The Irish standard., 1888-02-04
A FOUR-LEAF GLOVER,

der the shade oi an apple tree that was
sending showers Of delicate white aud
pink petals down to the grass with
every breeze, lay pretty Nora Greedy
fast asleep. The soft aud sweet scented
leaves lay scattered all over her brown
dress, and some nestled in her thick,
dark hair, and one had fallen upon one
of her eyelids, and reposel there as il
pleased with the position
Nora's arms were bare to the elbow,
and were undeniably red and showed
signs Of toll, and her face VAS tanned
and brown save where the healthy
young blood showed through the
brown. Her lips we're parted, and be-
tween them were glimpses Of white
teeth that were the envy Of all who saw
them, aud all who knew her saw them
often, for she Was always Laughing and
blithe, and, somehow, the rich color,
dark hair and pretty teeth all seemed to
belong to those beautiful blue eyes that
looked 50 honestly out from under the
heavy black lashes true Irish eyes,
than which none are more lovely.
Nora was only - servant, but sne
was an honest and conscientious one and
capable one, and her rich Irish voice
used to trill fort,A those creening old
ballads shat keep you vibrating be-
tween smile and tear Tne children
ldolized good Nora, aud the mistress
leaned upon her in sorrow and joy ths
master spoke OK her as q great treasure
upou earth, ana the dumb animals toll
lowed her about with words OF love eS-
pressed ia their oewy eyes.
Nora was happy, for it was the gift Of
her sunny nature to be so, and she
never seemed sad on out Of spirits. and
so she was regarded as q sort OF per
pet1lal sunshine in the house Ouly
one peculiarly had Nora, and that often
surprised her gentle mistress. Nora
was ayarclous. She wns mlser Ii
wages, and she never spent penny
that she could possibly save. She maAe
her own poor clothes at night when size
could have been resting, and she Went
barefoot, whenever 1he weather len-
dered it possible--1n SHORT, she Was eyi-
dently born miser, Siiil Mrs. Satter-
leo never said anything to Nora on THAI
subject, thinking chat as Nora earned
the money she had 40 right TO interfere
III Nort's affairs.
Nora had Lived with Mrs. Sabterles for
seven years. She came AS 81 Child OF iii
teen. just after she had landed, a be-
wlldered stranger III @ strange lauC. and
because OF her CHEEKY smile ind honest
eye she kad bcen cnosan from an ,ns
many others, and she Vent home Will
thss; gentle lady to pretty Country
happy aud efficient ; as htsls children
We're BORN So tlie ula%Gress, 50 they were
born TO the love OF ge'o,t, kind Nora,
whose heart WAS a yelling spring III
warm atfec.lons.
Nora WIS NOW twenty three, and
there We're few girls anywhera Wno
We're preEJler, neaIer or better ,augat
for one Ill her sGaClou, and there Were
tive young men VINO Thought her ab5u-
luis perlecglun. Due OF Lnem WIS q
blacksmith and tue other Il hortlculSur-
ist, out Though Nora Was Kind TO them,
neither received the slightest encourage
meut. Sumeunlles Mrs. SaJterlee VOL
dered wheliler Nora would ever nlarry
und have home of her own, but sne
wisely let matters take taelr ccnlse.
Nora wrote to her parents aud friends,
in the old country and received letters
from them i'll return With q reg gul;trlty
that WAS q lesson 60 mauy oeAer fAmt.
lies, and save that Nora always saug
ana laughed more fur Il few days after
tine receipt OF THOSE letters, none could
have ever noticed any elect But tne
songs were more plaluylye auu She laugh
ter noe q ute SO rlcu auu mellow Stall
she SAID nothing; but 'oaby, as they |
called hey, q clllu oi three, always hug
a.ouuu Nora :, heels nike d little dog au
such times, uugli Nora would take her !
ny au0 rock her TO sleep. Ihls DAY SHE
had received three letters from hume,
bus she seeaaeu trlto Disappointed
wnen she looked them over aud missed
one whlcn she appeared to think oagnC
to be among tnein, and after dinner Was
over aud all her work done, and the
baby asleep On the vide lounge. Nora
went cut to the meadow, through Wnlcn
ran pretty brook, and where the clover
was 50 rich and luSurlaut taat one al
most longed Go be COW to revel in irs
juicy sweetness,
Nora sat down by the side OF this
brook. and took the letters from her
pocket and read them. One was from