The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-03-04

| SLY III DOllnuCu uOWnlN nv "A@~s -
happy, girlish voice cried: Il have trans
lated all that long, hard chapter; come
up and let me read it to YOU"
"rm ever so gladr' answered Melia,
but first we will go in and sing for papa. "
The cousins voices harmonized well,
and listening to, sometimes joining them,
from his post of ease upon the sofa, Mr..
Moore felt little of the weight of the
days cares slipping away, breath OF
fresher life coming back to his heart,
much as summer day traveller upon a
long, dusty way feels thrill of relief
when some green tree spreads its leafy
arms between him and the burning sun,
or brooklet laughs up at him from its
cool bed of pebbles. Dear old songs the
girls sang, or cheerful hymns that h.shed
the turmoil of earth's short to-day with
Heavens eternal rest and peace.
Late that night, while Cornelia Gregg
was enjoying herself at gay party, I'M
troubled by any thought of the I'M
wrought tasks that would surely stand
against her ON the morrow, Gemella
Moore laid aside her books, threw open
the shutters, and looked out.
The moonlight lay, broad and white,
upon the lawn, making the shadows I'M
der the great trees seem blacker and
deeper by contrast Mella wondered if,
in like manner, it was the brightness
that had hitherto lit up her life which
made the shadows she now saw stealing
over it appear so gloomy and forbidding.
She loved her home, she knew every
tree and bush, every nook where a vine
grew, or flower blossomed, or bird S
nest was hidden. She could hardly con-
ceive of life apart from it, yet she knew
that she must give it up, that soon it
would be her home no longer. What
wonder that tears rose to her eyes at
thought of all she must so soon relin-
quish. No other place, however great
its attractions, could ever be to her like
the home of her infancy; and now, she
was about to exchange it for no abode of
luxury, but for an humble dwelling
among strangers under the cramping in
auences of poverty. For, though the
world as yet knew it not, it must
ere long discover that wealth had spread
its ever-ready wings and flown away
from EIdredge Moore.
At the first signs of trouble in the
financial world he had begun to prepare
for it. His family always accustomed to
generous though not needless eXpendi-
ture, being at once informed of the
change in prospects economical in every
possible manner; hence the occasion of
Miss Gregg's disparaging remarks.
Mella and Laura. the cousin who, since
her mothers death had left her desolate,
had been sheltered and cherished by them
doubled their application to their studies
so as to graduate year earlier and be
ready to support themselves, while all
wed in efforts to make the bread-win-
ner's'' few leisure moments as restful
and inspiriting as possible. Anxiety was
not allowed to destroy their home-life; in
deed, instead of there being less there
was if possible more love and considera-
ton than ever before manifested between
the members of this rare family.
Yet they could but grieve as one by
one Mr.. Moores efforts to avert his mis-
fortunes proved of no avail. There were
too many magnificent debtors, men who
purchased beautifully in prosperous and
went to obstruction in disastrous times,
leaving their creditors to fare as best they
might. The clouds grew darker daily,
there was little time to provide for the
storm when it should burst. Mella
shuddered as she thought how near it
might be.
But the star-lit night soon began for
her its restful ministry, holding out its
dewy cup of refreshing, whispering of
the All-seeing Eye that swept its view
less distances to seek out the tired and
trustful heart-of the Ear that is ever
open to sorrows cry--the Arm which is
never shortened that it cannot save,n
if salvation from the threatened trouble
be best; SO her tears were soon dried
and, casting all her care upon the Care
Taker, she ere long found refuge in sleep.
Not very many years before, Lewis
Gregg had been in the employ of Jaynes,
Walthe q Co., and, being entirely trust
worthy, was from time to time promoted
until the head-clerkship was reached.
Not long after that a fortune of few
thousands was left him, which, instead
of proving as it might have done bles-
sing, became rather a bane.
The fact that he had married very
JouiS hhu bCCH u uldW-UdCh upon ulIn,
as choosing without Judgment, under
spell of a pretty face Though, it must be
confessed, men of mature years often
make the same mistake), he found too
late that his help-meet despised economy,
and that the apparent amiability which
had been so strong an attraction to him
depended entirely upon her being graft
fed in every whim, no matter how I'M
reasonable. Having been always in the
most moderate circumstances, their
small accession of fortune quite turned
her brain. Nothing would satisfy her
but her husbands quitting what she
termed his mental station, and going into
business on his own account. Perhaps
he also felt, in less measure, his new
Importance; at all events, few months
saw him the possessor of fine new
store and an immense gilt-lettered sign.
With prudence at the helm, this might
have succeeded, but it proved only the
beginning of ventures. A house in
fashionable street at high rent, more
servants, new and costly furniture and
dresses, were things which Mrs. Gregg
felt indispensable to her position, and
she would not be denied. SO, at length.
her husband ceased to demonstrate and
let the tide take its course, shuddering
sometimes when an adverse wind
hrOuoht IN his oar tho roor ~ ,J;e+o,,4