The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-03-31

De Happy. L wonder now IL would seem tC
be unhappy | do not believe l was evel
thoroughly unhappy in my life. Oh. wish
everybody was as happy rs | am"'
But her soliloquy was brought suddenly
to close. Coming slowly up the oppo-
site side of the street, she noticed pale,
thnly- clad woman, who looked i'll and mis-
cradle; and just as she was opposite Mable,
tall, pompousy- dressed gentleman, in
passing her, .jostled rudy against her, caus-
ing her to fall PROSTATE on the slippery
pavement, and passed on without so much
as inquiring the extent of her injuries. In
al instant, Mable was at her side.
care you much hurt, my good woman?"
she asked. LET me assist You to rise, :"
she added, as the woman made an effort to
get upon her feet again.
"No, l think l am not hurt seriously,
thank you, Il" was the reply, as she once more
reganed her footing. " Perhaps should
not have fallen at all, only am not strong.
/ You are very kind, Miss" she added; and
she looked longingly at Mabes warm wraps
and soft furs.
/ You seem ill.," said Mable. "Are you
so very poor that you must expsse your
self on such day as this ,"
/ 81 must work or starve," said the wo-
man, bitterly. 81 have no friends to APP
peal to, and have nothing but life of
misery to look forward to-"
In all instant Mabel thought of the crisp
new bill lying so securely in her pocket
and the next moment she laid it in the
woman's hand.
"Take this" said she, ait will give you
rest for few days, when think you will
be better. Rest and nourishing food are
the best restoratives,' and Mabel passed
on, the woman's thanks and blessings fol
lowing her as she went.
Never had Mabel Thorn felt as she did
at that moment: perhaps she had never
before had such an opportunity to sacrifice
her own pleasure to the comfort and good
she was at peace now.
81 shall have to forego the luxury of
new gloves" she said to herself, as she
retraced her steps towards the house, /" for
mamma cannot afford me any more money
at present. All. well, my old ones are not
so very bad after all; they will do very well
in my soft, warm muff; besides that poor
creature needed food and rest more than l
need gloves. | wish | could alleviate all
the suffering in the world"
I Il.
up to her own room, laid aside her wraps,
and then descended to the parlor, where
her mother sat by the fire reading.
Have you made your purchase, my
DEAR" she asked, quietly, as Mabel came
in.
81 did not buy the gloves, mammal
Why not9' said Mrs. Thorn, amazed.
The tears that glistened in Mabers eyes
as she related to her mother the story Of
her encounter with the poor woman; her
pity for her, and lastly, her gift of the
money with which she was to have pur-
chased the needed article, were caused
partly from sympathy for the poor creature
and partly from disappointment.
Dlu 90 rlSnt, mamma Sne asked,
as she finished her narrative.
Yes, my child" said Mrs Thorn, kiss
sing her tenderly, "you did; though l do
not see how l can spare you the price of
another pair just at present. You know
the rents have not come in yet, and"
ooh! mamma" said Mabel, eagerly, 81
did not expect it; can do very well with
out them. You know l have nice new
muti, and l daresay no one will scarcely
notice my gloves at all
"But what will Mr.. Harry think of
seeing you in shabby gloves on New Years
day? ~ asked Mrs. Thorn, who had some
thing of an eye upon her daughters fu-
ture, as all good mammas are supposed to
have.
- don't know, mamma" said Mabel,
shyly; 81 think if he knew
Her sentence was not finished, however,
for turning toward the door, she stood
face to face with Mr.. Harry himself.
At his own request, the servants had ad
mitted him unannounced, as they had
often done before, and so he had come in
upon than without warning.
He disliked so much ceremony he
said alphabetically, and honest Mrs. Thorn
and her gentle daughter rather enjoyed
this familiar and summary mode of intro
ducing himself into their presence.
But on this occasion Mabel was puzzled
not a little by his manner. Never since
her acquaintance with him had he greeted
her 50 warmly or spoken to her SO tenderly; |
circumstance which. while it puzzled her,
more than once brought the soft bushes
to her cheeks and when at once he took
his leave, with a tender illusion to the |
morrow, she had forgotten all about the
incident of the morning and quietly sought
her own room to dream over the excess of
happiness that seemed in store for her.
New Years day dawned bright and
beautiful, and it was a merry party that
left Elmdale that morning in handsome
tournouts, we'll tucked up in tleecy robes,
with jingling bells mingling with their
own lively conversation and ringing laugh !
ter.
Mable herself looked lovely as she skim
med over the sparkling snow, with Guy
by her side. Happiness and excitement
gave animation to her countenance, and
when they came to the great woods that
lay few miles out of Elmdale, Mable
declared she had never before seen any
thing so beautiful. The ice of the pre-
vous day had not yet melted, and every
tree and bush seemed laden with flashing
crystals, while the sunlight danced over
the snow drifts and hills dazzling the eye
with it's effulgent brightness.
Mr. Harvy's tenderness of the previous
day had not in the least abated, and if he
noticed the halfworn gloves that encased
the dimpled hands by his side, no one
knew it, and Mable herself almost forgot |
about it in her happiness.
But the day at last came to Close as
all days must, whether they are fraught |