Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1880-01-01
5UlsceNaMs
THE EMERALDS.

One wintry afternoon in January, away
up in the bleak attic of a wretchel tene-
ment-house, a pale, sad-eyed woman sat
sewing. The garment upon which she
was engaged was Il very rich dress, The
twilight closed in rapidly, with binding
fall of snow, Il bitter, wailing blast that
made the windows rattle in the easements.
Still the pale.Iaced woman stitched on.
Mother" pipcd Il sweet voice from the
cot beneath the window, will you get the
fine dress done2 Oh, mother, I'm SO hun
cry! II only mad some tea and Il bit OF
sausage"
She worked on steadily for time, paus-
ing only to brush te from her white
cheek, then arose and shook ont the glim-
mcrng robe.
"Tis done at last" she said. Now
mother little girl can have her supper;
only be patient little longer, Flora
Ross, come, my boy
A manly little fellow came out from
the bed room beyond.
"Thc fine dress is done, Ross, and you
must RIM home with it as fast as you can.
Miss Oracle will be out of patience.
know. Tell her couldn't finish it one mo.
ment sooner, and ask her to give you the
money. We must have it tonight. And
you can stop at Mr.. Rays, as you come
back, and buy some coal; and we must
have some bread and tea, and Il mite of
butter, and you must get sausage, Ross,
for poor little Flora"
"l'll get them all, mother" he said
"apd be back in time. You shall have a
big sausage little sis, he added, turning
toward the cot.
The girl nodded her curly head and her
great wisttul eyes sparkled with delight.
"And you shall have half of it, Ross, :"
she pi ped, in her splendid bird voice.
"Hadr't you better put on your thick
lcket, my boy?' continued his mother
The wind cuts like a knife"
"Pshaw, little mother, don't mind
the wind" and away he went down the
creaEing stairs and out into the storm.
Miss Oracle Fontenay was in a perfect
furore of impatience and anger, Her
dear five hundred friends were assembled
in the halls below and her handsome dress
had not come home. What did that beg
gar woman mean by disappointing herP"
At that momrnt there was q ring at the
door and voice in the hall.
"Please tell Miss Oracle my mother
could not finish 1t sooner, she wants the
money tonight" D."
The servant took the handsome dress
and message.
"I'll never give her another stitch Of
work, " cried the angry beauty; 81 ought
to have had it three hours ago Here
Fanchon dress me at once-there's not a
minute to lose. No, can't pay tonight
haven't time. He must call tomorrow.
"But we've no fire and nothing to eat,
and my little sister is Sick," called the
boy, pushing up the grand stairway.
"Shut the door, Fanchon!" commanded
Miss Oracle, And the door was closed in
his face.
From the porch at the parlor window
Pansie watched the whole scene, her vio'
let eyes distended with childish amaze
ment.
"Poor little boy" she said, as Ross dis
appeared down the stairway; "sistel
Oracle ought to pay him. 1t must HI
dreadful to have no fire and nothing tt
eat"
She stood for moment, balancing her
self on the tip OF one dainty foot; he
rosebud face grave and reflective; then
sudden thought flooded her blue eye
with sunshine, and snatching something
from the table she darted down stairs
The servant had Just closed the street doc
but she huttered past him like a hum
ming bird and opened it.
On the steps sat Ross, brave little fellow
that he was, his face In his hands, sob
bing as if his heart would break.
"What's the matter, little boyP" ques
toned Pansie.
Ross looked up half believing that j
was the face of an angel looking down up
on him through the whirling snow.
"Oh, cannot go home without th
money" he sobbed; "poor mother worke
hard, and Flora is sick and so hungry.
Here" she said, "do take this, littl
boy, and buy her lots Of nice things. I'll
worth great deal; papa bought it 10
my birthday present, but 40 YOU take j
and welcome"
She extended her dimpled hands, an
something like a shower Of stars fell at tn
boys feet. He caught it up in amaze
necklace of emeralds, lustrous, gleamin
things, set in tawny, Indian gold.
"No, no." he cried, running up t
where she stood, 81 cannot take this mech
lace-take it back"
"You shall take it," she continued IN
eriousv, ~ have lots Of iewelry an
fine things-run home now and buy you
sister something to eat"
She closed the door with bang. an
Ross stood irresolute in the stormy gloon
Should he ring the bell and return th
Jewels to Pansie's father, or should he
as she bade him? He thought of h
mother and POOR little Flora watchiu
AwiStfully for his return. He could not q