Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-05-03

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for her soul was too clear and strong for
despair.
Her uncle, John Maynard received the
orphan kindly aud both he and his wife
employed all kind and gentle attentions 10
render her happy. And she was happy
happy to repay their kindness, in some
measure, by her care for their young chill
dren. If, when busy with memories Of her
dear aunt Esther, and the days of her child
hood and early youth, thought, wandering
to Charles Stanton, would sometimes cause
the work to drop from her hand, and the
tears to fill her eyes she was not unhappy,
but fervently thanked God that the bright
beams of his mercy still rested on her path
She had resided with her uncle about year
when sudden reverses reduced him from
comparative afluence to poverty. But John
Maynard was not of a disposition 10 sit
down in despair without an effort, or appeal
to the sympathy of others, or complain Of
fate Nor did his family hang upon him
like milestone. With sunny faces and
cheerful hearts, from the oldest down to
wee Jamie, the youngest each felt strong to
aid in retrieving their fathers fallen fortunes.
Lucy, unwilling to remain dependent on her
friends in this change of circumstances, en-
treated permission to leave them and learn
some trade, by which she might gain a
livelihood. But her gentle manners and
kind heart had won their warmcst affection.
They were not willing to part with her, and
gladly would have persuaded her 10 share
their humble fortunes in the western world
to which they had decided to remove. But
Lucy, aware of the rigid economy they
would be compelled TO practice, persisted
in her entreaties until at last they consented,
and procured her situation with Mrs. Shir-
ley, the most fashionable milliner in s..
And now poor Lucy Is indeed left alone,
wearing away her life as a milliner's appren-
tice, with not one kind familiar face near
her Every day she must devote the
usual number of hours to her trade; and
besides this, like many poor girl under
similar circumstances, she must work for
her board, and this is her position in lawyer
Benson's family Mrs. Benson was very
willing to give her board for her services
when she was not in the shop, as it saved
the expense Of one servant She was con-
summale mistress of the art of getting the
greatest possible amount of work out of all
|
serve her. Poor Lucy bitterly felt the diff
ference between the kindness of her relatives
env' benstnls. accomplishing, manners OF
tered to the wants of the thoughtless, though
really not unkind Julia With unwearied
diligence she performed all those duties Of
the household which it pleased Mrs. Benson
to term "chores :" and many poor girl
will bear witness to our truth when we say
that these ''chores' include much of the
heaviest and most laborous portion of the
housework.
Nor was this all. Mrs Benson had one
child, son, many years younger than Julia,
who was afflicted with disease of the spine,
and to whom Lucy's sweet voice and win
ming manners were peculiarly attractive
An invalid almost from his birth, Edward
was peevsh and fretful but his eye always
Frightened when he heard her step on the
stairs that led to his room, as, weary with
the abors Of the day, she came to bring his
supper and prepare his drink for the night
Lucy soon began TO feel that even here was
something to love and when her mistress
reminded her. as she not unirequently did
of her dependent situation, and talked oil
her great benevoence in keeping her merely
for "doing a few chores" though her heart
swelled and her eyes filled, she felt that
there was one whose joyless childhood was
rendered brighter and happier by her ex
istence, and her heart grew strong. Yet
Lucy was not without her moments Olive
were about to say unaoyed happiness
The apprentice girl had not forgotten the
lessons of the old pastor and it was Joy
FIJI Co. bae co. bo L.
"chore" of the day was done, her mistres.
babe her go and sit by Edward until he
fell asleep. Then, though the boy would
: sometimes insist on having the story of little
Red Ridinghood related twice over, and be
more than usually anxious to know how 1
wolf could talk-yet he was usually reasona
BILE, and many sweet hours did Lucy spend
with her books, with which, thanks tC
Caroline Hawley and her father, she was
well upplied-storing her mind with rcf
lessons, freely communing with the mobiles
and best of earth.
One morning, as Lucy was removing
the breakfast things from the table, Mrs
+ Benson and Julia were discussing brilliant
party which they had attended, the evening
previous, at the house of Squire Lee,
rival attorney.
"Was there ever anything equal to the
pride and vanity of the Leesl" exclaimed
, Mrs Benson. "Their French china !
Nothing but ear,hen, dare say"
"But, ma, their desert service is really
silver. heard Mrs Seward say SO"
"Yes child, as | said before, there i
} nothing like their extravaganza. But Mrs
{ Lee, with all her silver plate, will never b.
anything more than Fanny Daggett, tn
dress maker She retains even now tn
y habit of feeling for her scissors while talk