Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-04-09

said Sabina Gray. How shall ! ever
pass them away?
Sahina Gray was emphatically a
working woman. For three years she
had sat behind the cashiers desk at a
great lace and ribbon store on Chestnut
street, making change, adding up long
rows of figures, deciding whether this
coin were spurious or that banknote
counterfeit, balancing her books every
night as precisely as if it were to be
her last, and commencing anew every
morning as regularly as the clock struck
eight-until, one sultry afternoon, the
hattalions of figures seemed to reel and
grow dim before her eyes, and they
carried her home in a dead faint, to
the breathless horror Of her mother, her
consumptve brother, and the two
sisters who taught school and spent all
their wages in gay clothes.
She must have change of air, said
the doctor, and rest-entire restroom
her duties!
Bless me! said poor Mrs, Gray.
And we with only two dollars left, after
the rent is paid and the grocers bill is
settled
And it will never do for Sabina to
give up her situation, when we need
her salary so much, said Elinor, the
eldest of the school teaching pair, who
had just bought an imitation gold
necklace.
OF course, it is out of the question,
said Belinda, the second girl, who was
saving up for a silk gown.
Very well, said the doctor,
brusquely. In that case, you may as
well order her coffin at once.
And he went out, with small ,cere-
!uOny.
Ilorrid, heartless bear. said Elnor.
Doctors never do have any nerves,
said Belinda
But the little, consumptive lad tied
his faded handkerchief around his
neck, pulled his cap over his ears. and
went down to M2chlin & Marabuut's
to tell his simple story.
If you would please let her off for a
few days, sir said he, to the head man.
Because the doctor said she must have
rest, and | don't think she will have
the courage to ask you herself.
The head man, although ne looked
50 bearded and majestic that Bobby's
heart sank within him, had yet kind
heart.
You are good boy, said he. Yes.
Tell Miss Gray that she can have two
weeks-her salary to 60 on just the
same--from Monday next
And Bobby sped home, like an arrow
out of bow, to tell the good news.
The next question was where was
Sabina to go? Hotels, fashionable re-
sorts, crowded boarding-houses, were
out of the question for an individual
of her slender means.
There's Cousin Alyssa Streeter has
an elegant cottage at Long Branch,
said Mrs Gray. She used often to
spend six weeks at time with me,
when we were girls together, and my
father was well-to-do farmer. | will
write to her. She will be glad to re-
ceive you.
But, mother, said Sabina, her pale
cheek flushing up, have never seen
her.
What difference does that make?
said kind Mrs. Gray, who believed all
the world was as kind and loyal as her
self.
She married Il rich New York
broker, said Miss Elinor. | often
wondered that she did not invite us
there.
And she has got rich son, added
Belinda. Maria Middleton saw him
once. a perfect Adonis. say, Ina,
how | wish could go with YOU
Mrs. Gray wrote; and after some de-
lay, in which two OF the precious
vacation days were lost, a brief and
rather frigid note came back. Mrs.
Streeter regretted to hear of the i'll
health of her cousins daughter-re-
GREETED still more that her house was
full of guests at present, but would
endeavor to find room somewhere fer
Miss Gray, ii it was absolutely nsces.
sa,V (th9selast words were underliaed)