to lay by a small sum previous to her
illness, and it was well they had done so, for during her sickness she
required almost the constant attention of her daughter, which deprived
them of any means of support; but after several weeks of severe illness
she began slowly to recover, and this brings us to the time where our
story opens. The ring which Mrs. Harris held in her hand had been for
many, many years an heir-loom in the English family to which she
belonged. To her it was the dying gift of her mother, and the thoughts
of parting with it cost her a bitter pang. But she had no friends to
whom she might apply for aid; and to a refined and sensitive nature,
almost anything else is preferable to seeking charity from strangers.
The ring was the only article of value which she retained, and sore as
was the trial, she saw no other way of meeting their present wants, than
by disposing of this her only relic of former affluence and happiness;
and she trusted, that by the time the money which the sale of the ring
would bring should be expended, they would be again able to resume their
employment. With a heavy heart Ellen Harris set out to dispose of this
cherished memento. She remembered an extensive jewelry shop, which she
had often passed, as she carried home parcels of work, and thither she
made her way. The shop-keeper was an elderly man with daughters of his
own, and he had so often noticed this pale sad-looking young girl as she
passed his window, that he recognized her countenance the moment she
entered the shop; and when in a low timid voice she enquired if he would
purchase the ring, he was satisfied that he was correct in his former
conjecture, that she belonged to a family of former wealth and
respectability. But young as she was there was a certain reserve and
dignity in her manner, which forbade any questions on his part. The man
had for many years carried on a lucrative business in his line and he
was now wealthy; and knowing that he could afford to wait till the ring
should find a purchaser he had no fears of losing money on so valuable
an article; and, as is not often the case in such transactions, he paid
her a fair price for the ring, although less than its real value. Ellen
returned, much elated by her success; the money she had received for the
ring seemed to them in their present circumstances a small fortune.
"Little did once I think," said the widow, as she carefully counted the
bank-notes, "that a few pa