Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-10-03
The Kings Shilling.

Little Fanny was a merry laughing-eved
lassle OF some eight or nine years old, whose
childish figure was well known as the town
clock in the populous streets Of tine market
town where she dwelt, ond her clear gladsonc
voice as recognizable as the tones of the church
bell.
And, as she was well known, 80 wa she
well loved and esteemed. No maiden of her
years could have more friends than had FANNY
From that awful dignltary the bcadle, who was
wont to give her patronIzing pulls of the hair
whenever she came in his way, down to the
surly nostiif which kept guard over Daniel
Wrght's timber yard, and always wagged his
tail at the little girls approach, and wrigglcd
his large body about in a manner W Ich was,
though sufficiently expressive of his satisfac-
ton, vastly undignied for an animal of his
size, years, and condition; from the highest to
the lowest, everybody and everything liked
Fanny.
Perhaps she had so many friends, because
she was utterly destitute Of natural protectors
She was not exactly a founding, but approach
ed very nearly to that condition. Seven wears
before, poor and sickly woman, with young
child IN her arms, came to Bridge End, and
and took up her abode in room in one of its
humblest cottages. She contrived to earn a
on her way to her employers, she fell down in
fit, and was carried home By two stout work
men from the timber yard. One of these men
brought his wife to see her, and tend her, but
all was in vain,-two days afterwards she died.
blessing her new friends with her last breath,
because they promised to protect and cherish
her child.
SO little Fanny became one Of the already
numerous family of John nd Nancy Bright
well, sharing alike with the seven bouncing
boys and rosy girls bread and butter as well as
chastlsements. But, truth to tell the latter fell
least frequently to Fanny's portion, for she was
a good and obcdlcnt child, and as Nancy often
observed to her nclghbors, was real treasure
TO her adopted parents. She carried John
Bnghtwells dinner to the tlnberyard far more
carefully than either Jane or Ellen did. and
she already sewcd SO neatly, that
Nancy actually entrusted to her the greater
portion OF the manufacture Of her husbands
new shirts.
Nhat was very wonderful too although held !
up as model to the before named Jane and .
Ellen, Fanny was regarded with affection by
both OF them. But, after all, there was no
marvel in this;-rhe little girl was SO cheerful,
so IoVlAg, SO willing to perform little services.
above all. so unselish. There was the secret.
We all love those most who love themselves
least.
Nothing more was known of Fanny's oripip
than | have related. Her mother had said
nothing Of her relatives or friends. and there
were no letters or papers that could lead to
any discovery as to who or what she was. All
that was lett at Mrs. Rushbrooks death. was
contained IN little deal box Some few ar
ticles of clothing and two or three books. all
of which were preserved with religious care
by the good Nancy; For who knows" she
was wont 10 say, but what they may hclp to
find Funnys relations, some day." Besides .
this, there was small gold locket, which the
dying mother took from her own neck. and
placed around her chiId's begging her future
protectors to let her wear 1t always; there
were two locks of hair in it, one dark-brown
like Mrs. Rushbrook's the other of a golden
color. This little ornament, attached to a
black ribband, was always perceivable round
Fanny's neck.
Thus, there was a considerable proportion
of romance attached to the little malden's his
tory but IN as much as the good people Of
are not addicted to poetry and
novel reading, but are as matter of fact a race
as shall be found in the three kingdoms, this
circumstance did not tend to Fanny's popular
ty among them. At first, indeed, they shook
heir heads, and deprecated the false charity
Of the Brightwell's, in taxing into their family
the child of woman they knew nothing of;
he infant had far better have been consigned
% the tender mercios of the parish authorities.
irgued these wiseacres,-thc Brghtwells had
/, large family cnoarL of their own, without
adopting stray c.au.cn OF no one knew who
But the kind hearted carpenter and his wife
pursued what they believed to be their duty.
steadily and cheerully, without heading the
emarks OF their ncighbors, "IIcaven won't
suffer us to starve because we have taken pity
IN this desoate infant" they said to each
,ther and, indeed from the time of Fannys
with them, the fortunes of the
Brightwel family gradually improved.
Fanny attained her ninth year, without any
'ery remarkable events chequering her career,
Ilthough, arguing from the romantic stvle of