The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-22

burden where she so earnestly desired to be comfort and blessing She stiAed her own craving for the books and re inements that had been second nature and yet she could not i'll the place they had occupied by interest in chickens, pigs and cows
 It added to her perplexities to know that the farm had not paid its expenses in the last year. Spring was still some weeks away, and provisions were grow in scarce, while ready money was dwind- ling down to a pile alarningly small She felt like . thief when baking proved uneatable, or a dinner was spoiled, and yet such disasters occurred in spite of her conscientious efforts to avert them.
 It had been a dreary day when her un- fortunate wish broke from her lips, and sudden craving for the music that had been her life's delight took possession of her. Her penitence fer the words was very humble, and she put away the de sire with many another longing.
 But John Trowbridge, though he was narrow-minded, and often rough, had a kind heart under the hard crust gathered over it in years of toll, poorly paid. The longing of the shy brown eyes haunted him.
 "I s'pose it is like telling the birds not to sing to shut her up here" he thought But to give her piano. How in the world"
 Then sudden thought almost took away his breath. He got up from his chair, and, kissing Essie, went to the door to think it over. The young widow, warned that it was nearly tea-time by the clock, sped to the kitchen, and did not know when her father-in-law put on his village.
 He came back with some great project in every line of his rugged, sun-browned face.
 Tea was success. The toast was deli cately Drowned, and the ham done to a turH. When the meal was over, the old man said:
 "Essie, do you remember the cross you told me your father gave you for birth day 7 Es sitt5" a;.n,o,, ,-... :.
 "You would not like to part with it ? Perhaps it is your only rer rinder of your father ?"
 have many other of his gifts. Moth ing so valuable as that. The gentleman who took charge of my fathers affairs told me could keep all his gifts to me"
 You -you-would not like to give me the cross to sell, Essie? Our money is getting very shou-"
 A kiss, tender and quick, stopped the words that came so hesitatingly.
 V0,Y n~~ rla Jl., |, l wonder dld not think of it before"
 So the dainty bauble lay in the farmers horny palm, and while Essie cleared the tea table John Trowbrdge went once more to the village.
 Dr. Reynolds, the only physician there, Harry's fast friend for years, was in his office when the farmer entered.
 There it is" said the visitor triumph antly. "You are sure it IS worth the mouey2"
 " Perfectly sure. And Mrs. Trowbridge wishes me to invest the sum obtain in a piano."
 Bless you, no ! that's my part of it. You see, the poor little soul tries to do her best but she Ain't fit for her hard life. If there was any other home for her I'd send her away, though I'd rather miss the sunlight. She's as dainty as butter fly, and yet she has no fine lady ways either. But she hankers for a piano, and she shall have one, Ernest" and the old mans eyes filled. Her own father gave her that gimcrack, and I've seen her kiss that often, but when 1 asked her to give that to me, because needed money, she put it in my hand with a kiss, and told me was gladly welcome. She's good girl, if she ain't much of a hand at work"
 "She is not very strong" and Ernest Reynolds stihed a sigh as he spoke. Then, with quick change of voice, he added: am going to the city to-mor- row. will sell the cross and buy the piano"
 But when the farmer was gone Ernest Reynolds took strange liberties with the jewel he held in charge. He slipped a through its ring and hung it over his own heart. More than once he touched his lips to the hard, glittering stones, whispering:
 Essie, little Essie
 The next day he had 1t valued by a jeweler, and bought piano with the sum but the cross rested still on his heart, as the bill for the sweet.toned in- strument was paid.
 It would be vain task to describe Es- sie's pleasure when the piano was brought to the sitting-room. She cried and smiled at the same time, and her earnest thanks brought the moisture to the old farmers eyes.
 He knew nothing of the wonderful
 
 scared with rough work. He had 90 true appreciation of the genius of that tender young soul. But he did know that Essie could sway him as she pleased by the sounds she drew from the wondrous keys; could bring tears to his eyes or smiles to his lips could If. him to adora- uon by her stirring hymns, or carry his heart to the foot of the cross by the plead