The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-03

rN m GPSeJ uuu lne Nc"Hb' o'Voh VI
clOLnlug there, and count the dearly
purchased articles as they were con-
sumed.
"My poor black alpacl' Meta sad,
watuhin. the lurId trimming creeping
up the skirt. "We might have snatcheu
that. 1T hangs on The door,"
'.See my band-boX topping over"
said. ''The bonnet viii have hane-
coiured feathers in two minutes"
Mother was 90 much crushed to share
in our grim jesting, aud Freddie was
trembling with excitement and terror.
The tremen did their duty bravely,
but were TOO late to save anything, and
dawn found US homeless, with nothing
| lett OF our house but blackened walls
and tall chimney, clearly defined
against the rosy sky OF Jane sunrise.
lhen-I shall love him ali my Lille Tor
that-as we stood utterly desolate and
destitute, Brent Ellis, VINO had worked
| like Il giant at the Il, e. engines, came, all
blackened and streaming with sweat,
| and said, "Marry me, Meta, this hour, SO
that may have right to shelter all oi
you. have little fortune OF my own
| my father can not touch, and 1T Will Keep
US IRON want, II no more"
But Meta only thanked him gently,
| and clung more closely to our mother.
We began to realize the scantiness vi
our ralment in the daylight, and were
glad to accept the offer OF II negihbor for
| tempurary shelter. Others came for
| ward, and we mad soon an lncongruous
assortment OF cast-of clothes at our dis
posal, and arrayed ourselves as we best
could. presenting a ludicrOus appear
ance enough, if any Of us could nave
raised spirits enough to laugh.
But we were not exactly hilarious.
Utter and entire destitutlon seemed to
| have fallen upon us at last, after our
long fight with that traditional wolf who
| had prowIed 80 near our doors Tor the
last live years. We sailed our cups OF
charity-otfered coffee with our tears, and
were blind to the charms Of hot cakes
Hospitality pressed upon us.
| NeighbOrs flocked in to offer advice
and consolation, and we were touched
by most generous offers of home and
lOod from several, until we could "look
up a home."
Where? What could we look tor? Our
only hope lay in ashes, our sole possess
sions were entirely consumed
| For three days we were numbed by
| desDairing sorrow. "WG" means the
three women, for Freddie seemed 10 LOOK
upon the whole business as a pleasur-
| able change in the m0notony OF his eX-
istepce. He had not been so well fed
indeed may say well stuffed-in i've
years; Tor all the neighbors called him
| in. whenever he passed, to offer tId-bits.
| He had an entire suit OF clothes that
| were out-grOWn by one of the richer
boys, and. lifting Freddie, clothed him
batter than he had been clothed since
mis- father died, and, best OF all, he took
holiday, nobody having sufficiently re-
| covered their wits to send him to
| school.
| AS soon as the ruins of our home were
cold enough 10 admit Of visiting, parties
of boys began to dig in the ashes 1or hall
| burned property, and freddie narrowed
our sensitive feelings fifty times day
metal and ruined treasures of every de-
scription.
| Meta and summoned up sufficient en-
ergy on the third day to visit my en-
pIoyer, who agreed TO take my sister TOR
| a short time as salesWoman. We came
back to our temporary home, somewhat
| encouraged, to find Brent had been
there, and fully enlisted mamma Oh his
side.
While she was repeating his argu-
ments, and Meta listened with a smile
of quiet happiness at her lovers con-
| stancy, Freddie burst in.
| "COme, qulCh! qulchI ne Crleu.
"We'ye found big IRON box under the
chmney-place! L can't Lift it, it is So
heavy. Oh, comeW
He was fairly dragging mamma from
her seat, and hastily throwing a shawl
around her she followed him, Meta and
myself bringing up the rear.
Truly enough, there was large box
under the chlmney-place, in hollow,
bricked all around, which had evidently
had an opening we had never seen. 1t
was large and heavy, requiring the
united forces OF the family to pull it from
its resting-place and carry it to the
barn, where we put it down on the floor.
There was no key, hut strong lock,
and after due deliberation we sent for a
hatchet, and by dtnt of much perseyer.
ance and strength burst it open. ...
Within-as by that time we halt ex.
pected-we found Uncle Gordou's hoard.
ed treasures. Bonds to the amount Of
GlO, 900, Gl20 in gold, a case of uncut
gems, nOG very valuable, package oil
private letters, an Old-fashioned Watcl
and chain, anu miniature pOr trait of a
lady, opening out field for our specu
lations as to some romance Of the pas
we mad never suspected in our uncle's
life.
There was no one to dispute oul
mothers claim TO the property, all sately
deposited in bank before sunset, anC
our troubles seemed at last to be over.
John Ellis, whom l hate most cor
daily, aud shall while 1 live, catle,
upon mamma in few days, and mos
gracefully withdrew his opposition tt
his sons marriage. We took his co onde
scension for exactly what it was worth
but were more than happy at tht
thought Of rewarding Brents faithful
love. .....- ,
Our new house, built upon the site o
the old one, IS but roomy two ,torr
cottage, but hOmel he and cosy, an, oi'
house warming was the w.eedinu a
Brent ana Meta, where Freddie and
otficiated as groom, ,nan and brid esmaid
ana aear Ill .mnla seemed to throw u
tWehty Gears OF her age when she put o.
lavender silk dress and wound he
!, Iheayy hair in cOronet upon her heat
in honor OF the bridal.
a Brent would have no part of mamma
money settled upon his wife; but be wa
u loving adviser as to its investment TO
our support, and we make occasion
> Tor present. living toward the house
= keeping treasures OF the young couple t
!, keep up something OF a fair division {