Year: 1860

dOOQ heavens tney nave tahtH my
purse 7 and his features expressed, most
vividly, vexation and fear for the old
mans recovery.


Il viii get them,' cried gentle voice.
1t was that of the young girl, who had
followed them unperceived. She hur,
ried out of the room and returned spec.
dily for she perceived that the slightest
delay might be fatal. A woman follow
ed her bringing fire and wood, with
which she lit fire and then retired
The young messenger was loaded with a
bottle of wine, small loaf, and the wing
of a fowl. wrapped up in piece of q
newspaper. She placed the whole near
the old man, and then kneeling down,
arranged the fire and stirred it up to a
blaze.


The old man by degrees recovered his
senses he was presented with food in
small quantities, and in short time ami
nation was restored. Too weak to thank
his benefactors, he could only express
his feelings by looks of the most touch
ing gratitude, particularly when they
rested on the young girl, still occupied
near the hearth. To the stranger she
appeared nothing else than vision char
ming and mysterious. Who could this
young creature be, who so earnestly and
effectively devoted her time to work OF
charity. when her own attire gave every
indication of privation and penury p
Cold as the weather was, the bonnet
which encircled her delicate and beauti-
full features was of black straw /; thin silk
gloves, mended in several places. served
to cover her hands, but certainly not to
guard them from the cold an Old cash
mer shawl, worn to the last extremity,
was thrown over faded gown of dark
silk, and her whole appearance betoken-
ed the absence of any warm garment.
The young man would undoubtedly
have been struck by the extreme beauty
of her features, had there been no other
charm to attract him but there was
about her that indescribable something
which pleases more than beauty-and
that is union of goodness and elegance,
which is, indeed, but seldom to be met
with, but when seen is irresistible.


At last her self imposed task was over
she approached the old man. and stoop-
ing down toward him, nodded her head
kindly as she uttered the words-'I l will
soon return


She then took up a small case which
she had put down on her entrance, and
saluting the stranger, she left the room
and decended the narrow stairs with a
rapid step.


The young man gazed at her for a
moment, and then turned toward the
invalid.


l, on the contrary, shall not return,
for leave Paris this evening, but you
shall soon hear from me-


He then pressed the old mans hand
kindly, and departed.


When he emerged from the gateway
of the house into the street, though h hope
less of seeing his young assistant in the
work of benevolence in which he had
been engaged, he could not avoid look
ing round to see if by chance she was
still in sight. AS chance would have it,,
she was standing, as if undecided, at the
door ofa jewelers. shop at some distance.
At last she appeared to have formed her
determination, for she opened the door
and entered. Without exactly analyzing
the cause Of his curiosity, the stranger
approached the window Of the shop, and
observed what was going on within. He
saw the young girl take off her glove,
and while he was admirng the whiteness
and form of the hand, she drew, with
some emotion, a ring from her finger,
and presented it to the person at the
counter. He took it, examined it care
fully, rubbed and tasted the stone, and
then methodically took out small pair
of scales, and having ascertained the
weight, offered his customer price,
which it was easy to see she accepted,
from the movement of assent with which
she bent her head. The jeweler opened
a drawer and counted out some money,
which he pushed over the counter and
having written down her name and ad
dress. he cast the ring into another draw
err, among heap of jewels of all forms
and colors. The girl then departed, and
in minute afterwards the young man
entered the shop.


In short time afterward she turned
into plain looking house in one of the
streets Of the Rue ST. Honore and open
ing the door of room on the rez-dec-
haussee. she entered hastily, crying
Here l am dear mother. You must
have been uneasy at my long absence 7


Madam Revival, the person to whom
those words were addressed, appeared
infirm. though more from trouble than
years. She was stretched on sofa, and
appeared in delicate health Her features,
usually pale. assumed an appearance of
animation when her daughter entered,
and Immediately became more sombre
than before.


Dear Anna said she, i have an
unpleasant piece of news to acquaint you
with; it was this perhaps, that rather
made me fear your return, than take note
of your prolonged absence


Anna, having cast on chair her shawl
and bonnet, Immediately seated herself
on low stool near the end of the sofa
which supported her mothers head. The
latter passed her hand affectionately over
the dark hair of her daughter, and then