Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-11-20

you this for Christmas, holding fort
the silver saIver, on which reposed il
quiet state large Glove apple sucl
as was held some years ago, in tn
country if not in the city, as q worl
of art, and entitled to a conspicuou
place among the ornaments on tabl,
or mantle.
/ Miss Mansfield looked surprised,
ut the gift, her face crimsoning thel
growing palid, her hand stretche.
eagerly forth.
who brought it p she asked.
/ Mss Sunburn's little girl, Miss
/ The eager hand fell listlessly into
her lap.
4 knew you wouldn't like it. Mis-.
you, what could have everything a,
heart and head and mind could wish
a taking up with an apple as big as .
punkin-must have been pippin'--
went ON Mrs. Fitch, surveying it crit.
ically-'and stuck chock full of cloves
some with their heads on and some
with 'em off. But leave it che ould
and leave it she did, and the persuad
in critter made me promise I'd bring
1t in TO you, and here it u.s.
You may leave it, the lady said
lapsing again into silence. If new
current had not been given to her
thoughts, there had been a quicken
ing in the old, for she said aloud:
1T was my own fault /; my own ex.
ceeding pride and folly; my hasty,
ungove-nable spirit. How / sicken
at the review. What would l no,
give to set it right but it is too late
for ten years it has been too late T
She rang the bell quickly.
where is the little girl p she asked
of Mrs. Finch.
Gone home, Miss
where does she live p
Round the back corner; she goes
by here to school every day.
Do you know the family p
La,yes. There amt but them two.
Are they nice p
Dreadful nice, Miss, but dreadful
poor; Miss Sunburn, she's a wilder
woman, earns her daily bread, and
don't have any too much; dreadful
proud, though
please go for the child, and send
her in to me-
In a few moments the girl had
been shown in by wise Mrs. Finch,
and the door closed. She had come
Just as she was from her play, for q
pretty tangle of curl had escaped
from her hood, and hurried flush
tinged her cheek. Miss Mansfield
was pacing back aud forth the room,
the velvet folds of the riding habit
which she still wore. undulating like
green shimmering pillows, in the al
ternate sunlight and shadow that
fickered across her path.
The child stood silent, timid and
watchful, and in as lady-like repose
of manner as the proud woman she
waited on could herself have shown.
"What is yoar name, my dear ~
was asked at length.
MARY Sanborn, ma'am"
Sand you brought me this p
touching the spiced apple, with hall
disdain, half desire, as though it were
forbidden fruit.
yes, ma'am'
'Why, may ask p
A little confused blush, but no
reply.
DO you think that l needed it?'
A merry twinkle came into the
brown eye, which glanced hastily
over the beautiful room, then at the
homely offering, and then frankly
met the gaze OF the questtoner Their
all at once the lips parted, and she
broke into delicious silvery laugh
Miss Mansfield herself smiled.
Then tell me why she urged
Excuse me ma'am, thought vol
had no little children, and no little
sisters I knew yoa could buy every
thing, but thought may be YOU
would like some little folk to max,
you something, stammered the child
who taught you to make this p
Mama she knew how when sh,
was ever so little
| How old are you ?
Twelve; but l do not look 80 old
people think
No, you do not. Did you make
me present thinking to get some
thing in return p
The young face flushed crimson
the hot indignant blood creeping u,
into the brow. and curling the small
sensitive lip, which at first disdai
reply. After a moments struggle sh
said:
| No ma'am when / asked nam
if ! might mako 1t for you, she bad
me sit down and think out what wa
the reason l wanted to do it {; but
did not have to think. knew all th
time, and / gave it to you true, jus
as told mamma /; aud she said
was right
But l shall give you something
come sit by me,
oh, please do not, said the chile
Il could not take IT, indeed coul
not
But it is something you could nc
purchase any more than could bu,
gift like yours 1t was only kiss
would you take it from me?'
'Oh, ma'am, could you, would you
slipping upon her knees.
Something in the wistful look {
the upturned eyes opened the four
of her long closed heart, and sh
lifted the red lips to hers and kisse
them again and again.
Now go, dear she said, and droI
ping her face in her hands, she WEI
as they weep who have been Ion
unused to tears. Remorseful tear,
mayhap-proud tears! This Chris
, mas morn, she said right boasttull
j that she had need of nothing; Ii
tie child had spied her leanness on
and this eve she wanted everythin
i she wanted lore
One break upon long continue
course, brings with it rapidly sou
other. Peace is the complement
of war, and war itself, is but Il
, healthy outgrowth of an enervatir
! peace; and quivering light and Ii
J is by one urgent word begot OF eh