St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1881-12-10
THE EMERALDS.

One wintry afternoon in January.
away up in the bleak attic of
wretched tenement house, a pale,
sad-eyed woman sat sewing. The
garment upon which she was en-
gagged was very rich dress. The
twilight closed in rapidly, with a
bliuding fall of snow, a bitter, wall
ing blast, that made the windows
rattle in the easements. Still the
pale-faced woman stitched on.
Mother piped sweet voice
from the cot beneath the window,
will you get the fine dress done?
Oh, mother, I'm SO hungry! II |
only had some tea and biz of sau-
sage"
She worked on steadily for
time. pausing only to brush a tear
from her white cheek, then arose
and shook out the glimmering robe.
I" 'Tis done at last" she said.
Now mothers little girl can have
her supper; only be patient a little
longer, Flora. Ross, come my
boy"
A manly little fellow came out
from the bed room beyond.
"The fine dress is done, Ross, and
YOU must run home with it as fast
rs you can. Miss Oracle will be
out of patience, l know. Tell her /
couldn't finish it one moment SOON
er, 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 mite of butter; and you
must get sausage, Ross, for poor
little Flora"
"I'll get them all, mother" he
sail, "and be back in time. You
shall have a big sausage, little sis"
turning toward the cot.
The girl nodded her curly head.
and her great, wistful eyes, sparkled
with delight.
"And you shall have half of it,
Ross" she piped, in her splendid
bird voice.
Hadn't you better put on your
thick jacket, my boys" continued
tue mother, ''the wind cuts like Il
knife. - 49, ,.a-
"Pshaw! little mother, I don't
mind the wind, land away he vent
down the creaking stairs and out
INTO the storm.
Miss Oracle Fontenay was in a
perfect furore of iupatience and
anger. Her dear five hundred
friends were assembled in the balls
below, and her handsome dress had
nol come home.
"What did that beggar woman
ufean by Disappointing her?'
AT that moment there was ring
at the door aud a voice in the hall.
"Please tell Miss Grace that my
mother could not flush it sooner,
and she wants the money to-nisht."
The servant took the handsome
dress and the message.
I'll never give her another stitch
of work." cried the angry beauty.
Il ought to have had it three hours
ago. Here, Fancheon, dress me at
once; there is Lot a minute to lose.
No, l cannot pay tonight; I haven't
time. He must call tomorrow"
"But we have no fire and nothing
to eat, and my little sister IS SICK"
called the boy. pushing up the
grand stairway.
"Shut the door, Fancheon," COM
manded Miss Grace. And the door
was shut in his face.
From the porch at the parlor
window Pansie watched the whole
scene, her violet eyes distended with
childish amazement.
Poor little boy" she said, as
Ross disappeared down the stair
way, "sister Oracle ought to pay
him. 1t must be dreadful to have
no fire and nothing to eat"
She stood for a moment balancing
herself on the tip of one dainty
foot, her rosebud face grave and re-
Elective; then a sudden thought
Hooded her blue eyes with sun
shine, and snatching something
from the table, she darted down
stairs. The servant had just closed
the street door, but she duttered
past him like a humming bird and
opened it.
On the steps sat Ross. brave lit
tie fellow that he was, ais face i'll
his hand, sobbing as if his heart
would break.
What's the matter, little boy?"
questioned Pansie.
Ross looked up, half. believing