LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 618, 12 June 1876, Page 3

LITERATURE.

BENIGNA. A Tale of Village life. CHAPTER HI. ( Continued.) Benigna begged the child to tell her hostess that she would gladly help with the preparation of supper, as she could cut bread and peel potatoes. The child went with the message, which was received with a laugh. When the child returned, Benigna begged her to explain somewhat the position of the furniture in the room to avoid accidents. The child described everything, but as Benigna rose to leave the room, upset a chair right in the way, so that she stumbled and fell. The child left the room laughing, aud Benigna felt her way back to her bench again. John had handed over their new charge to hia wife, aud gone off to the alehouse with the consolatory thought that his wife would be obliged to be x’ccouciled to the state of affairs when shje found there was no help for it. After some hours he fetched Benigna’s bed. It was placed in the little attic chamber, where the child slept. Benigna asked the child whether she was comfortable, but she answered angrily that it was none of her business ; but Benigna f<jlt at the miserably-appointed bed aud perceived how insufficient it was. She took her own coverlet aud laid it warm over the little sleeper, who clenched her fists in rage at the witch, but at length yielded to her gentleness and soon afterwards fell asleep. Once the child called out * Mother,’ in its sleep. Benigna felt a thrill of pain ; she had never spoken that blessed name —never wished for a little child that might call her mother. Aud she wept in the silence of the night, and sighed in the freezing air, asking how long she must endure darkness and wretchedness before death came to her help. While Benigna lay sleepless in the attic, John talked to his wife, recommending her to treat Benigna with some show of kindness, if only a matter of policy, since it was clear she had buried a treasure by the tall hazel bush—for she had constantly asked old Margaret to lead her to that spot -therefore, if only she were well treated now, she would in time reveal the whereabouts of her treasure, aud make her benefactors rich for ever.

His wife answered that if Benigna really had a treasure, she would never have submitted to be sold by auction; but John maintained that this was done with a purpose, for she had always been eccentric, and moreover his sister assured him that Benigna’s deceased aunt firmly believed in the hidden treasure. lie succeeded at last in partially convincing his wife, who now recollected that Benigna used to earn large sums, and had since made a great deal by begging; so that after all it was likely enough that she had a treasure buried somewhere. CHAPTER xv. Day dawned. The basket maker’s wife came and led Benigna down to breakfast. Benigna thanked her, and thought things would be more comfortable, as her hostess had not kept up her hxdiguation of the night before. But the child would not eat out of the same dish with Benigna. John was about; to punish hex-, but Benigna interceded, and assurred him tlxat she had already satisfied her hunger, 4 There, take it .all yourself,’ said she, turning to the child, ‘ your name is Bain, is it not ! I had a little sister called Babi once, but she died youug. ’ The child was alarmed at this kindness, and frowned at Benigna, for even this benighted little soul was susceptible of something better than it had known, and its first impulse was to resent the influence for good, to which it was not insensible.

Benigna knew that this was a deserted child, whose presence was considered a constant burden and annoyance. It’s mother, John’s sister, was at service in the capital. Benigna was clever at spinning, and this was her occupation from morning till night. John and his wife assented to this with much satisfaction. Benigna was no hindrance to them; she earned sufficient by her spinning to defray the expense of her maintenance, and the sum allowed by the parish was a clear gain. This amicable state of feeling was quite a novelty between the husband and wife. Hitherto there had been nothing but strife and contention. They had always been so pinched in their circumstance, and that was another cause of quarrelling, for where poverty comes in at the door love Hies out at the window, as the proverb says. John, who had but little business during the winter months, was fond of idling about, and his wife thought that scolding would drive him to his work, but it had an opposite effect. At first they did not hesitate to quarrel violently in the presence of Benigna, but once she said, ‘My husband is a wanderer in the wide world. I know not whether he is alive or dead. Oh, how sinful it is for you two, who have each other, not to live in peace together; after that they felt a certain awe of her, and rarely quarreled in her presence. John had a little work table in the house, at which he carved all sorts of wooden household implements, especially spoons and pegs. He now set to work at this little table, and often amused himself by chatting to Benigna as she sat at her spinning. Bis wife seemed contented in these days, and often brought Benigna a cup of coffee at an odd lime, and though it was only made of roasted carrots it was a refreshment to the old woman. But the greatest change was in the child. Benigna often asked her to do this or that little service for her; first she would comply unwillingly, hut by degrees she felt what the pleasure of serving another is, and in time this feeling ripened in the childish soul into a real pleasure in doing good. Babi would now come of her own accord and offer little attentions to Benigna. She would lead her hither and thither, and it dawned upon the child for the first time that the blind woman was a human being, and one who regarded her with love and tenderness, as no one had ever done. Benigna heard the child’s lessons, and taught her all she herself knew ; and she was very clever in arithmetic, and was rich in old songs and proverbs. The schoolmaster came and said that little Babi would be one of his best scholars byand by. Thus the winter went by, the shortest 'and happiest they had known for many years. In spring, when the willows were full of sap, Benigna learned basketmaking. She was an apt pupil, and very soon she could weave the most elegant little baskets, which fetched good prices. In this she was greatly aided by the patterns she still had in her head since her embroidering days. John’s wife would have been constantly celebrating the praises of Benigna, and telling her neighbours what a blessing she was to them, but John thought this foolish, and would have it kept quiet, but she would, after all, not point out the whereabouts of the treasure ; and the sooner that could be found out the better’. He and his wife often hinted at the hidden treasure, Benigna smiled, and a strange expression came over her face. She had sense enough not to dispel ihe delusion, knowing that to it she owed much of the complaisance of her host and hostess.

Benigna persuaded the child to ’glean industriously at harvest time, and went herself to gather wood with her little companion. John often led her to the hazel bush. He always hoped she would point out the place where the treasure was buried, but she never alluded to it. With her aid he could bring heavy loads in his little cart, for she would go behind and push with such strength that his own labour was comparatively light. So they collected firewood and corn, and there was such au abundance in the bouse as was unknown before. But better than all was the spirit of peace and harmony—once a stranger in the lioxxsehold. This warmed and supported them, even more than the fuel and bread.

Bexxigna went to the banx, and thrashed the coi'ix which Babi had gleaned, unassisted, and the child was more zealous aud industrious than ever. When the xxews came of the death of its mother, Benigna comforted the little orphan for many days. At last, she said :

4 You might do me a kindness.’ 4 What is it ? Shall I run a message fox you ? ’ 4 No. But could yoxx call me mother now —will you ? ’ 4 Yes ! yes ! Mother ! ’ So Benigna kissed Babi for the first time in her life, and thenceforward the child called her mother’.

Some years had now passed since Benigna came to live with the basket-maker’s family. (To I>r coiifhninl.)

It is stated in the World that Prince Arthur is marked out to be the next General Com-mandcr-in-Chief whenever the necessity tor a new appointment arises.