Fashion and Famine

spot so da

shed bright g

known, of

h not to fai

e was presented to the reader. The room was damp, low and dark; a couple of rude chairs, a deal table, and a long wooden chest were all the furniture it contained. A rough shelf ran over the mantel-piece, o

e of bacon thrice picked, and preserved probably from a wretched desire to possess something in the shape of food, thou

acture years ago, and the covering a patch-work quilt, formed of rich, old-fashioned chintz, was neatly turned under the edges. One might have known how more than precious was that fine old quilt, by the gre

gathered around them. The bright morning had been succeeded by a chill, uncomfortable rain, and this increased tenfold the gloomy and dark atm

ction of what she wished. "This is all very wrong; once to-day the Lord has sent us food, and here we are despo

he poor thing will be cold and wet and wretched enough, but that is no

g may have happened!" said the old w

ondency, "if she had done anything, the child would ha

ile that lay in a corner. The blaze flamed up, revealing the desolate room for a moment, and then died away, flashin

nd troubled affection, were blended with every grief-written line. But the wants of the body had stamped themselves sharply there. The thin lips were pale and fix

hunger broke from her eyes, naturally so meek and tranquil, and the poor old man turned his glance another way wi

wife, as the flame went down, and then he clasp

hungry than ever," he said, "

head and tried to smile, but

of it all the time. The rain as it plashes on the pavement seems like that warm coffee boiling over on the hearth; those shavings as they lie

tear started to his eyes, glidin

he said, after a brief silence,

this morning we must have forgotten to scrape it quite clean!" cried the old

a knife. "See, see!" he said, with a painful effort at cheerfulness, as some strips and fragments fell on the platter, leaving the bon

resolutely away, "we had forgotten Julia.

old man, dropping h

scraped together with his knife. The animal grew strong within her at the sight; she drew a long breath, and reaching forth her bony hand, clutched them like a bird of prey; her thin lips quivered and worked with a

yes, and rolled penitently down her cheek. "Take it away! take it away!" she said, c

ld man, thrusting the

a taste; you-you-I am b

, for he was famished and craving more food, even as his wife had been; but his better nat

can wait, and God will

till keeping one hand resolutely over her

lap: she started, looked eagerly around, and

rawberries she will eat them, you know, all-all. Only think what a feast the child will h

but he could not find the heart to suggest this to the poor famished creature before him, and he rejoiced at the brief delusion that would induce her to eat

a piteous look of self-reproach, when

for Julia and th

began to condemn as such, "if anything should have happened, you may pawn or sell the quilt to-morrow-I

an part with it!" cried the old man, moving

am afraid," said the

I, and her child too, have starved and pined, and prayed in this cellar. God has an end to accomplish, and we are His i

dolefully; "I haven't strengt

st child," continued the old man, lifting his meek eyes

the woman, shaking her head dre

ith this belief. It has given me life when food was wanting. It grows stronger with each breath that I draw. The time will come when I shall be calle

you mean to

God of heaven will, in His own g

ars that are gone, and no news, not a word. While we have suffered so

ile God does his work. We know that our child has

think she was more like an angel th

m; I cannot crush it out-I cannot pray it out. God help me

nguish in his face with affright, as his uplifted hands shook in t

nee, bent forward, gazing into the smouldering fire, gloomy and silent. The old woman stole one hand over his and

name, that had been so sweet to her in you

nja

e entreaty, that the very storm seemed to pause and listen to the outbreak of a soul more impetuous than itself. Never in God's holiest temple has the altar been sanctified by a prayer, more full of majestic eloquence, than that which rose from the hearth o

into the current of his eloquence. But while he prayed for strength to endure, for divine light by which

od, give us this da

orious smile spread over his features, and dropping his forehead between b

hou hast indeed rendered me

ithered hand in his, and gazed tranquilly on the sparks of f

that she lifted her eyes to his in wonder; "wife, you may speak of him

ame, I didn't mean to do it, then,

een chastening us before he would drive the fiend from my heart. How could I expect God to make me th

" she asked, not able to comprehen

you not see how I toiled and wrestle

e on; the rain came down more furiously; the winds shook the loose window panes, and th

a gush of damp wind into the hall that forced back the door of the basement, and there stood little Julia Warren, panting for breath, but full of wild and be

stood, that brave little girl, dripping with wet, and deluged with sudden light. Her cheeks were all in a glow, warm and wet, like roses in a stor

rain-don't it pour, though? Here, grandma, come help m

pths of her basket. But her little hands shook, and the flame seemed to dance before her; she really could no

s, when all the trees are in blossom, "I never shall make it out; but don't think, now, that I am shivering with th

and rubies to a favorite, ever looked more lovely. Down by the basket the old gran

thought you would brighten up! tea, green tea, and sugar, and-why grandfather, is that you crying so? Dear, dear, how can you? Don't you see how happy I am? Why,

ds, and flinging herself on the old woman's bosom, clung to her, bathed in tears, and shaking like a

eyes fixed upon the basket, and she contrived to break a fragment from one

ss than grief; Julia was

we will have by-and-bye. I'll get three cents' worth of charcoal, and borrow a

eturned, the larger portion of a loaf had disappeared, and the old couple were in each other's arms, while fragments of prayer and thanksgiving fell from their lips. It w

ers, and gave an extra rub to the iron candlestick, which was, for the first time in many a day, warmed up by a tall and snowy candle. The scent of the beef-steak as it felt the heat, the warm hiss of the tea-kettle, the cr

upon the table, "there now, all is ready! I'm to pour out the tea, grandpa must cut the s

ehead gently downward, and veiled her eyes with their silken lashes, as if the joy sparkling there were sudde

a dash, and as each lump of sugar fell into the cups, her mouth dimpled into fresh smiles. It was quite like a fairy feast to her. Too happy for thoughts of her own hunger, she was constantly dropping her knife a

yet?" she was constantly saying, if either of the old people paused in the enjoyment of the

sant smile; "yes, Julia; now let us see you eat something, then tell us how all these things

"oh, the supper. You reli

ow hungry we were, or how keenly

ll come from. You think me like a child in ha

good, warm-hearted chi

ther, with tears in her ey

a tear that broke through the sunshine in her eyes, "one shoul

eagerly, "he does not mean to fi

knows?-one don't stop to think with a bright half dollar in one's hand, and

om her bosom, and held i

ed grandfather, absolutely

live!" exclaimed the old woman, taking the coi

er small hands on the table, "worth five dollars-the old woma

earn it," said th

in a day? Still I don't know. That good woman at the market told me to let every one give what he liked for the flowers, and so

ight not have known that it was gold!" said the old man,

ed the child, "for she looked at the piece as she took it

y," said the old man, still examining the gold with an anxious expression o

is, tears and smiles struggled in her eyes, and her mouth, now tremulous,

est to tell everything just as it happened. You know how I went out this morning, about the basket that I got trusted for at the grocery, and all that. Well, I went off with the new bas

f colors, with birds hopping and singing about-dear little birds, such as covered the poor babes with leaves, and-and-finally grandmother, as I was saying, I felt more lonesome and down-hearted than these children could have done, for they had plenty of blackberries, you know, but I was dreadful hungry-I was indeed, though

one kind act!" exclaime

sure of that," chimed

could!" cried the child, in her sweet, eager g

on relating her adventures along the streets, and on the wh

ttle girl spoke of the strange man whom she had met on the wharf also, her voice become subdued, and there was a half terrified look in her eyes. The singular impression which that man had left upon her young spirit seemed to haunt it like a fear; she spoke almost in

ugh the carts, and trunks, and people, I ran with my basket on my arm, and the muddy handkerchief in one hand. Twice I saw the carriage, but it was too far ahead, and at last I turned a corner-I lost it there, and stood thinking what I should do, when the very carriage which I had seen go off with the lady in it, passed by; the lady had stopped for som

rl, what do y

quite out of breath, and could only

en her cheek turned pale as death, and her mouth, so full, so red, grew white.

the man to drive fast. I did not speak; it seemed like dreaming. There sat the lady, so pale, so altered, with the handkerchief, all muddy as it was, crushed hard in her white hand-sometimes lookin

u.' Still I could not keep from sobbing,

nd a row of stone steps went up half way from the gate to the front door. The windows of the house were painted all sorts of colors, and at one corner wa

ok my hand and led me into a great square entry-way, with a marble floor checked black and white; then she led me up a great high stair-case, covered from top to bottom with a carp

et my eyes on. But this was dark and dim like the rest. My feet sunk into the carpet,

upon a little sofa covered with blue silk. S

ll me, little girl, exactly wh

ld, for crying. 'At first I thought it must belong to the tall gentlem

e rest-her eyes were as bright as dia

man! What tall ge

he silk cushion under her head was wet with them. I felt sorry to see her so troubled, and took the handkerchief from the floor-for it fell from her hand as she sunk down. With one corner that the wheel had n

under his arm; and she talked with him in a low voice. He seemed not to like what she said; but she grew positive, and he went out. Then she lay down on the s

out. Nobody saw me. The great house seemed empty-everything was grand, but so still that it made me afraid. Nothing but the rain dripping from the trees made the least noise. All around was a garden, and the house stood mos

side, and just followed them till I got into the thick of the houses once more. After this I went up one street and

trawberries. There was enough without the gold piece; she would not let me change that, but filled the basket with nice things, just to en

downward, and he answered her in the solemn and beautiful words of Scripture, "I have been young, and now I am old; yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, or his seed begging bread." There