The true northerner., 1880-07-30

yet, his dark DOylSn beauty contrasting
with hers so fair and childlike. Ernest
Emerson, our teacher, had come to us
from aneighboring academy, and, though
scarcely more than boy, had won his
way both among parents and pupils. A
model of perfection and beauty he
seemed to us children. The jetty curls
lying in damp rings about his white
brow, the great lustrous black eyes and
faintly-tinted cheeks made up for his
only drawback, lameness, which al
ways made it necessary for him TO walk
withIa cane but we soon grew to look
upon the little rosewood cane as a part
of our teacher, and probably would never
have associated it with pain and suffer
ing had he not one day told us of boy
whose reckless propensity for fun and
daring exploits had made him cripple
at the age of IA, and a disappointed man
for life. This told in sad, agitated
tone of voice convinced us that the wild,
reckless boy was no other than our
gentle teacher. From that hour we were
not only his admiring, but his warm,
sympathetic friends, and when he took
little lonely Ethel under his especial
care we felt silent rebuke from one
whose good opinion we all coveted, and
in short time all hearts were opened to
the little stranger, and when the teacher
placed her in the seat beside me we grew
inseparable, and those long, bright sum-
mer days seldom found us apart.
Ethels mother, delicate, fragile lit
tie woman, seldom went out. Missing
Ethel from school several weeks after
the commencement of the fall term, /
begged permission to go and see what
was the matter This L readily OBJ
tanned and, as it was the day before
Thanksgiving, also permission to invite
my little friend to spend the morrow
with me. The dead November grass
may have writhed and cracked under
my flying feet, but you may be assured
none grew as L sped to Ethel. How
the bright eyes shone when 1 told her
though speedily followed by shade of
disappointment as she said:
"Oh if L only could, but L can't.
Mamma is sick and, anyhow, L haven't
anything to wear"
"Oh, we'll soon fix that. You know
that red polka dot of mine? 1 just hate
it, because | can't breathe but what
hook flies off, and L believe it will just
fit you, because you amt as fat as l am,
and L know mamma is tired of sewing
on hooks, and will be ever SO glad for
me to give it away, so you're all right
there"
ooh, but mamma, you know she's
real sick She just coughs all night,
and is so hot. Sometimes [ wake up
and hear her moan. Then l almost
scream, I'm so 'fraid she's going to die !"
and the great eyes dilated with horror
ooh, Ethel; you always get scared so
easy. Everybody gets sick sometimes,
you know. You come tomorrow, and
when everybody's gone I'll get my
mamma to come over and see her and
bring her something nice-a Thanks
giving dinner, you know. Won't that
be nice? Now run and ask her; l must
go. Remember, the dress ii come to-
night.
The next morning, among the first
arrivals, was my little friend. How
proud and happy L felt when l saw how
universally petted and admired she was
by the other guests That was bright
day to us, but when my mother re-
turned, after accompanying Ethel home,
she threw n shadow into our hearts by
the sad information that Mrs. Raymond's
was n hopeless case of consumption, and
the probability was that Ethel and her
brother would be motherless before the
spring.
Poor, poor children, she went on
" that Harry of hers is n noble boy as
kind and gentle nurse as a woman.
They are very refined family, though
so oppressed by poverty. Poor Mrs.
Raymond HERS is sad story. She
told me tonight good deal of her past
history. 1t seems she was very young
when married, as was her husband. He
had nice little sum of money to put
into business, but all his business qualiti-
cations at that time consisted of di-
ploma from leading business college.
just then he received what he consid-
cred very brilliant offer, in the shape
of partnership with an old, experienced
business man, who had more business
reputation than either money or honesty,
as it afterward proved. To this arrange
ment an older brother of Mr.. Ray
mond, who was very wealthy, and their
only living relative, was violently op-
pOocu Olu cNcIy yIulilS Ill Ills power uO
prevent what, he insisted, must prove
only disastrous experiment, but all
without avail the offer seemed SO very
flattering, considering Mr.. Raymond's
limited practical experience, that it was
accepted without hesitation. So the
new firm started, and everything was
highly satisfactory for a time. Peace
and plenty smiled upon their home, and
when little Harry and Ethel came they
thought their bliss complete. But the
cloud burst unexpectedly. One morn
ing they wakened to find the new firm
bankrupt, themselves penniless, the
partner having sailed for Europe the
night before, taking with him all surplus
funds.
4" What TO do the young husband and
wife knew not, but, after numberless
unsuccessful attempts to find employ
ment, Mr.. Raymond decided to appeal
to the older brother, and received in re-
ply few words, stating that, as he had
offered advice before only to be rejected.
he certainly would not have the i'm
pertinence to offer more, but would sim
,,ly sou 90 ha bo1 tlo