The Argosy — page 340: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Guide from Dreamland, BIG) and one could see the cosy gaslight shining through red globes; one could distinguish, too, the heavy red curtains which hung in sombre draperies on either side. Handsome pictures in broad, gilt frames hung on the walls, and large marble busts ornamented the many costly brackets. Somehow Daisy thought this the nicest house of all. Suddenly the sound of carriage-wheels roused her from her con- templation, and she saw a handsome brougham, drawn by two prancing greys, dash up to the house and stop in front of it. A footman sprang down and, opening the door, helped a lady to get out. The lamplight shone on her face, and Daisy could see how pretty and good and kind she looked. She wore no gay ball-dress, but long, sombre, artistic folds of velvet fell round her majestic figure and made it look more queenly still. Suddenly Daisy felt her companion seize her by the arm and draw her towards the lady. At the sound of footsteps the latter turned and saw the little girlk For a moment she stood still and looked at her; then she cried: “Oh! what a darling child! What eyes! Just the thing I wanted! Come with me!” And before she had time to think, she was within the gate, the lady holding her hand. She looked behind to see if her old friend was following, when she regretfully saw him getting dimmer and dimmer, till he faded at last into air and disappeared. And while she stood spell-bound, wondering at this strange sight, the lady’s hold on her fingers relaxed, she seemed to feel herself sinking, sinking, sinking! She gave a cry and shut her eyes. When she opened them again she was sitting in her old corner on the bridge, alone and friendless! The sunset glow had disappeared from the sky; the night had fallen ; thousands of lights shone in the great city, and only in the child’s heart was darkness. Oh, why had Heaven sent her that happy dream, to make her home seem all the more miserable when she should have to go toit? She looked around, half-expecting to see that strange old friend, but she saw only indifferent faces passing on till they were lost to view. Only a dream! A _ beautiful, enchanting, deceitful dream! Poor Daisy ! poor little forsaken flower ! ) “IT must go home,” she said half aloud to herself. And the thought of ¢za¢ home. was like gall to her, since she had seen, if only in imagination, what some homes were like. Ah! how unjust, she thought, that some people should be so rich and happy, while others had only misery and poverty all around them! Daisy, Daisy! you have still to learn that not riches alone give contentment, and that many a brocaded bodice hides an aching heart ! Turning round, she looked down the bridge. Straight in front of her lay the very road through which she had passed first in her dream! She must have often seen it before, but it had never struck COnNICOOOKS.E©