Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1885-10-24

| anu u Suuucu CTdNluS loi JIG ihuol'
that had been her life's delight took
possession of her. Her penitence fol-
the words was very humble, and she
put away the desire with many another
longing
| But John Trowbridge had kind
heart under the hard crust gathered
over it in years of toll, poorly paid
The longing of the shy brown eyes
haunted him.
81 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 overcoat and hat and
went down to the village.
He came back with some great pro
| ject in every line Of his rugged, sun
Drowned face.
Tea was success. The toast was
delicately Drowned, and the ham done
to turn. When the meal was over
the old man said:
"Essie, do you remember the cross
you told me your father gave you for
a birthday gift ?"
"My diamond cross !"
"You would not like to part with it
Perhaps it is your only reminder Of
your father ?"
~ have many other gifts. Nothing
SO valuable as that. The gentleman
who took charge of my fathers affairs
told me I 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 short"
A kiss, tender and quick, stopped
the words that come so hesitatingly.
"You are gladly welcome to it,
fatherl | wonder / did not think OF
it before"
So the dainty bauble lay in the far
mer's horny palm, and while Essie
cleared the tea table John Trowbridge
went once more to the village.
DIR. 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
triumphantly. "You are sure it is
worth the money p
Perfectly sure. And Mrs. Trow
bridge 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 dc
her best, but she amt fit for her HARD
life. If there was any other home foi
her I'd send her away, though I'd
rather miss the sunlight. She's as
dainty as butterfly, and yet she has
no fine lady ways, either. But she
bankers for piano, and she shall have
one, Ernest" and the old mans eyes
filled. "Her own father gave her thai
gimcrack, and I've seen her kiss tha
often, but when | asked her to give
that to me, because | needed money
she put it in my hand with kiss, anc
told me | was gladly welcome. Shei
a good girl, if she amt much of hanc
at work"
"She is not very strong" and Earnes
Reynolds stifed a sigh as he spoke
Then, with a quick change of voice, hi
added Il am going to the city to
morrow. | will sell the cross and bu,
the piano"
But when the farmer was gone Ernes
Reynolds took strange liberties witt
the jewel he held in charge He slipped
a ribbon through its ring and hung i
over his own heart.
| The next day he had it valued by 6
jeweler, and bought piano with thu
sum named, but the cross rested still OF
his heart, as the bill for the sweet-tonec
instrument was paid.
1t would be vain task TO describe
ESTES pleasure when the piano wa'
brought to the sitting-room. She criec
and smiled at the same time, and hel
earnest thanks brought the moisture t.
the old farmers eyes.
But the pressure Of poverty was com
ing closer and closer upon the farm
Acre after acre was sold to meet actua
daily needs, and the wolf drew very
close to the door of John Trowbridge'
house. With stern pride he hid hi
wants from his neighbors, but Essi'
knew Of privations and self-dcnial
that wrung her own tender heart.
Like burst of sunlight there cam,
to her two offers. One to be organis
at the village church, and another t.
take class of music scholars in tn,
seminary, five miles from the village
Twice week carriage would be sen
for her and the salaries were more thai
double the income from the farm
Neither John Troworidge nor Essi
knew that DIR. Reynolds by quiet, un
suspected influence had brought abau
this happy result. No one knew tina
he had driven the principal Of tn
seminary over Oh an evening whel
Essie was pouring out her whole sou
in music, and held him spell-bound fo
two hours on the farm house porch.
But they did know that stron,
armed Irish gal could be paid to do tn
work Of the house out of Essie's incom
and that a trustworthy man was foun'
to take the farm on shares.
John Trowbridge began to realiz
that there were women of some valu
in the world who possessed but a small
share of bone and muscle for actua
hard work, for scholars came all tn
! way from L., the market town seve