Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1880-01-09

her lonely hearth contemplating her
ruined happiness, it seemed the last
friend who had loved her lay coffin.
ed and solitary, only the wet earth
protecting him from the storm. Iu
her extremity she concluded to
again write 10 her brother-in law,
and urge him to come to her assist
ance. He came not to offer the
poor girl home as people thought
he would, but TO investigate, to use
his own language, "what the old man
had left" He expressed his disap-
Dointment at the smallness of the
sum, left in disgust, leaving the
poor girl at the mercy of strangers.
At last a good hearted neighbor
took compassion upon the desolate
Mabel, took her to her home and
promised to do her best for her.
Mrs. Smith was poor like herself,
and had a large family depending
upon her for support, with hus-
bauG who was a poor manager but
her heart was full of sympathy for
the orphan, and she was willing to
share her little with her, until she
could get some better opportunity.
Finally she succeeded in getting a
sister of hers in Philadelphia, who
had a dress makers shop, to take
Mabel and teach her the trade. Ma
bel for some time worked for Mrs.
Lee and found a comfortable and
pleasant home. Finally Mr.. Lee, who
was a clerk, being thrown out of
employment by the failure of the
firm by whom he was employed, con-
cluded to 90 west and locate. Be
fore her departure, Mrs. Lee took
Mabel to a large firm where they
sold, amongst other things, ready
made clothing, and got her employ
ment. Mabel took the little money
she had left from her father, and
furnished small third-story room
in back street, in a house owned
by a Mrs. McCracken, which she
had taken for cheapness. She had
been happy with the kind-hearted
Mrs. Lee, and felt strange feeling
of desolation with the coarse, un-
feeling Mrs. McCracken. One day
after a feeling of unusual depression
] she concluded to write to her rich
sister, and narrate her circumstances.
In reply she received a cold note
enclosing one dollar, stating, "she
hoped she would look out for her
self. 1t was what she had done, "add-
ing, "It has been so long since we
have been together, it is not to be
expected l should take any interest
in the matter" Mabel's tears fell
fast over the unfeeling scrawl, but
she determined not to despair. She
would work faithfully all day at her
needle, and at night endeavor with
her few stray pennies to beautify
her apartment, and make it home
like, and inviting; it was her little
world, and she would make it hap
py one, if possible. But oh! so
lonely she felt in the great Getty
full" She was not gifted with
beauty like her sister, and being poor
and shabby, made few friends.
Trouble had made her timid and
shy, and though lovely nature, did
not appear to advantage.
Her health began to fail, and she
feared for her delicate constitu.
ton.
One bleak November day, her
proprietor called her to him stating
''that as it was coming near Christ,
mas, he wanted extra work done,
and would be obliged to discharge
her with some other girls, and give
their places to more experienced
hands" "
"Oh, sir !" Mabel faltered in her
loneliness. 81 will try! 1 will work
early and late, if you will only let
me stay"
every sorry my good girl. You
have done the best you could; work
ed well, over worked sometimes, but
the Almighty has given you poor
constitution, and you could not
stand the work 1 should require of
you"
Poverty she saw staring her in the
face looking grim and dark. "Please
keep me !" she exclaimed, as her
Dride Welded to her distress.
''Very sorry my good grid but l
must study my own interest and
business is business. Good bye"
With heart full to bursting, Ma
bel went home, to her one solitary
room. For days she wandered around
in search of employment, one by one
her few pieces of scanty furniture
was pawned to pay her board until
there was nothing left but her mea,
gre wearing apparel. At last Mrs.
McCraken warned her "that if the
balance of her board was not soon
paid she would have to 60"
Mabel burst out into a wall of de-
spair and told her situation.
"Well," replied the red-faced
woman, Struggling her fat shoulders,
81 can git q respectable girl in who
can pay her board, and arm a 1ivin',
and l warns yees that if you don't
have the money by Christmas day
(to-morrow) you may jist git, re-
member If the money is not ready
you may iist bundleout."
Christmas day dawned bright and
clear. Mabel without tasting food
started ont in the cold. The church
bells rang merrily, and the whole
city. was filed with glee. Mabel
wandered up and down scarce con.
scious of existance. Thither and
hither, cold, hungry and faint. Pres.
entity it occurred to her she might
pawn her shawl, and seeing man
enter one of these shops, followed,
taking her wrap from off her shoul-
ders offered it to him. -
"Well, what do you want for this ?''
said the man. t
sit cost fifteen dollars" said Ma.
"Fifteen dollars ! who would give
the fifteenth part of that, | would
like to know? Ftwill give you fifty
cents for it for old rags"