Argus has resumed its accustomed asp of dreariness-

It may fairly boasfc, however, that once during its career it has produced a pro found impression upon the community.— [Wlax Adder.

The Blind Spinner.

It was the old story. Their father ha-? b-cn a thriftless, oxtravsijant man He h.'A lived up to his income—a little ove* i; a great deal over it, and then came the ead—debtr disgrace, ruin, vain remorse. aud before long, three fatherless ones — giris reared iv a foolish luxury, now left to face all the trials of grinding poverty.

The mother had died many year 3 back —ufa brofcwn heart, people said, for the worst errors of the father were mercifully veiled t'roui the ohildren's oyen, and to them he wins always ' poor papa.' wii>-

k:s<t'it r hi'nx as he lay dying, and tlitm lunx-d uiv 'ace to the wall and w<*<>\ to- tfi" wdHted life he could nover now oxpiato

— wppi: for the helpless children- rendered h'.nneless by his own grievous fault.

1 his happened a lung time ago, or it seemed so to them —Col* sorrow m.tkos thr.« "eem long to us all —and now caiue to this 1

' This' was furnished lodging* in an unfashionable suburb of London—tii • great sea into which so rmmy troubled hearts plunge, to hide from the cyrs ot those who have known them in brighter days.

Wo must now sketch these three sisters, in whom we would fain hope lo interest our reader. 3essie first; she was ttio eldest, now just ei^htfun ; tall and slander, dr;rk h«ircd, dark-eyed, and grave beyond Her years. Chen came .Katie —and Katie was blind. It was the pretties!; sight ro sep tho devotion of the two girls to this afflicted one.

' They are my two eyes,' she would say with that sweet smile ofton seen on the face of tho biind—a smile that seems to hold all tho light the sightless eyes lack,

She had an intense nature, fchia poor, blind child ; a nature that suffered more thai oih«ra in pain and rejoiced with raoro exceeding joy in gladness. She wns now seventeen; nnd Alice, the wilful, nuu.^hcy darling of the other two, was two yeur3 ynsinger. Alice was a beauty, and bewitched you with her saucy, violet eyes, and rippling chestnut hair and gleamy pearly toeth-

They were very friendless, those three sisters. For one tiling, the father had not been a. man to make friends, or, if lie did msxk': them, lo^f. them ngain with remark able promptitude ; anrl the few had oflovod help in somewhat an offensive fashion.

So the girls came to London and took ■up their abode at Mrs, Busby.", furnished lodgings, 1.7 Paradise place. The stairs were Btcep, and Katie often put her hand to her side after ay.unting them ; tho ro >ms were small, and Bessie's room, up at the top of the house, had a slice cut off at one corner, and a window S") low that it gave anything but a satisfactory light to dress your hair by— but then, was there not a mirror in the parlor, in which you could take ;i glimpse of yourself, and if it did not depict you with a swelled face, and one eyo up and the other down, why, you learn to make allowances for these peculiarities, and to know whether your honnot was straight in spite of thorn j so, take it all in all, it was not a bad sort of a mirror.

Bessie was tho clever one of tho family, so far as accomplishments went. She hoped, brave heart, to make ' something comfcrtable' by her musical powers, for she had been told that London was just the place to get on in ; but for all that the sisters had been nearly six months in Paradise place, and yet only now had Bessie got her first pupil!

' I've got pupil on the brain, nay dears,' said Alice, her pretty cyot sparkling with merriment, as she looked at Bessie gravely pouring out the tea. ' Oh, it's too delightful, Bess, my darling ! Sure and its proud I am of you this day !'

'And after all the pupil represents five shillings a week ; but then it is a beginn ing, you see, and will pay half the rent.' The cold weather was goingl now, and Katie and Alice wero crlad of that, for it would be Jess trying for Bess, you sec, going in and out, when (hat crowd of pupils they so confidentially expected should become .1 reality.

So the snow melted and the little town sparrows in their sooty jackets chirped and twittered as merrily as any country bird could possibly do ; and Katie sat in the sunshine at Mrs. Busby's front parlor window, and thought it very pleasant to listen to a street piano playing ' II Bacio.' How often Kalie thought of her dead father! Naturally she from her affliction had known least of his wrong doings ; and tenderly she loved his memory, calling to mind the feeling of his hand upon her head as hit lay helpless upon his bed of pain, while creditors, like birds of prey, hcvcrprl about the house that ought to be hushed and silent.

' The sun shinos wnrm and bright ; the music out there sounds cheerful to me ; and poor papa lies in the grave!' Thus ran the thoughts of this gentle, loving heart.

As time went on, though the crowd of pupils so confidentially anticipated by Alico and Kate, did not make their appearanco, three or fotir more were added to the original one, and things seemed to go ott passably, when Bessie took a severe cold—so severe that the others (supported by the opinion of Mrs. Busby) would not

let her leave the house. Then an event happened. A visitor came to 17 Paradise place—a young man in n velveteen coat, and a soft, wide, felt hat, that shaded an honest, manly young face, with gray eyes and a silky brown board. This was Phil Lushington, a struggling artist, striving hard to make that ' some thing comfortable' of which mention has been made before. Phil taught drawing At a Bohool where Bessie, too, had some

pllpils. Tin" young fellow came in somewhat timidly to that dingy parlor in which Mrs. Busby's sou! delighted, and Mary Anne, the rnaid-of-all-woi'k (who to judge from the states of hoi' hands, cleaned boots all •lay lons without ever leaving off) showed him in, herself in such a state of excite tllfilt that hoc cap foil off in the p% sat;e ; • ml; than, as her cap was as often ia cho pas-mgo as on hor head, tint was uo

iN'-'nv I may aa wail say, once for all. al •iim start; of my tale, that there are no eiilians in thin story, and that Phil Lush iti-Tfon wh« an honest, cliivalrmis young fellow, who treated T,herie three solitary maidens novp and ever after, with (he reverence all true ivomen should command from all true men, and was as fastidiously respectful to them aa though a Belgravian cuaparone of the right description had k^pt watch md ward over them, and Paradise place had bcenGrrosveriorSqnare. With chivalrous, tender grace, Phil Lushingtoii greeted tiie three sisters, as he stood at the- door of thcirjdingy pirlor, hut, in hand, his bonnie brown curls c usl-ring about his foreh- ad, an 1 his hon>!ir. eyes resting on Bessie's face. Y^s ; he was; an individual in ' whom there was uo guiliV was this younj; artist of iaio». and, like the sunflower, gazed openly it the .sun that had begun to shine with such bright beams upon his life. It was rather hard for Bessie though, as with a pretty bashfulneas she presented her visitor to her two sisters

'I know I ought to have called earlier in the day,' said Phil, still drinking in the night of Bessie's face, ' but I haven't had a moment to spare since ton o'clock this taomiuv I was sure you muse be ill as I did not nee you at Beech House for tim whole days, so 1 asked Miss M.:norr,i Byeroffc, and she told me you had v hard c .J't.'

Phil ;-,*<i not. thought before he carno that be should feel us it his advent, needed so many apologies and explanations. bur sr<incii<>w thi« all came upon him now; and Alice perceiving that Bessie was evidently not capubluofmnch fluency of conversation rushed bravely to the rescue. ' A.nd now you have found us all .silting in the dusk ! We do that, you must know, fo save the gas. Of course it would sound very pretty to say we love the gloaming, and nil that sort of thing; but th<" <;as is the real reason '

l>.''<si«' looked imploringly to tier sister, as ii' to stem this torront of domestic con fidences; but their visitor seeuiod wonder fully sot at ease by these matter of-fact remarks on tho part of the down right Alice, and soon they were chatting together. Presently Phil told them that he, and his mother lived quiet close to Paradise place, aad'soinoday might bring Airs. Lush ingtonto see them.' As Phil said this, Bessie's hand dropped a littlo ; but she said demurely, as it was her wont to speak, that they would bo ' glad to see Mrs. Lushing ton.1 ' I'm very glad you cams —very glad indeed,' said Alice, chiming in again. ' We knew about you before-—Katie and , I meau—and abuut your bringing Bess home under your umbrella when it rained and we were out; but we thought—at least I thought—from the way Bess then spoke, that you were quiet an old man —a man, with long, white hair, and who stooped very much, youjknow, and carried a big portfolio.' ' I'm sorry I have disappointed your expectations,' said their visitor, with just one sly loving glance at Bessie, now rosy red ; and then lie quickly changed the sub ject, for he could not bear to see tho sweet serenity of that fair face disturbed.

' Were you reading aloud when I came in?' he said, turning again to chatter-box Alice.

'Oh, no! we were listening to Katie's yarns. You must knowshe tolls us stories better than in any books -and wo get so interested : and then she breaks ofl'at the nicest bit, when wo aro dying to know what comes next!'

Jfo looked more earnestly than he had yet done at the quiet pale girl at Bessie's side ; ho noted the lit lie, thin, nervous hands, the fragile figure, the tremulous, sensitive mouth ; and oh, saddest of all, the great, blue, sightless oyes ! • I should like to hear sorao of those stories,' said Phil. * Well, so you shall, some day, when you come to see us again. Shan't he, Katie dear ?' But Katie would not promise- Soon after this Phil took his leave, and Alice stool at the window to watch him down the street. ' So that's the drawing-master at Beech House Academy ! that's the old, old man. who brought you home that rainy day! Oh, Bessie !' she cried, and then she threw herself upon Mrs. Busby's slippery horse hair sofa, and it would have done your heart good to hear her ringing laughter. But Katie put her arms round her sis ter's neck and .kissed her tenderly. ' Bess,' she said, « What a nice'voice he has. I hope he'll come again/ Did Bessie hope so too, I wonder ? Be this as it may, Katie was not disappointed. He did come again—not one, but many

times ; indeed he got into a sort of habit of looking upon the sisters, ' between the lights ;' and thus it came about that at last he heard some of those wonderiai ' yarns ' the blind girl was wont to spin, for the gentle narrator got accustomed to his presence, and forgot all shyness in the new delight of a fresh and appreciative ad dition to her audience ; and Phil liked the 'yarns,' and at last suggested to Bessie (on the occasion of another showery oven iug rendering his escort a necessity) that on*' of these stories should be written out. and sent to fhe editor of a certain maga zine.

' Do you really think they would take it P' cried Alice, radiant, when the idea was mooted to her.

'Yes, i do,' replied Phil. 'Your sister's ideas are fresh and beautiful ; and merit does make its way with editor-, without interest, though some people will toil y>u it tjosu't.' ■ fo'.v Klin's face lighted up when I bey toid her aboai this wonderful plan. sh< sbpped bor hand into Bessie's, with the brightest, sweetest tremble on her iips^ •If I can only help— i* I can only be of some real use, it will make me happier than over i was in my life.' 'You will be a real 'spinner' now, Katie,' said Alice, taking success for granted *vith her usual buoyancy. ' Yes,' said Katie ; ' a little blind ' spin ner.' '

At this they all looked very grave, but Ka.tie could not see them, so the happy senile still rested on her lips. The dedication aod writing out of that story was a time of happy excitoniem to our r.hree sisters, and Phil Luslrington fmd his mother were scarcely less inter eared. For Mrs. Lushing ton had called at Paradise Place soon after Phii's first unceremonious visit, and her piaasan:, kindly face now seemed like that of an old friend to them all.

A.f, last the precious packet was posted by Bessie's owa careful hands, and then there was nothing for it but —to wait. Wating is hard work enough to all of us, but our wailing comes to an end some day, here or hereafter ; and at last, one evening, at flic timo of the iast post, as the thro sisters Hat round tho fire, cama the sound of tiio postman hurrying up tho four steps that led to Mrs Busby's door, and then

' It's the story come back ! It's some thing big and fat ! It can hardly get into tho box.' It has squeezed itself through the box and fallen on the floor !'

t-ried Alice, too wildly excited to bo able to ran out to the passage and see what the ' big rut' thing was like. Even plarid B<<3 colonred up, breathed quickly, ■a? «-he saVtl :jn anxious look at Katie, palo, ard with lips apart, her hand grasping the back of the sofa.

Then Bess and alice made a rush for the hall door, but Alice was the quickest, and raising the packet from fch-j ftSor. with trembling lingers tore off the covering, and six long strips of papor, closely printed, fell fluttering to the oilcloth. With a little Cry of rapture, Alice gathered them up helter-skelter, and clasping them against her bosom, flod back i>-.to I.he parlour. ' It. isn't returned ! Oh, Katie, love, it's all printed, every word ! Oh, my darling, if you only could see it !' But Katio had thrown her arms around Bessie's nock, and her face was hidden on fc'iafc loving, lonlcr breast.

Kow Alice rcid aloud those precious •slips'—bow Katie, dea •, sweet spinner ol' thofto pi'olty yarns, passed her fingers fondly over rhe words she couli not set 1 — all this and much more ray readers msy imagine for themselves. They ma} r fancy, too, the appoarancu of the story, and Phil Lushingion rushing in, waving theyellow baoked magazine in his hand as though it wore the title deeds ot sormj vast estate to 100 presently entered into possession of by Katie and her sisters. B'li. the climax was . wlion the editor's cheque arrived, and small as the amount might, have seemed (o others, it was to Katie an El Dorado— the first fruits of a mine of iuexhaustibi; 1 riches. And Katie's luck did not desert her, for yet another sh<irfc story came back to No, 17, in those long, closely printed slips that are so welcome a sight to »\[ of us slaves of the pou. And at last it was agreed upon b.-twoen the two who worked so diligently together, whilo Bessio guided awkward fingnrs over ivory difficulties, that a more ambitious work of fiction should be undertaken—one that, when accepted, would make them feel like having quite a sum of money invested in the funds, or the bank, or some such delightful place.

So, as the Spring weather merged into Sunvner lica > <n I the London streets grew hob ami dusty, tlie blind spinnor toiled at her loom, and chapter after chapter was added to a fast-growing pile of manuscript.

But those country-bred children (for they were little more indeed) began to droop for want of fresh air and green fields, and Bessie's anxious eyes noted a hot; flush on Katie's cheek of au evening, and a sfrangc pal or of a morning, aud AHce spoke of her companion's restless sleep and mutter'd words, that showed the active brain was si ill at work ; but Katie, for onco in her life obstinate, declared there wns nothing the matter, and worked at her story day by day.

80 at last, just as the dry. baking heat grew most; intense, and when the very pavement seemed, hot at your feet, the long story was finished—finished and posted, and tliodear blind spinner promised to let the loom stand still and rest a while,

Too late ! too late ! Some tiny delicate wheel in the machinery was strained, and so the loom worked on against the spinner's will; worked on and spun strange, aimless, endless, unconnected fabrics ; and paler by morning, more hotly red by night, grew Katie's cheek.

' I have been to blame 1 I have let her work too hard !' cried Bessie? passionately self-reproachful, as she saw her darling droop and fade, like some fair flower parched oy drouth. But Alice would not hear it

■ You - did your best—you did all you could ; it is not your fault. Oh, Katie darling ! you will soon be well again, won't you ?' '\.nd Katie smiled, and held a hand of each in her two little fevered, burning pfllms. Then Mrs. Lushington on the strength of her matronly experience, took the law into tier own handy, and said, ' ;-hv m-ist see Dr. Carboy.' So Dr. Carboy came ; a little quaint old man. bent in figure, and with BQarp, piecing eye*, that looked at you from under shaggy brows, and were apt to make you think their owner hard and stern, until you cp,me to know him—never a day longer ! W ea a patient was very poor, Dr Carboy had a habit of forgetting he himself1 was so. Oh, yes, in this great noisy city of ours there are hundreds of such m.'^u —grand Christians, whose generous goodness is only known to him who said, • Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of these, ye have done it unto Me.'

The little doctor peered into Katie's face, held ihe tiny wrist, and counted the feeble fluttering, unsteady pulse. ' HLa -hum —ha!' said he, in his old jerky manner. ' Quiet —rest —good food —change—that's what we want, young lady.' Then he perscribed some simple cooling mixture, and went down stairs with Bessie. ' The action of the heart is very feeble,' he said, looking keenly at her troubled face, ' Has your sister com plained of any uneasiness ?' " JSTo,' replied Bessie ; 'but she never would complain, I fear. She is often very breathless on going up stairs, or walking fast. I know—'

' H>.—yes—just so. Well you mu=t be rery careful of her ; she must rest, mind yon ; rest., mind and body.' Then Bessie Baid, very timidly, and holding some hing in her closed hand— ' W hat am I indebted to you, Dr. Car boy, far this visit ?' ■ iniebted to me?' replied the doctor as though the idea was something unex pected;' why, do as I tell you; give that her medicine regularly, and take her away from this terribly hot hole ; that's wiiat you've got to do.' And with this Hstof'B 'ssie's obligations to himself, and looking into his hat as if to assure himself it was a hat before h? essayed to put it oa, Dr. Caroby took hiai-elf off with a rapidify that suggested all the Quoin's physicians bsing assembled for a consultation) at which he was due. 'Quiet —rest—change,' It is no novel verdict to be given upon the weary, the poor, the sfcrogglingin this great city ; but the means to carry out the order ? 'It must be done, somehow,' said Bessie her e3'es raised to Phil Lushington's face. Who can say what the comfort of a healthful wan is to a woman in time of perplexity and trouble like this? Phil's very voice and look seemed to bring comfort to the two troubled sisters.

He hold Bessie's hand firmly and quietly ns a loving brother might have done. Sorar> Jay he hoped to win her for his wife and God helping him, to render her life ay happy as man's love, and mac's watch ful cave, could do ; but the time to think of that was nor yet; all he wished for now was to comfort and help her.

' I think it might be managed,' he said at length) ' arid without writing to this uucle you toll mo of.' 'Oh, how?' cried Alice, jumping from the sofa where she had flung herself in an abandonment of sorrow. ' He's a brute, this Undo John, and just as likely to refuse what we ask as not. He hated poor pupa !' It struck Phil that this seemed a senlimenS rather generally entertained by those who had known that individual; but of course ho did not say so. ' 3fou don't ]enow how kind and generous literary people are among themselves; and as you toil mo the loug story your sister wrote, is accepted and is to begin next week, I think—indeed I am almost certain—that if you went and told the editor himself ail about this trouble, he wold give the money for the whole at once ; and it would be enough to take her to the sea.'

Alice thought that she would like to kiss him but reflected that perhaps it might hardly be correct —yet.

Tears stood in Bessie's grave eyes, and as she withdrew her hand from his clasp, he felt a little greatful pressure, that haunted his palm all the rest of the day. So ifc was settled that Mrs. Lush ington should go with Bessie to the city, and they should see the editor of Katie's magazine, and ask him if be would pay foe the long; story at once and enable the young authoress to seek fresh health and strength in change of air aud seeuce. But of all this nothing was to be said to the pirl her-elf.

'Oh, Bess!' cried Alice, <it will bo such a happy, happy thing to take the crisp mailing nates to her, and say : ' See, you have earned these yourself* stid now we will take you away ——*~.' But hero the child's voice broke, and a sob finished the sentence.

Under the pretext ot a shopping expej; tion to the wonderful city shops travelers 3et out, Bessie lingering fa a last by Katie's side, as though she hardli: liked to leave her for so long a time. ' ' Isn't it odd how quick my brM comes to-day, even if I mo?e ever « ■ little?'said Katie, suddenly, about h hour after Bessie and Mrs. Lushing^ had set out on their journey. ' Alice looked up hurriedly f roai v work.

/ It is only weakness, my dear,' shestE with an il-coucealed treraour in her vckl 1 Let me get you some of that soup {| doctor's sister sent.

So the coup was ordered, and takes but still Katie looked strangely W^ and fche dark ghaddows round her eve! darker and more extended than us\i£ She had crawled down-stairs toward ooon as was her daily custom

taken up her pkco ®n the horsehair sol by thy window, while Alice, basil? engaged m tuning a well-wornginaenj in the !:opc of persuading it to-. '* like new, sat opposite. ' I think I shall go up stairs again au< he down in my room,' said Katie. <H bed is more comfortable than this sofa and she smiled at the notion of its gene* slipperineas and deformity. But insteed of going up stairs at one tne blind girl felt her way across theroo (a task custom had made easy) and tl stood beside her sister, passing a lovii hand over the auburn locks that were fair an adornment to their possessor, 'Sissy,' she said, fulling into the'fo old name of nursery days. 'I often he people say how pretty you are, dear; makes me wish I could see you.' in a moment Sissy's work was flu down, and her arms were about the seat speaker, ' Oh, I wish you could!—l .wish y could I Oh, Katie, it seems so hard!' ' Hush, hush !- replied the poor chl ' I could not lovo you more.' Then i stopped and turning to the blaze of n shine that streamed into the little too stretched out nor arms towards it, aj she loved its full warm life. 'Doji * remember what you read to me lasting! —'Christ shall yive thee light'—'Chr shall give thee light," she repeated aga softly, yet with intense passion and pat! in her voice. 'Oh, Sissy, I don't ij you can tell what those words mean! me !' Then she let Alice help hers stairs, and promised to lie still until Bel came. And Alice went down and tried toj| on with her work ; but it was about if for the travelers to be home, and shei too much excited io settle to anything ' I can't work/ she said to herself, '[1. I know what has happened. Oh, iff. editor tvou'fc help our darling how I sl^ hate him !'

At that moment the door bell gavei usual forlorn cracked tinkle, and Best beaming, glowing, full of such, joj I caused her eyos to shine with a tea gladness, came—no, rushed into I room.

' See !' she cried, holding up an enwi before Sissy's delighted eyes, 'it'l: here!—enough, and more thaaenol: to give oar darling health and steel attain. We will not lose a day—we I go to morrow. Oh, Alice Ihe Wi dear, and kind and good !' Alice kissed her in a perfect tuffi rejoicing and then hugged Mrs. Las! j-,; ton too

But it was Phil who held Bessie's close in his. and looked into her gW with eyes that reflected the joy andf ness of hor own; for he had (oddly ens mot them on the doorstep, and been tin to hear the happy tidings of their suf Together the sisters hurried up si The joyful news should not be keptfe moment now. Oh, to see her dear lighten with the happiness of it all! Katie's room the window was set| open, and the summer sun was sli| hotly in. Katio lay upon the bed! tliiu cheeks pillowed on her hand,!* silken hair straying over the pillow, H ' She is' asleep,' said Bessie tenfc ' "We must wait to tell our news.!: down the blind, Sissy ; the sun gro' strong at this time of day, and it ' wake her.' Then she bent loviflglj ; the sleeping figure. Another moment, and a terrible us I cry rung through the house—acjTjl brought Mrs. Lushiugton and Piiil# ing up the stairs. ■■ G-od'shand had Lushed Katie tof and the sunshine could not waie| The 'Blind Spinner' was blindaoi.. and the eyes that had been siglitil earth now gazed upon the Heav'enlm in all his ber.xity.—[> Capell's Magaif

A Tuikbii friorid sty*the out-aeescofflnfeji Bashi-Bazcmks *r« muehesig-grtiatcd. 'tyim tend for a laomnaV ha says 'that they &<s"£' the Christian-:, but the pieces ate not nealj'S? as is currently reported.' ' Th" jury acquits the prisoner" Sho ifi | girl, a,ud liarl bjaa anoiisod of liwiQg P*1 j employers, and the judge fcelis nor thitita*: |. go.;and then a-'d? .'/■ want a cook, mygiurfl f. but Doverthelo3s, I m say that ir. wili'ii»dlf» I j your wh'.l" to anp'.y far tho i>jucj ewu wilt' i diet by way of reference.' Th-> injured htubaati is scateS, avHU ps^J in his oyos, al^ ;> taiiie >-n which is apse?*'* 11-i turm to Ms jriov. Had in » hosts-' voioe,says: 'Itw dcevifut — drtaainL m deceivea me; I wiii bill b e j t' I'he fricndW' softly on his shouldu ,»•)■'inn'rmewio,»# : Hush ! Jb: calm !< Did I kill mine ?' •But/said o;ie aions woman to anottpS j manage ;o fulfill your >eli-j!ousduti«sat§:s ■Versailles it was so mush nicre peaceful 'Ohthw makes very iiltU difference; ISi sm»!l ojf.foaslona hl-ra ; IstiiUteep* i^ti frsri'MP- at V.-.:-S-nl!lBfi ' _^JB

Priutfid and irubhvheu by tlw Propi"** B*rtt. of I'arnell, at hia general W Office, AV'ymihaai-streot In the CWy«' New Zealand : - Saturday, Bfovetubcr 25, 0\

EVENING STAR SUPPLEMENT, NOVEMBER 25, 1870.