Year: 1876

or two in the house, and nothing was
known as to her antecedents beyond the
circumstance of her having been well
recommended by her previous mistress.
The mother of the family took the girl
aside privately, and told her that they
feared she had been tempted to steal the
jewel urging her, if she had done so,
TO confess her fault and restore the ring
Immediately, and her fault would be ov-
erlooked. In an agony of grief and in
dignation, the girl warmly protested her
innocence begging that a detective


might be sent for directly to examine


her boxes, request in which all the


other domestics concurred.


An officer was fetched, and narrow


inspection made but nothing could be


seen of the missing ring. Suspicion still


remained attached to the unfortunate


young housemaid, who, it was concluded


might have found means skillfully to


conceal the ring; there was no proof


against her, but the cold looks of the


other servants were more than she could


endure so she threw up her situation,


and went home with tarnished name


and breaking heart.


Several DAYS passed away, and the


young lady was sadly distressed for the


loss of her ring, and vowed over and ov-


er again that she would never again


leave her jewels exposed in such care


less manner; she was now also much


vexed about the poor young housemaid


and blamed herself for having thrown


temptation in her way. 1t so happened


that she had not been out of doors since


the day of the unfortunate occurrence,


the weather having been cold and wet,


and her occupations OBTAINING her a good


deal at home; but bright, pleasant
morning appeared, and she arranged to


90 out after breakfast with one of her


sisters. The maid looked out her walk
. ing things and the fair fancee donned


her bonnet and sealskin jacket, and then


took up her muff, which had been laid
on the toilet-table beside her. She drew


out her hand again directly, and gith it
pair of kid gloves, and as she put them
= down, one of them fell rather heavily on
! the table.


"What is that :" she exclaimed
a Taking up the glove, she felt small


hard object inside one of the fingers. A
; deep, burning flush dyed cheek and
n brow, to be instantly succeeded by 8
v deathly paleness. Sinking down on q
chair, she covered her face with heI
: hands and gasped family; "Oh, Smith
= Smith shall never forgive myself
g That poor innocent girl-she never tool
- my ring. 1t is there I" And so it was
> caught in the finger of the kid glove
/ which the young lady had carelessly
. drawn off on her return from her walk
and placed in her muff when she wen
. to the piano, where it had remained un
o touched ever since.


- Pleased as she was at the recovery o
= her valuable trinket, her satisfaction wa
4 much alloyed by remembering all tn
. painful circumstances connected with it
4 especially the mental suffering of th,
n poor young maid-servant who had beer
|, SO unjustly suspected of having stoler
the ring. She and her mother started
:. directly for the home of the girls wild
h owed mother, and we're grieved beyond


measure to learn from her that the pool
creature had been so overcome by dis
! tress of mind that very serious illness


had resulted, and the doctor considered


her symptoms very unfavorable. The
= good news brought by her late mistress
!. had fortunately beneficial effect, ir
= combination with the greatest kindness


and attention that could possibly be be


slowed on her and ere many weeks haC
passed she was perfectly restored tC
. health. The young lady's marriage took
place. and in her new home comforta
BILE situation was found for the girl
whose happiness was still further in
y creased by the appointment of her moth
. er as gatekeeper at the pretty lodge be
j longing to fairfield Hall. And so tht
= matter ended to the satisfaction of every


one concerned but it might have beer
q far otherwise, and people should be ex
: ceedingly cautious how they make al
accusation which they have no means o
: proving, lest they bring lifelong MISERY
4 upon the accused, and perhaps repent
ance when too late, upon themselves
/. Chambers Journal


J. See here, wife, you indulge that bo,
t, too much. He is perfect mule" &C
2 husband, please don't accuse our boy o
L 4. - 4