Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-03-07
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From Holden's Dollar Magazine.
CONTENT AND Discomfort.
BY MRS. E. s. LEGGETT.

HETrY aud SUSAN LEYToN were as DIFF
ferent IN their dispositions a. they were in
appearance; the one had a clear, rosy com
pIexion, laughing eye, and joyous express
sion, with which the fjiiuess of a round fig
ure aud n.mhie step well accorded, while
the other had a slruuken, tall, straight
body, with IN lips, dull, grey eyes, and
naturally no smile at all, unless Il painful
distortion Of one SIDE of her mouth, when
an unfortunate occurrence in housewifery
was dweit upon, mig >, be so Interpreted
] never saw her run; but she would walk
around the house as though there was death
ia 1t. Even hen they were children, Iiet-
ty would always come bounding into The
door, with her apron fall of fruit or flowers,
and her dress all III tatierS from the eXerlIon
to gather them, while Susan would follow
her demurely, with no evidence OF the hap
piness aud delight which beamed in every
every expression of her sisters face and
every word she btcathed. 1t was not that
Susan was cross either, bat Il continual
discomfort seemed To hang upon every thing
she said or did. Ii 1t raIned, "t was To
disappoint her." il the birds sung, every
thing, even the birds, were happier than
she" Of course We loved Hetty-how
could we help loving her bestl Even her
cake tasted sweeter than Susan's, if it was
browner; for il seemed as if the song with
which she sat gaiiy at work was in cur ear,
and we could always hear 1t when we touch
ed or eat any thing OF hers; while, If it was
Susan's turn, 1--WE used to take turn IN those
days in housekeeplng,) she would sigh at
breakfast time for fear she would miss her
luck in baking, and if by chance she did,
she would NOPE about until the next bak-
inp-day came TO redeem her credit, but
Hetty would say, "dont fretty Susy; if it
is little heavy, it will last longer" thus
did the little annoyances of life embtter
every day of it, 1t would read any one a
lesson to see the two girls. With one the
gentle streams, which might have beautifed
the flowers, ever ready TO spring upon its
banks. were checked in their course and
turned TO fall over rocks and III muddy cur
rents, while the other was a song of glad
ness in its silver ripping, paused now in
CLASSY rings of playfnness, and dashing its
tiny spray upon the sweet flowers winch
grew hourly in Hetty Layton's bosom; as
it is said that a. the boy is father of the
man." so we're the dispositions which were
roofing themselves about the growth OF the
minds of them, to be the cloud or lis silver
lining in all their future lives.
In visiting the sick, ia sacred duty with
them both, their natural characteristics
were felt. There was in the neighborhood
a Young creature, who was lingering for
months at the edge of life, and the voice of
comfort was always SO welcome, as Ii
would seem when Hetty came to her with
her basket of nice fruit ard few flowers,
and brought pictures, and would sit by her
chair, with her white hand laid IN hers;
the invalid would smile, and her langud
eve would brighten to the cheeffulness OF
the kind creature beside her aud hope
would seem TO be by her in those short
sons; and tie mother of the sick girl would
follow Hetty to the ltile gate, and beg her
To come again, for her visits &" did Mary SO
much good :" but when Susan came she
never brought flowers, aud would SIT at a
distance and ask the attendant If she failed
fast, and dwelt upon her alarming s,mp-
toms, aud relate other cases OF like nature
and Increased suffering as the disease adj
vanced, until oi;ines faint hysterlcai
sob would come from tie low couch, and
turn Mary had while she was with her"
Well, the girls grew up TO be young wo-
men. and the toes Of one would ache, while |
punched up in tight shoe, SO Intolerabiy !
that her whole frame seemed TO partake OF
the agony; and Heuy, although her foot
was larger in Its proportions, danced and
tripped upon the green with all the light
graceiulness of enjoyment, as her pleased
counlenacce would seem TO say, the
world and every body in it owes me my
share of happiness-why shall not claim
ii p If the old fiddler forgot TO come"
or the string of his violin snapped, and
there was none other, you would always
hear her voice in time, making music for
Sic little companies in the neighborhood,
shocking greatly her sisters propriety, who
&ould exclaim against her making herself
- common, and Transforming her sweet
- into something more like the great
llnies in the garden; and besides, she