Mrs. Morton's family. Every
month BERTHE RENTED to her mother
the larger share of her wages, keep.
ing very small share for herself,
10 keep her simple wardrobe rcplcn.
iShcd. Al how happy it made her
heart to know she was able to work.
She was happy, too, in the CON
sclousness of honest discharge of
duty, and the knowledge that her
mother and loved ones AT home were
safe from want. She often, wrote
long and cherry letters TO her mother,
and how she thanked God for such
Il daughter. Letters from BERTHE
we're ever sunbeans tn the heart of
this afflicted mother, Frightening in
Il great degree her lonely, sad heart.
All. daughters strong in health
should never repinc, but with brave
hearts do something to keep want
from their homes, to keep warm and
comfortable theiraged parents.
There was one other pleasure
BERTHE enjoyed very much indeed.
She eagerly looked for the weekly
home paper and would snatch every
spare moment for its pcrusal, for in
it she often found notice of "A Ger.
tain young lawyer who had recently
been admitted to the bar: of his
stirring eloquence. lie was already
meeting her expectations, for she
had often in moments of intense en-.
thuslasm picturcdto his imagination
the glory o: his future greatness,
when perhaps the halls of Congress
would. rcSound with his towering
elOquence, and all hearers would
acknowledge with loud applause the
sway of his powerful mind. 1t is
useless to say that this parsonage
was Henry WOODLAND. Yes; he had
on leaving BERTHE returned to his
studies, fired with a lotter ambition
to become great and good man. to
be worthy of the regard of BERTHE,
the friend OF his boyhood. the day.
star of his manhood, pointing to the
happy fruition of all eonsummate
glory. Yes, she was the bright
fairy of his dreams of ambition.
bcaUtitying and irradiating his path
through life, with soft, rosy light. |
making him TO feel i; Was truly a
great thing to live-to live "a noble,
worthy life. BERTHE was not con.
sciOuS Of the influence she exerted
over Ilenry-was not aware alto.
gether of her own interest in him.
True, she often cast "a timid glance
into the future and INDUCED in the
fond hope of yet being associated
with him, for she dearly loved his
society. She often thought of the
past, the beautiful past, the many
happy hours they had spent together
stroiling from one loved spot to
another about her home, or seated |
under the shade of the grand old
oak grove reading from IA favorite
author, or engaging in animated f.,
conversation, each expressing their
purely lofty sentiments in sweet
freedom and high appreciation for
each other. All! she thought how
happy she was then, and wondered
if Henry ever thought of her now;
wondered if, while enjoying the wild
applause Yf the multitude and wear,
ing the laurels of his well.earned
fame, he would deign to give her a
thought of consideration in her com.
parative insigniticance. All! BERTHE,
the course of true love never runs
smooth. At first the tiny stream
must ripple and play as it goes,
wind in and out, aud is sometimes