Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-07-11

that rise in the west on dreary wrter's eNep-
ing seemed to close around her.
! 1t was difficult to throw aside this despair or
rather to conceal it, as she entered her mothers
room; but Mrs. Burton looked up with NJ ami
mated face, for she began to feel how much
Lucy had sacrificed, and was resolved that she
would conquer her foolish aversion to the plan
which promised at least domestic peace. Be-
sides there was good news. DR.. Howard had
place in n counting. house for George with what
was, for n first effort liberal salary, quite e.
nough for his own maintenance, and to pay
Wiles school bills.
Grace was 10 study at home AMI as Lucy sat
that evening with her darling sisters bright
face raised 10 hers in eager inquiry upon the les
son she was industrionsly preparing, and watch
ed the happiness Of George and Willie talking
over some favorable scheme at The window, she
felt repaid for the days annoyance, in the
thought that all these dear ones were secured
the comfort and independence of their own
home.
Yet many cold, dark morning her heart
sank within her, as she mounted the long flight
of stairs to the work-room, and saw those same
dull or impertnent glances that she had shrunk
from al first, watching her entrance. BY and
by, she became to distinguish them AZ art, and
to know who she could turn to for assist
ance or re'~nction that was sometimes nee
cssary in the absence of their director; for
they were not all coarse or lll-natured, and she
soon began to exchange kindly greetings with
many of them as she encountered the laugh
ing, saunterng groupes coming 10 their daily
tasks. When they found that she did not hold
| hersef coldy aloof, they became more Lind
and gentle and though she never gossipped or
/ .;,ht tn har
and show a consideration she had not expected
from them. Mrs. HIPS quick eye soon discov-
cred the influence OF her quiet, industrious ex-
ample in the work-room, and felt how much
she and her apprentices were losing when the
drudrcrv of Lncy's probation was over, and
she resolved to remove her to more conTenial
atmosphere.
The Young girl had never felt theCsame de-
! light and triumph on hearing her magnificent
voice and the execution praised in a crowded
drawinr-reom. as she experienced one morning
in holding up for Mrs. Eili's inspection some
tasteful article of dress she had completed.
"See. Mrs. Hill is not the effect of that trim
ming charming ?" she said. sit just occurred
to me- the idea, and its quite my own
FINISHED neatly, loo," said her good friend
well pleased at the success of her protege, as
she noticed the coor mount to Lucy's face in
her eagerness, "in the most workmanlike stvle.
WHY, we shall have nothing to teach you soon
| Miss Burton
That same afternoon, she joined Lucy on her
walk homewards, and told her that her assist.
ant in the showroom was to be married in
few weeks, and, although there were already
several applicants for the place, she would Of
fer it to her first Of all. The wages "-she
did not even conceal realities under the more
gracious term of I" sal larry -" would be nearly
double those she could Otherwise receive her
duties would be lighter aud more varied"
OF course. you would say she could not hes.
ita,e to accept SO kind an offer.
do not think she did, or that she was un-
grateful TO Mrs Hill for her kindness and vet
i, was a moment or two before she spoke and
then her voice trembcd as she thanked her en-
poyer. But Hurried thoughts passed through
her mind that another ordeal, and one even
more repugnant to her feelings, was about to
commence. Actual contact and association
with those she had once met under what differ.
ent circumstances 1t may be thought weak
ness in one who had already shown so much
resolution but it was sad evening, the more
SO that Willie was smar'ing beneath the taun,
ting words Of schoomate, who had called
him "beggar," in a boysh quarrel, and George
seemed brooding over the hopes that necessity
had compelled him 10 relinqniSh
The path of duty, even when smoothed by
patient self denial, has, alter all, It's harsh and
rugged passes.
1t was only the bursting ont of brgh
fame from the hearth--so slight a ,hng-tha
= restored Lucy to her wontcd cheerfulness.-
And then she thought "llgw very happy
ought to be how very ungra,efuI am =
when so many of these poor girls 60 to COM
forles. homes or lonely lodgings, and here /
mother with her loving face, and Grace's dea
r head upon my knee, and this bright, cheerful
freight dancing upon my books, dear unchanc
ed friends And there is my poor neglecte
guitar" So she rose and threw its dark rl
4 bon across her shoulder. and played livel
o air, that set grace and Willie to dancing, an
!, made poor dependent George forget his me
r ancholy and echo their merry bursts of Iaugl
n ter.
J.. Mrs. Burton had not remained unchange
while all this time was passing. You woul
! scarcely have recognized the pale fearful wild
- ow in the busy contented housekeeper ths
n now not only overlooked her servants duie'
; but shared IN he details of domestic life. Sh
n found a wiling and active assistant in Grace
! who was too young TO be trorbled by the world
e neglect. so that Etfie Howard came !requentl
to see her. After all, it was as happy IA tll
Il household taking every circumstance into cor
,r sderation, as could readily be fonnd and muc
+. more than it could nave been had they Doe
: able to indulge the constant gloomy reco'lecuo
, of the loss of their father, surrounded by ot
NJ iects that would have recalled him every hor
:. in the day, and with no necessity for exerlio
d pressing upon them. II,
Lucy's new duties commenced with IN
6 Spring opening. She had assisted to prepa'
At the beautiful things that were displayed npo
n the various stands in their most tempting llgh
E. ani now her first experience as saleswoma
. was at hand. She glanced about the room'an
n could but remember low often she had enlere
!, it with needless, careless heart, on the errsr
n Of purchaser, paying sums that now seeme
; enormous to her, for the fashion Of day, witt
:. out thought; and how she had been taltere
y and compllmeuted upon her exquisite taste
n that taste which was now made Subservent
! the caprices of others--by her generous lathe
y. or the ad,nring lover, who was never weary
dwelling upon the beauty of his betrolhed'-
= She was startled from her rcvene by the dept
i of A siph which rose frorH hef own heart; an
p kind Mrs Hill understo ID ii all, and placin
. her hand encouagnsly upon Lucy's shoulde
!. as she said