Year: 1870

|
box by Mrs. Flakewhfe-which could no,
now be long delayed when / should feig1
the profoundest slumber In little while
she moved, and seeing me, as she supposed
1ast asleep, quietly arose, and lust as.I had
| hoped and saw through half closed eyelids-
she noticed the box at once, walked towards
1t, read the address to herself on the letter
and with smile of wonder and curiosity
opened it and | watched her read it slowly tC
the end


Now It was my turn 70 be surprised, for |
had certainly expected that her natural female
curiosity would already have been hard at
work diving into the box, and her little
fingers would have explored to the very last
parcel in it; but no-she actually dropped in
! to q chair by the table, and without 80 much
as touching the box, covered her face with
her hands, sobbing convulsively, while tears
commenced coming thick and fast, trickling
down her fingers on to the letter that now lay
in her lap.


| | saw at once that It would never do to Let
this thing 90 on, and besides lump in my
own throat, that grew there in the most sud
den manner, warned me that it was quite
time to wake up; so with would-be sleepy
yawn, and a very decidedly sheepsh face
only that fortunately for me Mrs Flakewhite
Didn't see that sat up in bed, and as moth
ing more appropriate for this unlooked-for
turn of affairs suggested itself to me, simply
said


why, Mrs, Flakewhite =


She looked up at me, and smiling through
her tears-and if l did not see q distinct rain
bow shining in front of her face it was be-
cause my own eyes were decidedly misty tol
the moment-she came around to my side OF
the bed, and putting her arm around my neck
managedto say, between great gasping sobs-


John, dear! you are-entirely too good
to me--that-letter-is the nicest-present-
] ever had-in all my life-I do thank you a
hundred times for whatever is in the box
put the letter has made me SO happy will
treasure it so long as l live," and off she
went again-sobbing as hard as ever


We soon gained our composure--for Imust
confess that such happy tears were contagi-
ous, and l had myself slight attack-and
while dressed, Mrs. Flakewhite fully equal
ed my expections in her delight at what the
box contained.


She put on her best dress to give full eff
feet to her new magnificence, everything fit
ted exactly, and with q nice shawl she al
ready had, thrown over her shoulders, and
the new hat poised gracefully on her head
| making an oval frame around her sweet face,
charmingly colored with pleasure and ex-
/
looking at her, as I put her through her PAGES
up and down the room, not forgetting 9
glance at the CATERS as they tripped in and
out, when suddenly she stopped, and looking
me straight in the eyes, said, ''John these
beautiful things cost u great deal of money
and now | an waiting for you to tell me
where it all came from, for know you don't
borrow. and l an Just rs sure you didn't
have it.


1T was merely part of some money ad-
vanccd on an order for a large picture like
! my last one, that you know | Sold" said |,
trying to look Indifferent and unconcerned,
and being conscious at the same time OF
making u wretched failure of it.


ooh! you sly old fellow to keep such .
morning how did you dare to 90 asleep Will
all that on your mind, and these collars an(
handkcrchels and new dresses and q hat al
the while tucked away in some dark corner
| wouldn't have believed it of you !"


The incidents above related happened sev-
cral years ago, and by the kindness of my
purchaser, through him was enabled TO OBJ
tain other orders from friends and acquaint
ancns, and now-thanks to a kind public
have no difficulty in disposing Of all | an
able to produce. The greater part of Mrs
Flakewhte's laughing prophecy has become
reality, and Mary Flakewhite, aged three
years, will soon be old enough to have
shown to her the letter. which her mother
keeps safely laid away among her creates
treasures; only few days ago Mrs. Flake
white sent her running into my studio will
4 ''see, papa, see !" wearing over her brigh
| curls the original ''brown hat with pearl-col-
orea ribbon, last years style.' that was SC
intimately connected with my change 0
fortune, while she herself stood at the door
looking as cheerful and if possible more
charming than she did on the eventual day
when she last wore it, while she said
John, dear, do you remember that hat .