The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-06-06

"You ought to tell me-" replied the lady
"You know, of course, the pretty Italian poem
with the playhouse name"
"Do you mean Dante's Dirine Comedy,
| ma'am?"
Eyes, that Is ia very pretty poems it
not 2"
SIT is considered a very fine poem, ma'am.' y
"Yes, pretty or fine-that's what Mr. Robert
Smith called it, though think, if It's come
dy, it shouldn't be called Dirine."
Lucy assured the lady that the Dirina Com
media was not a play In five acts, with sta
directions, but rather religious poem.
81 understand your meaning" said her en-
ployer, something like Milton, suppose. /
have heard Mr.. Robert Smith remark-his re-
marks are so to the purpose-that Milton was
tragedy, quite. You will understand that
YOU are to teach Priscilla Italian. And about
not to increase them, as he really can't afford
it."
"Maam," said Lucy, astonished.
"If you object, of course, we must get an
other responsible person, who will include 1tal-
ian for the amount of your presenSealary."
Lucys mother was failing in health. Need
we say that she was too happy to teach Italian
without remuneration, under the circumstan-
ces. On the same morning Mrs. Robert Smith
dismissed her cook, who Numbered at pale
de fore gras, and hired another at greatly en-
larged wages.
The widow Hinchlitf was only failing in health,
but she was nearer death than Lucy had any
idea of. When the poor girl returned home
that cvenng-she went to SIX houses first, aud
walked distance of seventeen miles-she
found that her parent had been obliged to re-
tire to bed The servant, alarmed at her mis-
tress' condition, had called in a neighbor, who
only waited for Lucy's return to urge the
propriety of sending for a doctor. Lucy not
only assented, but ran herself to fetch one.
Il can give you no hope" he said and she felt
that blight had, indeed, passed over her
Young life When one that we dearly love is
stricken down to die, we look out upon the
world as if we had no longer hope, or part, OF
any lot therein.
She had to practice the quadrilles that night,
on her hired piano. in fulflment of the prom
ise to Mrs. Robert Smith. Her mother had
fallen into one of those doing, restless slum-
bcrs, peculiar TO state of sickness, and the
thought of waking the notes of the gay quad
| rlltC music III tHC uOuSC vi huOoC SniOit;
even at that moment, Death, the destroyer,
stood, shocked Lucy's feelings. No, she could
not do Mat, let Mrs. Robert Smith say what
she pleased.
She sat through the longest night she had
| ever known-for tho heart measures the hours
not the clock-a watcher by her mothers
bed When the glad sunlight came gushing
in at the easement, and lark alter lark poured
forth his jubilant thanksgiving for his sleep in
the dewy grass, she undressed herself, and
went to her own chamber, leaving the servant
to supply her place. There was no visible al
iteration in her parent when, with many fears
and with one of the saddest hearts that ever
beat in human bosom, she left the cottage up
on her constant, diurnal mission. She was late,
and had to walk hurriedly. 1t rained, too, and
the water soaked through the leaky shoes.
She had no smile for the toll gate keeper. He
saw that she was sad, and contentcd himself
with touch of the hat, by way of recognition.
He was sad too, for the scalded child had died
during the night. "Best not to tell her now,
he thought ''she has her own trouble this
morning" God help her. She had indeed
"You are full ten minutes behind your time,
Miss Hinchliff. never had you staying ten
minutes over your time," was Mrs. Robert
Smiths salutation.
81 am very sorry, ma'am-but / left my
mother at home, very ill-dying, ma'am, the
doctor says" replied Lucy, bursting into tears
"Dying-dear me. Ofcourse you feel very
much put out but punctuality, Mr.. Robert
Smith says, is the soul of an engagement-and
YOU have character TO keep up-but as you
are come, you can set Priscilla's mind at case;
she is dying to play the quadrilles, and to be-
gin her Italian"
IL was unable to run them through last
night ma'am," stammcred Lucy, ''my mother
was so ill.,
"Then you are not ready with those quad
rifles again, Miss Hinchliff," exclaimed Mrs
Robert Smith ''really, at your age, a young
woman should know the value of her prom
| ise.'
81 could not disturb my mother" said Lu-
cy, aPpcalingly.
"Of course, / take ali that into cousidera-
ton" replied her employer. "But you, as a
responsible person, should know the value OF
a promise. However, | will excuse you since
YOUR mother is dying-only don't let it hap
pen again. You will commence Priscilla's l.
Italian this morning, of course"
| II have been so unfortunate as to forget my
own grammar, but if Priscilla is provided
with one-
s.Her father says that he cannot afford any
| Italian bookseller French ones came so ex-
pensive. He thought you could have no OBJ
lection to lend her yours"
What could Lucy say, but that her books
were at Priscilla's service?
| Her mother was worse that evening, and
had been, as the neighbor said, dclirious du-
ring her absence. Lucy asked herself wheth-
er She should practice the quadrilles She
was not long in deciding. Though they should
20 without bread, she would not forget her du-
ty as daughter. Her place was at her moth
er's bedside.
That day Mr.. Robert Smith paid visit to
a friend, whose governess not only taught lta-
ian for the same salary that was paid to Lucy
Hinchlif, but also professed to include Span
ish. When Lucy was admitted the next morn
ing, the lady placed a small sum OF money in
her hand. aud informed her that domestic ar