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Article THE LAST RELIC. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Last Relic.
THE LAST EELIC .
[ From the ( Americwn ) Mirror and Keystone . ]
They tell of a young girl , some seventeen years of age , who , clad in deep mourning , knocked at the door of a rich man ' s house in one of our large cities , and asked eagerly for the owner . The servant , no
doubt , partaking of the demeanour of his master , who was deemed a harsh and severe man by all who knew him , was about to turn the suppliant from the door , when her importunities touched a lingering chord of sympathy in his heart , and he announced her to the lordly owner of the mansion . He was indeed a stern man , and , apparently , hard and unfeeling in his nature . There were deep wrinkles on his brow , which seemed to denote that he had not passed through life
without partaking of some of its sorrows and many of its cares . He was in a deep reverie when the servant entered ; perhaps counting his gains , or , it may be , bringing back the past before him as in a glass , and counting up his hours from childhood to his weary age . Who knows ? How few care ! But strange it was , even to his servant , who knew so well the forbidding nature of his master , when , after a moment ' s hesitation , the rich man said , " Let her come in . "
In a moment the poor girl was in his presence . It was a strange contrast ; that weak , trembling being , treading upon soft carpets in the meek habiliments of poverty , in the presence of the owner of millions—she in her deep humility , and he in all the lordliness of wealth . She stood before him , and in low trembling tones , that were full of melancholy sweetness , said— I » J 1
CC CJ * T ~ i . J * J * A . T ^ _ 1 1 A . 'U ___ _ " Sir , I am a stranger and in distress ; I am a fatherless child , and my loved mother is now severely ill . Por months my hands have laboured to sustain her , but poverty comes too fast upon us . We are poor , but we are not beggars ; we came from a far country , and are strangers . One by one we have parted with all our little valuables ,
and here is the last relic of a loved father , He gave it me as a keepsake—something to keep for his dear memory ; but , alas ! starvation is a stern thing , and necessity knows no law . You are rich —some say you are unkind , and yet I have ventured ; will you buy it , sir ? "
She ceased speaking , and the rich man appeared touched ; he looked at the speaker with a glance in which tenderness seemed struggling with the morose feelings which had , for so many years , congealed into ice the more tender emotions of his nature . " Look up , young lady , " said he .
His voice had in it a tone of sympathy , which gave her confidence ; and she raised her eyes timidly to the penetrating glance of him in whose presence she stood . " Let me examine the article which you wish me to buy , " he continued ; " and , although not doing business in that line , yet , perhaps , 1 may bo induced to help your present necessities . " The girl , with trembling hands , took from her neck a black ribbon .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Last Relic.
THE LAST EELIC .
[ From the ( Americwn ) Mirror and Keystone . ]
They tell of a young girl , some seventeen years of age , who , clad in deep mourning , knocked at the door of a rich man ' s house in one of our large cities , and asked eagerly for the owner . The servant , no
doubt , partaking of the demeanour of his master , who was deemed a harsh and severe man by all who knew him , was about to turn the suppliant from the door , when her importunities touched a lingering chord of sympathy in his heart , and he announced her to the lordly owner of the mansion . He was indeed a stern man , and , apparently , hard and unfeeling in his nature . There were deep wrinkles on his brow , which seemed to denote that he had not passed through life
without partaking of some of its sorrows and many of its cares . He was in a deep reverie when the servant entered ; perhaps counting his gains , or , it may be , bringing back the past before him as in a glass , and counting up his hours from childhood to his weary age . Who knows ? How few care ! But strange it was , even to his servant , who knew so well the forbidding nature of his master , when , after a moment ' s hesitation , the rich man said , " Let her come in . "
In a moment the poor girl was in his presence . It was a strange contrast ; that weak , trembling being , treading upon soft carpets in the meek habiliments of poverty , in the presence of the owner of millions—she in her deep humility , and he in all the lordliness of wealth . She stood before him , and in low trembling tones , that were full of melancholy sweetness , said— I » J 1
CC CJ * T ~ i . J * J * A . T ^ _ 1 1 A . 'U ___ _ " Sir , I am a stranger and in distress ; I am a fatherless child , and my loved mother is now severely ill . Por months my hands have laboured to sustain her , but poverty comes too fast upon us . We are poor , but we are not beggars ; we came from a far country , and are strangers . One by one we have parted with all our little valuables ,
and here is the last relic of a loved father , He gave it me as a keepsake—something to keep for his dear memory ; but , alas ! starvation is a stern thing , and necessity knows no law . You are rich —some say you are unkind , and yet I have ventured ; will you buy it , sir ? "
She ceased speaking , and the rich man appeared touched ; he looked at the speaker with a glance in which tenderness seemed struggling with the morose feelings which had , for so many years , congealed into ice the more tender emotions of his nature . " Look up , young lady , " said he .
His voice had in it a tone of sympathy , which gave her confidence ; and she raised her eyes timidly to the penetrating glance of him in whose presence she stood . " Let me examine the article which you wish me to buy , " he continued ; " and , although not doing business in that line , yet , perhaps , 1 may bo induced to help your present necessities . " The girl , with trembling hands , took from her neck a black ribbon .