Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-07-30

house, he said to his sister Anna, WI
. was with him
"How shockingly poor Mary is lool
ing /"
"Shockingly! Why expected 20
would say she was so pretty
"Pretty! My dear Anna, the roses o
your checks are worth all the beauty tina
is left in her pale face. What have the
done to her: When you were children
she was round, robust little thing, AM
SO strong and cheerful you would hear he
voice half a mile ringing like bell; an
now it's-'Hark from the tomb q dolefu
soundy When last saw her-let me Sc
-four years ago-she was-not perhap
a Hebe-but wholesome looking girl"
"Julius What an expression !"
-"Well, my dear, it conveys my mean
ing, and therefore is a good expression
What has been the matter? Has she hat
fever !? Is she discased!"
Julius! No! is that the way the wcs
tern people talk about young ladies? MARY
is in poor health, rather delicate; but sh'
does not look so different from the rest O
our girls-I, you know, am an exception
"Thank Heaven you are, my dear An
ma; and thank our dear, sensible mother
who understands the means of health"
"But Mary's mother is q very sensible
woman, too"
"Not in her treatment of Mary, I an
sure. Tell me how she lives. What La;
SIZE been about since l was here?p
"Why, soon after you went away you
know l wrote to you that she had gone to
the school You know her parents
are willing to do everything for her-and
Mary was very ambitious. They are hard
students at the school. Mary told me she
studied from eight to ten hours day.
She always got sick before examination,
and had to send home for lots of pills l
remember Marvel at once sending her four
boxes of Brandreth's S at time. But she
took the first honors. At the end Of the
first term she came home, looking as you
say, as if she had fever"
"And they sent her back p
"Why, yes, certainly-term after term
for two years. You know Mary was
always persevering, and SO was her moth
or. And now they have their reward.
There is not girl anywhere who surpasses
Mary in scholarship"
"Truly, they have their reward-infat-
uated people! !" murmured Hazen. "Have
they taken any measures to restore her
health, Anna ?"
"Oh, yes. Mrs. Marvel does not per-
NIT her to do any hard work. She does
not even let her sweep her own room !;
they keep domestic, you know; and last
winter she had an air-tight stove in her
room, and it was constantly warm, day
and night. The draft was opened early;
and Mrs Marvel let Mary remain in bed
as long as she pleased and feeling weak
she seldom was inclined to rise before nine
or ten."
"Go cn, Anna. What other sanitary
were pursued ?"
"Just such as We all take when we are
ill-shc doctors if she is more unwell than
usual and she rides out almost every
pleasant day. There is nothing they
wont to DO for her. There is no kind of
pie or cake, swectmeat or custard, that
Mrs. Marvel does not make to tempt her
appetite. If she wants togo to 'the plain
Nr. Marvel harnesses and drives over.
on know father would think it ridiculous
o do it for me"
"Worse than ridiculous, Anna what
locs the girl do? How does she amuse
lcrself 2"
81 do believe, Julius, you are interested
n Mary Marvel!'
dam. was always curious as to the
liffercnt modes Of suicide people adopted.
las she any occupation and pleasure7"
80, yes she reads for ever, and studies;
he is studying German now"
"Poor Mary"
"What in the world makes you pity
lary, Julius ?"
"Because, Anna, she had been deprived
natures best gift-defrauded of her in
eritance; a sound constitution, from
active parents. One may have
II the gifts, graces, charms and accom-
lishments under heaven, and if they
ave not health, of what use or enjoyment
re they? If that little frail body of
larry -Marvel's contained all that have
it would be just the reverse
Pandora's box-having every good, but
ne curse that affected all"
"Dear julius, can not bear to hear
ou talk 50 of Mary. l expected you
--~L TT