The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-07-26

the magnificent piano, and for the next
five minutes ! seemed 10 be far away,
down in the old home, as forgot where
was, in singing my poor dead fathers
favorite ballad, Robin Adair;" while,
as finished, had hard work TO keep
back the tears.
ssRo-bin Adam she sang, as l
rose, in a not unpleasing voice. " Now
let me hear you read. always make
my companion read to me great deal
and mind this, hate 10 hear any drone
like school. girl. Go over there into
the corner OF the window and stand
there. Take that book; you'll find the
mark left in where Miss Belleville bah!
/ believe her name was Stubs and her
father green-grocer-lef off. Now
then, begin"
She pushed lounge-chair close up to
the window and sat down with her
hands in her mutf, while stood there,
feeling like schoolgirl and ready to
drone, as began to read with faltering
voice what happened TO be Thackeray's
most beautiful chapter-The death Of
poor old Colonel Newcombe. know
my voice trembled at times, and
strange sense Of choking CAME upon me
as went on battling, oh, SO hard to
read those piteous heait-stirring lines
but was weak and suffering, was
faint with hunger and exertion, sick
with that despair Of hope deferred, and
at last the room, with its costly furni-
ture, seemed to swim round before me,
cold perspiration bathed my face, and
with weary sight | caught feebly at
the curtains and then fell heavily upon
the polished floor.
have some faint memory of being
lifted and wheeled in a chair whose cas-
tors heard chirrup To the front of the
fire, and then, as my senses began to
return, seemed to feel arms around
me and pleasant voice saying, half
aloud:
"And she just lost her poor father,
toto set her to read such thing rs
that declare I'm about the wicked
est, most thoughtless and unfeeling
woman under the sum-
Then there was the refreshing odor of
vinaigrette, and the sick feeling be-
gan to pass away.
ell beg pardon" faltered, try
ing to rise.
~ beg yours, my dear" she said,
tenderly. ssSit still, sit still. Now.
then, try and drink that"
Some sherry was held to my lips, and
then was almost forced to eat a bis
cult. They, however, rapidly revived
me, and found Mrs. Porter had torn
off her bonnet and mantle and was kneel-
ing by my side.
"That's better, my dear" she said,
smiling at me, as she passed her arm
round me and drew me nearer to her
and kissed me In gentle, motherly
way. And now this was too much, for
was weak and hysterical. could
fight against harshncss, but her tender
words and ways unlocked the flood.
gates Of my grief. and laid my head
down and sobbcd as II my heart would
break.
An hour later, after she had literally
forced me TO partakc of the breakfast
that was ordered up; she sat beside me,
holding my hand, and more than once
| saw the tears steal down her pleasant
face as she won from me, bit by bit. the
story Of my troubles and my bitter strug-
giles here in town
At last rose to 90, trembling and ex-
pectant. Would she engage me? 1t
was more than dared to hope.
"Sit still, my child,- she said tender
ly. at has pleased God to make me -
childless, widowed woman--H His
steward over much wealth, and II did
not make this home for one Of His
tempest-smitten lambs | should be a
worse woman than think am. Stay
with me; we shall be the best of friends. :"
l stayed-stayed to know her real
worth and TO win her motherly love
stayed to find, when John Murray re-
turned, that his love was greater for my
sister than for me, and patiently resign
ed my love to her. and then battled with
q long illness when they had gone to-
gether to the far-off home. But every
day gave me new lesson on not judy
ing too hastily. That il ten years since;
and am still in my peaceful happy
home, though only "as companion 70 q
lady. "-Cussell's Magazine.
The Sagacity Of Ants.