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112 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN; OR
through her fingers into the drawer; then suddenly raising her head, she began, with nervous haste, selecting the plainest and most substantial articles, and gathering them into a bundle.
" Mamma," said one of the boys, gently touching her arm, " are you going to give away those things ? "
" My dear boys," she said, softly and earnestly, " if our dear, loving little Henry looks down from heaven, he would be glad to have us do this. I could not find it in my heart to give them away to any common person, — to anybody that was happy; but I give them to a mother more heart-broken and sorrowful than I am; and I hope God will send his blessings with them ! "
There are in this world blessed souls, whose sorrows all spring up into joys for others; whose earthly hopes, laid in the grave with many tears, are the seed from which spring healing flowers and balm for the desolate and the distressed. Among such was the delicate woman who sits there by the lamp, dropping slow tears, while she prepares the memorials of her own lost one for the outcast wanderer.
After a while, Mrs. Bird opened a wardrobe, and, taking from thence a plain, serviceable dress or two, she sat down busily to her work-table, and, with needle, scissors, and thimble at hand, quietly commenced the " letting down " process which her husband had recommended, and continued busily at it ti:i the old clock in the corner struck twelve, and she heard the low rattling of wheels at the door.
" Mary," said her husband, coming in, with his overcoat in his hand, " you must wake her up now; we must be off."
Mrs. Bird hastily deposited the various articles she had collected in a small plain trunk and locking it, desired her husband to see it in the carriage, and then proceeded to call the woman. Soon, arrayed in a cloak, bonnet, and shawl, that had belonged to her benefactress, she appeared |
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