Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-12-23

was it not infamous that ones good intentions
should have been frustrated and ones kindness
turned to gall by the Vaccinations Of knavef Still
did say, out of justice to myself, "Believe it or
not. Louisa Brand, my only motive in coming here
was to endeavor to do you and your son kindness
81 do not believe it." said the poor creature, ve-
hemently. "Your actions give your words the lie.
Answer me this, if you Did you seek me out to
tell me that Nicolas had done his duty by you that
he faithful willing, honest servant, and that
you satisfied with him; or to speak against him
and complain of him You ara silent; you dare
| not speak. 1t is sufficient for me. You are un-
| masked. This Christmastiie ! will see my son, or
die Nothing shall prevent me, nothing but death.
II he cannot come to me, will go to him, and give
| him mothers blessing"
Well, left her. and she refused to take my hand
| at parting.
"Do not darken my door again." she said, till
you have done justice to my boy"
As turned my back upon the miserable cottage,
| WIS conscious that some spiritual sweetness had
| departed from my life, and that human link Of
love WAS snapped, which could never again he made
whole. Now that had lost the esteem of the
woman whose laugh was the cheeriest, whose eyes
brance felt how precious it had been to me. and
how, in its unrecognized influence, it had often
helped to soften my judgment and my temper when
! things were not going exactly right with me.
Thus it happened that twice in my life had l re-
ceiveda terrible wound at the hands OF good and
virtuous woman whom had honorably owed.
1t was fortunate that at east two three days
were to elapse between my interview with Louisa
| Brand and my meeting with her treacherous
son. Had seen him Immediately after the inter-
view might have conducted myself in an unbecom-
ng manner, and it would have been good neither
fer him nor me- had time on my homeward Jour
ney to reason with myself. Shall make myself
unhappy" thought; "shall fret myself 10 a
shadow because have been maligned? Shall al
low such rascal as Nicolas Brand to entirely de-
stroy my peace and repose? That would indeed be
giving hiss advantage over me. Let me rather
bear this stroke with equauuiity, and be thankful
that there still some honest men in the world"
But it was POOR comfort, and it needed all my phi
losophy before succeeded in calming tue tuIbu-
lence of my feelings, so startling had been the
lation. To think that all the money had sent
Louss Brand for the past ten years to soften her lot
should have found its way into Nicolas Brands
| u
friend Pretzel. The pair of knayes
The latter part of my journey was by no
means SO enjoyable the first. The familiar
scenes and signs which had given much pleas
ure my outward journey, appeared to have sud
denly grown much older. What had happened to
them? Had they, also, met with bitter disap-
pointment that they should so swiftly have lot ia
great part of their beauty? The inn-keepers wife
was scolding her baby, who was crying and kicking
like little pest The orchards were dusty; the
ducks looked dscontented, as though something had
disagreed with them; the fr-trees the nights
bent sadly towards me; the brooks and streams
were not so clear; the clouds were not so bright;
the pigeons few with heavy wings; the children
were listless in their movements; the perfume of
the hedges was not so sweet. Thus do we gain and
convey impressions according to our mood. A joy
Gus heart see the behind the clouds, and
there is gladness in the darkest day. Yes, yes-a
cheerful and contented spirit Is mans best pos
session.