Morning broke in all its splendor over the little village she had left
behind.
Dewy flowers, touched by the rising day, glittered in their beds of
green, while mists, etherial as air, hung over the verdant meadows. Long
lines of hills whose tops rested against the blue sky, mirrored their
heads in the waters which flowed at their feet.
Beauty was on every hand. In whatever direction the eye turned, it
beheld the smile of God, and all nature seemed a psalm of thanksgiving.
Caleb Thorne arose, and shaking off dull sleep, called Margaret to her
morning duties, while his wife bustled about the house in her usual
manner.
Neither looked on the lovely scene before them. If their eyes chanced to
turn in its direction, their souls took no cognizance of all the wealth
of beauty which was before them.
“What on earth keeps that gal up stairs so long,” said Mrs. Thorne,
“I'll call her and bring her down I guess,--Mar-ga-ret-Mar-ga-ret
Thorne; it's most six o'clock-get up.”
No sound; no footstep. She waited a full half hour, then Caleb returned
from the barn, having milked the cows, a labor which he had performed
since Margaret's illness.
“That gal ain't up yet,” said his wife, as he came and placed the pails
on the table.
His breath came fast, for he feared she might be ill, or dead, perhaps.
“Go and see what the matter is,” he said to his wife. But as she was
somewhat afraid to enter a room where all was so silent, she hesitated.
At length she mounted the stairs very slowly, calling Margaret's name
at each step. When she had reached the landing, she found the door wide
open, but no Margaret was there, and the bed was undisturbed. Pale and
trembling, she went down stairs.
“She's-she's gone!” were the words with which she met her husband's
inquiring gaze. “Yes, gone; run away, I s'pose, in the night.”
Mr. Thorne sank into the nearest seat, almost paralyzed with emotion and
apprehension.
“Gone?” he repeated; it was a long time before he could take in her
meaning. It came at last; not as some truths do with a flash, but it
dropped like lead into his soul, down-down-to depths he knew not of.
And she had gone, just when he was waking to realize a fraction of her
worth; just as he was learning to look with a single spark of love on
her young, fair face, growing every day so much like her dear, dead
mother's.
He leaned his face upon his hands and wept. The fount of feeling long
dried was touched, and his heart felt a tenderness it had never known
before, for his child.
Through the dark atmosphere about his soul a ray of light broke in. Down
through long years it crept, and seemed to carry him back to the time
when his Mary was a bride.
There comes a moment to every soul, when its treasures are truly
appreciated; when hearts God has given to love and bless us are rightly
valued. Well is it for us if that moment comes while they are with us in
the earthly form.
It seemed but yesterday when she was a bride, white in soul, as well as
attire. How vividly the scene now stood before him, and he felt, as he
then did, the beating of her young, trusting heart, which she gave into
his keeping.
Down through all these years flowed the light of recollection, and
brought to mind the morning when a tiny babe was placed beside its
mother for him to love and cherish. Grief shook his soul to its
foundations. Through his rough nature crept a tenderness he had not
known for years, for those two treasures-one beneath the sod; the
other,--where?
“I s'pose you did n't look to see if the door was onbolted, did you?”
remarked his wife, wondering what made him so long silent.
“Come to think 'ont, 't was,” he answered, like one awaking from a
dream.
“Then, the ungrateful thing's gone; and I am glad, if she could n't be
more thankful to us for her home.”
“Yes,--Margaret's gone.” His voice sounded far off, as though his soul
was off in search of her.
“Margaret Thorne has run away!” went from mouth to mouth, and harsh
comments, bitter words, flashed through the village a few days, and then
all was still again.
Wild and fearful emotions rushed through the mind of Margaret, when,
after a long, weary walk, she reached the town of N--, with old Trot at
her side.
It was a small white house, apart from others, and far from the road,
at which she applied for board, drawn thither by its quiet, home-like
appearance, and a strange feeling within her mind which she had not
fully learned to trust.
She felt that her weary feet could go no farther, as she walked up the
path, bordered by flowers, and knocked timidly at the door.
It was opened by a woman of about forty years, whose pleasant face
smiled upon her, as she invited her to enter.
Margaret took courage from the kind manner in which she was met, and at
once made known her desire to obtain a boarding place, designing to work
in the factory near at hand.
“I have no room at present for any one,” she answered, “but if you
are to work in the factory there are boarding houses built by the
corporation, at which you can obtain accommodations. The first step,
however, will be to call upon the overseer, and if you like I will go
with you after you have rested.”
Margaret was too grateful to reply in a satisfactory manner, but her
face looked what her tongue could not speak.
Mrs. Armstrong glanced at the young girl, and thought how unfitted she
seemed for such a place of labor. With her large experience, for many
had wandered there before, burdened with heavy struggles, she quickly
saw that grief, or want, perhaps both, had driven her from home, or
shelter, whichever it might be.
She shrank as she thought of the rough influences to which she would
be subjected, and though she knew she could not avert the fate of this
wanderer, or any of those who came to her for love and sympathy, yet she
inwardly resolved to befriend her, and do all that she could to aid one
so young and innocent, through a cold world.
“I'll get you a cup of tea, and something to eat,” she said, and hurried
out of the room before Margaret could reply.
This was not the first one to whom her bounty had been given; not the
first lonely stranger who had supped at her table.
Old Trot sat on the door-step during this time, his eyes riveted on the
house, and his ears poised to catch every sound within.
When all was ready, Mrs. Armstrong called Margaret to partake of a good
substantial meal, which her busy hands had so speedily prepared, and
knowing that the young girl might feel diffident, seated her alone at
the table, while she busied herself about the room.
How Margaret longed to share her meal with Trot. What was her surprise
to see Mrs. Armstrong gather some scraps of meat and bones, and carry
them to the hungry animal.
No wonder the girl thought her an angel; she rose from the table, her
eyes too dim to see her newly-found friend, and her heart too full to
thank her for all her kindness.
In a short time Mrs. Armstrong was in readiness to accompany her to the
factory, and the two left the house, the former making the walk pleasant
by her familiar conversation and the sympathy she manifested for the
wanderer. Trot followed them, and, as if conscious that his young
mistress had found a friend, occasionally ran on before, looking up in
their faces, and leaping as if wild with joy.
After a short walk through the most retired part of the village, they
reached the factory building and entered.
The noise was so great that Margaret thought she should be stunned, and
put her hands upon her ears, to keep out the sound. She had never
been in a factory before, and the thought of having to bear all that
confusion, every day, sent a feeling to her heart somewhat akin to
terror; but she must labor, and where else could she go?
The curious gaze of the girls, as they entered the weaving room, was
most trying to her sensitive nature, and Margaret's face crimsoned, as
she followed Mrs. Armstrong to the farthest part of the room, where Mr.
Field, the overseer, was conversing with one of the operators.
He was a black-eyed, sharp-featured person, and there was something in
his look which caused her to shudder, as Mrs. Armstrong made known her
errand.
“Have you ever worked in a factory?” he asked, in a quick, impatient
manner.
“No sir.”
“A new hand, then,” he said, with a little more suavity.
“We need another hand in the carding-room, so you may go there. I will
show you the room.”
He led the way, Margaret following, yet keeping close to her new friend.
The noise of the room was almost as great as that of the other, but it
was sunnier, and the windows were adorned with some beautiful plants.
The girls seemed more modest and less inclined to stare at visitors.
Mr. Field was about to leave, when he suddenly turned to Margaret and
inquired when she intended to commence.
“To-morrow, sir, if you are ready for me?”
“All right. Be on hand at the ringing of the bell.”
“I had almost forgotten an important part of my errand,” said Mrs.
Armstrong, “and that is, a boarding place for this young lady.”
“Ah, she wishes to board in the Corporation. Well, there is a place
at Mrs. Crawford's. I think she has a spare room. Her house is on Elm
Street, third block.”
It was a relief to feel the fresh air again, and to be away from the
noise and confusion of the factory. As soon as they had reached the
street, Margaret inquired of Mrs. Armstrong, the way to Mrs. Crawford's.
“O! I shall go with you,” said that kind lady, to the great relief
of the young and timid girl, already worn and weary with fatigue and
excitement.
“Thank you,” in low, but sweet tones, came from her lips, and the two
wended their way along, with Trot close behind.
They passed pleasant private dwellings, and then turned into a long
and narrow street, with blocks of houses on either side. Margaret had
supposed by the name, that the street must be very pretty, with rows of
trees on each side. She was just learning that there are many misnomers
in life, and that this was one.
The house in the third block was reached, and Mrs. Armstrong rapped with
her parasol on the door. A red faced, but good-natured appearing woman
answered the call.
“We have called to see if you have a spare room for a young lady who
wishes board,” said Mrs. Armstrong.
“We 've got a spare bed for a factory girl, if that's what you want,”
she replied, grinning, and eyeing Margaret from head to foot.
“But have you no room she can have by herself?”
“Bless your stars, no my lady. We don't take them kind o' boarders.
There's plenty of places where genteel folks are taken, if they like
to be starved out and out,” and her face glowed with such genuine good
nature, that her questioner felt that whatever else one might have to
endure, they would at least have a sunny face to cheer them.
“This young woman can sleep with other folks, can't she?” inquired the
good-natured woman, and her smile, not of sarcasm, but true goodness,
though rough, saved Margaret's tears.
“If you have no other, she must,” said Mrs. Armstrong, disappointedly,
for she saw from the first, a native dignity and delicacy in Margaret
which would shrink from the contact with others, and intended to have
paid the extra price demanded for a room herself, if one could have been
obtained.
At that moment, old Trot came in through the open door, and looked
around, as though he did not like the appearance of things.
“That dog can't come,” said the woman, losing for the first time
her pleasant smile. “May-be he's your's though, madam?” she said
apologetically.
“No, he's mine, and I must have him with me,” broke in Margaret, “and I
cannot-”
She stopped short, frightened at her own earnest words and manner.
“I think he will be better off with me,” said Mrs. Armstrong; “I will
keep him for you.”
“I would n't care myself about the cur,” said Mrs. Crawford, following
them to the door, “but my boarders are so agin anything in the shape of
a dog.”
“Certainly; she could scarcely expect you to take him; and besides,
I want him to watch my chickens and garden. I took a fancy to him the
moment I first saw him.”
Having thus made all satisfactory in regard to the dog, as far as Mrs.
Crawford was concerned, they bade her good-day, and reached home just
before dark.
“You are too kind,” said Margaret to Mrs. Armstrong, who told her that
she must remain all night with her, and then she could say no more, but
broke down completely.
The kind woman took her at once to a neat little bed-room, and permitted
Trot to lie on a mat close to the door of his mistress.
Weary and worn, she gladly went to bed. Sleep came at last, and the
tired, intense state of her mind was lost in slumber. She dreamt that
she was at her home again, and that she was going to marry Clarence.
They were walking to the village church together, over the soft green
meadows. The air was balmy and full of sweetness; the sunshine lay in
golden bars at her feet, and her whole soul glowed with happiness, life,
and love. The bells--her marriage bells--pealed out joyously on the air,
while she turned to Clarence, saying, “I had a terrible dream; I thought
you had deserted me.” Another peal,--merry and full-then the meadows
that were so warm and sunny, grew cold and wet; and a cloud came between
her and the golden sun. The bell rolled forth another peal-it sounded
like a knell-and she awoke.
The factory bell was ringing, calling the operatives to labor.
A sweet voice broke on her utter desolation just at that moment, saying:
“That is the first bell; you will have just time enough to dress and
take your breakfast.”
Mechanically she arose, dressed, and forcing back her hot tears, went
below, to sit again at the table of one who ever remembered these words:
“As ye have opportunity.”