The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-09-07
PATHER,s VINEYARD.

III ne would only give as time-Jus
few veeks-we m,ghs pay Oh tb'
debt; but his lsttsr ssys he must hsv,
the money ct once You - he know
fathers little vineyard would fstci
jus. the sun. and Marta, . pretty Ital
ian girl turned With . gesture o.
despair 10 her younger sister snt
brother.
The three were orphans; long moth.
eriess, the last month had rsn1ersf
them fatherless. Their father had beer
q sculptor ia Naples. but . lingering III
ness had carried him off, and had sadly
diminished the fund laid BY Tor rainy
day.
He hsd brought his children up 70
be useful in their various ways; the eid
est girl. Marta. had long beeu placed
with = respectable dressuskefs in the
town. and was now making . fair liv.
ing; Leonors. the second girl. had the
charge OF their little household. Wills
Joseph. . merry hoy Of eleven. had
eyes aud limbs which never failed u
secure him oocupstion - . modsl fos
the painters and sculptors with which
his native city sbounded.
The little family had resolved. il
possible. to hold together and make Q
hight for . living. with the help Of q
few kind friends. when crushing bl "
fell upon them in the shape Of . letter
from the person who supplied their
f,,hcr with marble for his vsrioas
works As It appeared. the last con.
sign,psnt from Carrsra had never besu
paid Tor, aud the sum. . large one for
the slender means Of the sculptor .
children. was instantly demanded.
Tue man had been . friend Of their
fathers. and bad stayed at their house
in Naples. 80 the poor children felt the
abruptoess Of shs demand - almost
cruel, particularly as the marble lay
half worked and useless where their
fathers feeble fingers bad left IT.
Still the debt was clearly owing, aud
must be paid. but they could dsviss no
means Of raising the needful sum save
by the sale of their fathers pride and
chief joy-the little vineyard outside
tke walls OF the city.
1t would To . shame 70 sell that,
bfoks forth Lsonors. psssionately.
when COR father loved il 30. You are
cruel to proposs IL, Marta.
But Marta sighed; she was older,
just eighteen. aud could control her
feelings.
Couldn't we work harder 2 asked
Joseph, eagerly.
The rogue was always In trouble for
taking q holiday when his many mas
ters were expecting him, and he made .
resolution not to play truant for the
future on the spot. Marta kissed him.
Dear boy, the sum is toD great to
raise io that way; no. fear We must
make up eur minds to part with our
vineyard; but we will ask Cousin Js-
rome
Cousin Jerome read the letter from
Csrrara. and shook his head. Marta
was right; the vineyard must 90; II
would hardly fetch the m0ney. either.
4 have little moro in the old purse.
said Marta. and this years harvest, 1t
IL more than time we gathered u; that
will bring In somewhat. tso. We had
better begin tomorrow TO get the
grapes; oh. Josephf'
But Joseph looked down.
4 will not help 70 gather sheu il the
money gnes to that cruel man IN Car
rsrs.'
Neither will 1 > sobbed Leonors; it
would break my heart
Dear Children said Marta. softly.
do you remember what the good cief-
gymen told 10 once Of some one 10 the
Holy Book who Was told not = kick
against the pricksf II sseus to me
that the voice might come to you now,
for We cannot send this tiouble away.
and il 10 useless. therefore, 10 irst
against it. Be . man. ny own Joseph
try and help sister Marta. instsad Of
vrxing her. A. for Lsonora, impulsive
child ~ she was. he'd thrown hersslf st
Marta's feat and wss kissing her hands
and weeping great tears
Aud now, dsars. to bed. said Marta
kindly. and tomorrow at dsybrsak ws
will oil to ths vineyard. will get q
holiday for the purpose. and IL will be
pleasant to be In the opeu air oil day.
We shall be doing our duty, too. and
that Aiways brings happiness.
We cant BE- happy any more.
sighed poor Leonors; but Marta kissed
her and soothsd her, and By and BY
their trouble vas forgotten In alssp.
Now. next day ths grape eatheri,g
began in dead earnest. Marta Wal
busy--too busy alnost for sd thoughts
but Leonora looked still downcasG A
for Joseph he coald net b melancholy
for moro than two minutes st time,
and he was thoroughly enjoying him'
s@lf. They were in the thick Of thciI
/ work-Msrts on the ladder. Lssnoea
and Joseph carrying away the buschsa
a. she cut them. when . stsaoge voicl
speaking in . foreign accent, startled
then: 'Doe't move, any oos q you.
would give any money Tor such
group
IT is the rich English painter vhis
persd Joseph.
Yes, it wa he. . happy looting
middle aged man. gazing critically on
while Marta blsshed deeply bat dase<
nos leave her placs on ths lsd6er. A
last be came up 70 thso-
Will yoa let me paint you - yos
are? he asked Marta. Are you on'
fanily9 You look - If you were
We have NO time 70 b painted pu
IN Jsseph, 'at least Marta hasat; sh'
must 90 back 10 her work tomorrow o.
next day at least. but ! could let yos
| paint me
4 don't want you aloas. ! want II
,roap.' aid the Englishman. hsghing