The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-14

lady, how am / to remember your
/ dreadful name What is 1t 2"
Laurie, ma'am," replied.
"Of course 1t is I remember IL quite
we'll. Now go and play and sing some
thing, and mind, don't want my ears
| deafened with fireworks and the drums
split with parrot-shriek bravuras. Sing
something sweet and simple and old
fashioned. IL you car" she added I'M
graciously.
crossed the room and sat down to
the magnificent piano, and for. the next
| five minutes / seemed to be far away,
down In the old home, as forgot where
! was, in singing, my poor dead lea fathers I,
favorite old ballad, Robin Adair !"
while, as finished, had hard work to
keep back the tears.
robin A--dair," she sang, 80
rose, in not unpleasing voice. Now
let me hear you read. | always make
my companion read TO me great deal !;
and mind this, [ hate to hear any one
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 Belle
ville-bahl I believe her name was
Stubbs, and her father q green-grocer-
left off. Now, then, begin"
She pushed lounge-chair close up to
the window, and sat down with her
| hands In her muff, 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 Col. NewCome. 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 heart stirring lines! but
j was weak and suffering, l was faint
with hunger and exertion, sick with
that despair Of hope deferred, and at
last the room, with It's costly furniture,
seemed to swim round before me, O cold
perspiration bathed my face, and with
weary sigh / caught feebly at the cur
tains, and then fell heavily upon the
polished floor.
/ have some faint memory OF being
lifted and wheeled in chair, whose
casters heard chirrup. to the front of
the fire, and, then, as my senses began
to return, I seemed TO feel arms around
me and d pleasant voice saying, half
aloud:
"And she just lost her poor father,
too--to set her to read such q thing as
that! I declare I'm about the wicked
est, most thoughtless and unfeeling old
woman under the sun"
Then there was the refreshing odor of
q vinaigrette, and the sick feeling began
to pass away.
I'll beg pardon" faltered, trying
to rise.
II beg yours, my DEAR" she said, ten
derby. ''Slt still, sit still. Now then,
try and drink that"
Some sherry was held to my lips, and
then I was almost forced to eat bis
cult. They, however, rapidly revived
me, and found Mrs. Porter had torn
off her bonnet and mantle, and was
kneeling by my side.
''That's better, my DEAR" she said,
smiling at me, as she passed her arm
round me aud drew me nearer to her,
and kissed me In gentle, motherly
way. And now this was too much. for
] was weak and hysterieal. / could
fight against harshness. but her tender
words and ways unlocked the flood
gates Of my grief, and laid my head
down and sobbed as il my heart would
break.
An hour later, after she had literally
forced me to partake of the breakfast
that was ordered up, she sat beside me,
holding my hand, and more than once
l saw the tears steal down her pleasant
face as she won from me, bit by bit, the
story Of my troubles and my bitter
here in town.
At last / rose. to go, trembling and ex-
pectant. Would she engage me? 1t |
was more than dared to hope.
"Sit still, my child" she said tender
Iy. ''It has pleased God to make me--a
widowed woman-His steward |
over much wealth, and If / did not make |
this o home for one OF His tempest |
3mltten lambs | should be worse wo-
man than think l am. Stay with me
We shall be the best Of friends"
I 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 re-
signed my love to her, and then battled
with long illness when they had gone
to her far off home. But every
lay gave me new lesson on not iudg. |
ng too hastily. That is ten years since,
and [ am still in my peaceful, happy
home, though only as companion to a
adv.