Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-10-26
TIE EMERALlS.

enement house. a pale sad eyed wo-
nan sat sewing. The garment upon
/, ,bich she was engaged was a very rich
lress. The twilight closed in rapidly,
NTH binding lall Of snow, with a
bitter, wailing blast that made the
rattle in the easements. Sill
he pale-faced woman stitched on.
Mother piped q sweet voice from
lie coat beneath thu window. will you
, ct The fine dress done? Oh, mother.
Pm 80 hungry! III only Lad some tea
and IA bit Of sausage
She worked en- steadily for while,
only 10 brush away tear from
bel while check, then arose and shoe k
out the glmmerius robe.
'Tis done al last she said. Now
mothers little girl can have her sup
per; only be patient while longer,
Flora. Ross, come, my boy
4 manly little fellow came out from
The bedroom beyond.
The fine dress is done, Ross. and
you must run home with it as soon as
you can. Miss Grace will be out OF
petience, know. Tell her l couldn't
finish it one moment sooner, and ask
her to give you the money, we must
have it tonight. And YOU can stop al
Mr.. Rays as you come back and buy
some coal; and we must have some
bread and tea and bit of butter, and
you must get a sausage, Ross, for poor
little Flora
I'll get them all mother,' he SAID,
and be back in time. You shall have
a big sausage, little sis he added turn
ing to the cot.
The Girl nodded her curly head and
her great wistlul eyes spalkled with de-
light.
And you shall have balf Of it, Ross
she piped, in her splendid bird voice.
Hadn't you better put ca your thick
Jacket, my boy?' continued bis mother.
The wind cuts like kulfe.'
'Pshaw, little mother, l don't mind
ihe wind and away he went down the
creaking stairs and out into the storm.
Miss Oracle Fontenay was in per-
Iect furore of impaiience and anger.
Her dear 500 friends were assembled in
The halls below, and her handsome
dress had not come home. What did
that beggar woman mean by disappoiat-
ng me?'
At that moment there was ring at
The door and voice IN the hall.
please tell Miss Oracle my mother
could not finish it sooner; she wants The
tonight
The servant took the handsome dress
and message.
III never give her another stitch ! Of
work. cred the aagry beauty, 4 oNght
to haye had it three hours ago. Here,
Fanchon, dress me at onec-there's not
D minute to lose. NOI can't pay to-
night; haven't inc. lie must come
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" command
ell Miss Gracie. And the door was
Shut in lis face.
From the porch at the parior window
Pansie watched the whole scene her
violet eyes distended With childish
amazemeut.
Poor little boy" she said as Ross
disappeared down the stairway, SISTER
Oracle ought to pay him. 1t must be
dreadful to have no fire ana nothing to
eat
She stood for moment balancing her.
sell on the tip Of one dainty foot, her
rosebud face grave and reflective; then
a sudden thought flooded her eyes with
sunshine, and snatching something
from the table she darted down stairs
The servant had just closed the street
door. but she Auttered past him like Il
bird and opened it.
On the steps sat Ross, braYe little
fellow thai he was, lis face in MS hands
sobbing as if his heart would braak.
What's the matter, little boy 2? ques-
toned Panse.
Ross looked up half believing that 1t
was the face of an angel looking down
upon him through the whirling snow.
oh, cannot go home without the
money he sobbed; poor mother
worked hard, and Flora sis sick and
hungry
Here she said. do take this, little
boy. and buy her lots ofnice things.
'Tis worth a good deal; papa bought 1t
for my birthday present, but do take it
and Welcome
She extended her dimpled hands, and
something like a shower Of stars fell at
the boys feet. lie caught it up in
amazement-a necklace of emeralds,
lustrous, tawny Indian things, set in
cleaning gold.
Nc, no. he cried, running up to
where she stood. L cannot take this
uecklace-take 1t back
You shall take it, she said imper-
iously. Il have lots Of jewelry and
fine things-run hone now and buy
your sister something tO eat
She closed the door with bang. and
Ross stood irrosolute in the stormy
gloom. Should he rng the bell and re-
turn the towels to plnsie's father, or
should he do as she bade him? lie
thought Of his mother and poor little
IL "a