The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-08-04
TWO HOMES,
A Chapter. Of Real Life.


ing in two homes at opposite ends OF
the City of Dublin. The homes were
very different, and so was the nature
of the trouble; nevertheless. the latter
was felt with considerable keenness by
the respective inhabitants OF both.
The first of these dwellings was on
the south side of Merrion Square, a
Soodly mansion, the abode of wealth
and luxury. The lady to whom
this belonged sat disconsolate in the
midst of her rich surroundings. Books
and embroidery were on the dainty
little flower decked table at her side.
but they were untouched; and rest
less, troubled expression was on her
face while she nervously clasped and
unclasped the jeweled hands lying idle
in her lap.
The door opened, and footman an
nounced visitor.
oh" she exclaimed, rising to greet
her. 'you got my note. How kind of
you to come! am in such Distress"
"And for what?" asked the friend,
TELL me all about it,
You remember my cousin, Emma
H-?n
':Of course. But no one has seen
her for years. She has shut herself up
in her country place ever since her hus-
band died; has she not?''
Eyes: and she is still prey to grief.
Before they married, her husband gave
her, as her engagement ring, valuable
jewel that had been in his family for
time out of mind, and had come to him
from his mother. 1t was a diamond
single stone of great size and the
purest water Of course she valued it
immensely, as, indeed, she would have
any gift of man to whom she was so
devoted. Since his death, this ring has
been simply inestimable in her eyes
the earnest of happiness ruined so soon.
Priced SO highly BY the giver as an old
family possession, and in itself of such
exceeding value, it has never left her
finger day or night. Latterly, she has
fancied that the. stone was becoming
loose in the setting, and spoke of send
ing the ring to me to have it examined
by jeweler, but could never make up
her mind to part with it, even for few
days. At last, however, the stone came
out. She sent it to me, and"--here the
speaker broke down-"I have lost it!'
"You have lost the stone? How
very unfortunate! No wonder you are
SO wretched! Tell me how it hap
pened." ~
The lady told her story. pouring the
details of the grievous misadventure in
to sympathetic ears. Her friend, with
kind tact, abstained from the, ..If you
had only done this or that" or, II
wonder you did so-and-so," common
on such occasions; remarks that drive
painfully home the arrow OF self-re-
proach and fruitless regret, already
singing so sharply. Every one is 50
wise, so full of precautions, after .
thing has happened. -.
The means that had been adopted for
the recovery of the lost treasure were
discussed by the two ladies, and fresh
measures anxiously suggested. At last
the visitor departed. leaving the owner
OF these gorgeous drawing ROOMS with a
heavy heart under her ''silk attire"
The other home was in a very differ
ent quarter of the city. It consisted of
one room in house let out in "tene-
ments'' to poor families, in a squalid
back slum. The place was clean,
though bare Of everything except mere
necessaries; every article of furniture
that could be dispensed with, as we'll as
the wearables of the inmates, having
gone to the pawn-shop to procure food.
Living outside the bed, partly dressed,
was a mantle wreck OF q fine. stall
wart. broad shouldered young fellow.
He was q day-laborer. and had lately
left the hospital after long and heavy
tit OF illness. Two small children were
playing quietly in . corner; and the
wife-her apron thrown over her head
was sitting beside the fireless CRATE,
rocking herself backward and forward,
sobbing bitterly. 49,, -s
"a don't take on so, nv GIRL" said
the man" don't now. Mary. honey.
Sure God is good, MAY be He'll rise no
something for us. RI get strong and
able again perhaps. Didn't the doc, or
say when I was eaving the hospital,
that l hadn't . a'porth tho matter
with me? l was cured; and he need do
no more.
LAY; and didn't he say, too, that
you was to have good food-good
nourishment; aud that without it
you wouldn't do? And tits that
what's breaking my heart en-
tirely.' added Mary, with q
fresh burst of grief; looking al you
there melting away before my eyes day
by day; wore to skeleton with next to
starvation, and nothing ON the living
earth to give you. And now here's the
man come for the rent, and l haven't .
half penny to give him-not one! Sure
and certain, we'll be.turned out on the
world. Nothing for it at last but to go
to the workhOuse, and be all parted
asunder from one snother-you and /
and the children. And we 80 comforta-
BILE, so happy in our little home before
you took M with full and plenty Of
everything! Oh. Jim, jewel, isn't it
hardp''
"Well. twas from no fault of ours,
and couldn't b ihelped.. The sickness
eams from the Lord-glory Do to His