The literary echo. (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1851, 1851-07-24

and discriminate reading-s cultivation SC
far beyond what mere school-training can
bestow-she had none of what are termed
Accomplishments" Not that talents
we're wanting which might have been devel.
oped, but from the time of their fathers
death, which happened when she was but
twelve years old, their income had been
limited. 1t took necessarily a large sum
to support Fred at the expensive university
to which he had been sent, and when hel
mother proposed to Alice to attend to the
ornamental branches" she had always
refused, with the plea that she could moi
become proficient, and that the money
could not be spared from dear Fred.
But for all that, Alice had an exquisite
ear for melody, and sweet, though no
powerful voice, and her brother had IN III
than once since his return home, as he
heard her trilling some light air, praised
her soft tones, and wondered she had new
er learned music. And now in truth she
mourned that she had neglected to acquire
what would have been so powerful home.
attraction for her music-loving brother
and as she thought ofthe hours which woulo
give him so great happin ess if spent in his
favorite recreation, she wondered If 1t were
not possible for her to acquire something
of the art. She recollected that her broth,
cr admired the guitar, and thought it
peculiarly y sweet accompaniment t" te-
male voice, and she had some trihing knowl
edge of this, caught from school-friend
1t was but few days previous, that this
very friend, half-spoiled only daughter
had been telling her how weary she hac
grown of her guitar, and that she had mo-
touched it for months, and into Alley.
hopeful little brain came the thought tc
borrow this of her friend, and enjoinine
her to secrecy, contrive to take lessons anc
surprise Fred. She felt sure that hel
warm-hearted friend would be more thar
happy to oblige her-then confding to hel
mother that she was going to learn mus C
as pleasant surprise to her brother, she
would diligently practise every hour and
moment that she could secure when he was
away-and when she had progressed sufi.
ciently to play to him, how happy he would
be in her companionship, and how much
he would aid her by his sympathy and ad-
vice !
There was so much excitement in these
thoughts, that it was not until Alice sal
quietly down by her mothers side in the
afternoon, that she felt in her throbbins
brow and heavy eyes the effect of las
nights sorrow and sleeplessnoss, and there
crept into her heart that dreariness that
will come sometimes, when we have sorrow
and illness together. But she rallied a.
night came on, and when Fred entered
pale and dull and weary, she met him with
cheerfulness which he little thought cos
her so much effort to attain.
He had had most wearisome day of it
he said, and in truth it was so. He hac
felt it his duty to see his friend Hawley off
which had consumed more time than he
supposed, and had driven the business Of
the day into few hours, so that he hac
been intensely occupied until he left hi:
office at six o'clock Alice saw that hC
would surely stay at home that night, anG
when he stretched himself YEARLY upon the
sofa after tea, she asked rather timidly i
she should read to him. 1t was new
proposition for her, for though she hat
been in the habit of reading to her mother
she had never done 50 before him, anc
she felt a painful consciousness o
Fred's critical taste But her brother was
evidently pleased, and particularly 50 whcr