Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-08-28
Bertha's UnIucky Opal.

Among the birthday gifts received
by an up town young lady was beau
tdful opal ring Of exquisite design. The
opal setting was as large as Boston
bean and in it's depth shimmered the
combined, subdued and refined sun
and moon beams, like the reflection
of rainbow upon the crystal surface
of a secluded mountain pool. The
ring was the gift of the young lady's
lover, and the gift carried with it the
evidence of true heart and de-
pleted pocketbook.
When the ring shOne forth in all its
FURNISHED glory the recipient shed
tears of Joy as she fitted it upon the
thumb Of her left hand, it being too
large for any of her fingers. She
raised it to her lips and kissed it fer
VentIy; then, running into her moth
er's room, exclaimed ''Hello, nom,
wake up there, and get some life into
you. It's my birthday, and I've got
one of the sweetest rings you ever
dreamed of. 1t came from dear old
precious Tom. Bless his loving soul!
See, here it is; now gaze upon the
treasure rare"
The mother sprang out of bed, lit
the kerosene lamp and taking the
ring from her daughters thumb, held
il close to the light. After examin-
ing it she dropped the jewel upon the
bureau and exclaimed:
<sBad luck as sure as you're alive.
Send it right back to the giver. No,
throw it out the window as quick as
you can. No! No! That would not do,
for some poor creature might pick it
up. Pitch it in the fire, for you'll
have bad luck if you keep it. Tom
is an ignorant dolt to spend his hard
earned money on such trash. I'll give
him a piece of my mind the first time
he comes here, see if I don't Now
Bertha, want you to do just what
I've told you and burn up that omen
of I'LL luck.''
Bertha left the room in far more
detected mood than she had entered
it, She went to the kitchen, threw
open the window and looked out upon
the spotless snow that lay untrodden
in the back yard. She raised the lid
from the stove, threw the ring in
upon the Goals and sat down upon
chair and wept bitterly for the space
of half an hour, when it occurred to
her that the room was cold. There
she sat wrapped in thin gown and
her own thoughts of regret and rebel
lion. She had always been a dutiful
and obedient daughter, and even now
had not hesitated to throw away an
evidence of her lovers affection in
obedience to her mothers command.
Her frame shook with emotion and
cold, her teeth chartered and she be-
come most miserable Arising she
walked to the stove, placed her dainty
hand upon it and found that it, too,
was cold. She raised the lid, and
there, half buried in the cold ashes,
lay the ring. Gazing upon it for
moment, she picked it up, ran down
into the cellar for wood to kindle the
fire
The ring was saved, and on inform
ing her mother how she had obeyed
her command, the old lady replied:
<tOh, we'll, Bertha, you can keep it
and We'll trust to luck" Everything
went along all right till nearing din
ner time, when, just as Mrs. Murtha
was carrying the roasted turkey from
the kitchen to the dining-room. a
luckless mouse ran out from its hid
ing place across the floor Prince the
pug dog, saw the mouse, and spring
ing from the lap of Mrs. Isabelle Lu-
ken's, Mrs. Murtha's aged aunt, went
for the mouse, which ran right in front
OF Mrs Murtha, and she, tripping over
the pet, fell forward, and threw the
plate containing the turkey towards
the table, where it landed among the |
dishes, breaking several and sending
the coffee urn and cream pitcher on
the floor. Poor old Mrs. Lukens was
so frightened that she jumped up SO
uuick and so high that her head |
struck the bird cage that was hang |
ug near the window and knocked 1T |
down. the bird escaping just as old /
Kit, the turtle-shell cat, came rush
ng into the room. In an instant the
bird was a corpse, for the cat had
caught it.
The mess was cleared up and the
Inner proceeded with. Things had /