Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-01-20

wards whom size had permitted herself 10 in.
dulgc unkind lcelings-and these, too, with.
out any real cause. At first, her heart note
her severely, as she remcmhc cd how often
she had wanlonly thrust AT her feelings, and
how often she had rdiculcd her appearance
and peculiarliies of dress and manner; but
as she gained strength to perceive more and
more narrowly. and to feel the armth of a
pure heart going out unsclfshIy towards her
that emotion gave way to one of affection.
When Martha Wild had so far recovered
as to he able to sit up in bed little, and to
feel an interest in what was gong on around
her, Ann wonld come to her room after her
rectations in school, and read interesting
books to her. and in other ways exert herself
to bcgiiiln the tedious hours. Oilers we're
now ready to JON in rendering the time less
wearsome to Martha ; but no face was so
welcome, no voice so pleasant, as that of Ann
Stacy. She seemed no longer plain ip her
features; no longer singular in her ! pear-
ance, no longer ungcnrcl in her manners.
You have been viii! he sick before, have
you not, Amt" she said TO her one day,
after she had beguiled an hour for her with
some ingenious device.
go! yes; for mon,hs-I might say for
years." replied the gentle girl, looking up
with an expression of interest into Martha
face, while her eyes became dimnNd with
tears. have been familiar with sickness
since my earliest recollection. When little
girl l cannot remember how long, how very
long my mother kept her toom, and then her
bed before she was taken away. Only few
years passed after that before my elder and
only sister dropped about for time with the
same. fatal, lingering disease with which our
mother died, and then she was shut M in "A
room, and | became her nurse. For two
years was with her night and day. 1t is
now only few months since we were sepa-
rated, and her body buried out Of my sight
forever"
The voice Of the Young girl had .remblcd
as She told briefly the sad history of her be-
rcavencnis. When she alluded to the re-
cent death nt her sister feelings 0vcrcamc her
and she gave way to Il eush of tears. Re-
covering herself soon, will, an effort, she sail,
~ cannot tell how much felt drawn to.
wards you, Martha, the moment ! saw you.
You are the very image of ,la only sister OF
whom have usl spoken Often and often,
since You have been sick, have bent over
yon, and gazed and gazcd upon your pale
face, scarcel; able to convince myself that
you were not really that dearly loved and
lost c:,c."
! Then it is because resembled your sis
ter so much that you have been 10 me SO
kind a nurse?''
"That may have influenced me some, but
! trust not entirely. To those who need the
attentions of friend, whether in sickness or
in health, we should ever be ready 10 offer
those attentions"
And young as you arc, Ann, you are
learning TO act from such unscfsh princi-
plies " Masila said, in tone Of surprise
and admiration.
That dear sister, who so much rescm-
bled you" replied Ann, looking in the face
Of the invalid, ''taueht me from my earliest
years to regard others; to think of their
comfort and happiness even more than my
own. And those lessons, enforced by her
steady example, can never forget"
Wonld that | were like her in shirt MS
well as in features was the frrvrnt half
solilnquzing ejaculation of Martha Wild.
| When she went out from that sick CHAM
her, she went out a changed girl. She saw
with new eyes, and estimated others bv ii
new and higher standard of estimation. FoI
Ann Stacy she ever after entertained the
warmcst affection.