Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-01-01
THE REC0NCILED FATHER.
A Tale of Real Life.
NY MISS SEDGwICK.

81 am going round to Broad street TO in
quire of Ross the glover about little Lucy
Wendall.'
Lucy Wendall who is she?"
''She is pretty little Dutch girl who liv-
ed opposite me in that bit Of a dwelling, that
looks like crack or seam between the two
houses on each side of it. She lived with
her grand parents, natives of this city, and
once proprietor of many lot within it, but
they had been ut-bargained and outwitted
till they were reduced to this little tenement,
, some twenty feet by fifteen. Their only
surviving decendent was my little friend Lu-
cy, a pretty fair-skinncd, iair-haired, blue
eyed girl of most modest quiet engaging de-
meanor. For many months after we moved
to State street, knew nothing OF the family;
but, from such observations as my eye could
take, neatness was the ruling passion of the
household. Their only servant Minerva,
(the goddess Of wisdom should have known
better, used to scrub the house weekly from
garret to cellar; their only carpet was
shook every Saturday; the steps were scour-
ed daily, and never in my life saw the old
woman without busting cloth in her hand.
Such war of determination did she carry on
against the intruding particles, that my friend
f.. used to say, it must be hard to her to think
of returning to dust"
"Lucy had no visitors, no companions;
and of the only indulgence of the old people,
which sitting on the stoop every afternoon,
TO the ancient Dutch custom, she never par
took. She never went out except on Sun
day TO Church, and then, she reminded me
of one of those pretty flowers, that hang on
the cragged, bare stems Of the cactus.
pitied her; her spring of life seemed passing
away so drearily. My pity was misapplied;
and felt it TO be so when looked into her
sweet and serene countenance, and saw there
the impress of that happiness which flows
from duties religiously performed. 1t is a
great matter, Grace, to have your desires
bounded with your station; TO be satisfied
with the quiet unnoticed performance of the
duties Providence has allotted to you, and
not to waste your efforts or strength in seek
- ing to do good, or to obtain pleasue, beyond
our sphere. This is true wisdom and this
was Lucy Wcndal's. At last came to this
obscure family what come 10 al--death and
its changes. The old man and his wife died
within few days of each other, of the in
iluenza, that then ragged in the city. The
me to 60 to the house. She received me
had never exchanged word. there had been
an interchange Of kind looks and friendly
nods-those little humanitcs that bind even
strangers together. On inquiry into her az
fairs, found she was left almost pcnnyless
but discreet and kind friend had procured
place for her in Ross glove factory. Ll,-
cy was skilled in all the art and handIcraft
of the needle. Ross, it seems, is q very
Al 4l,,
mendations of Lucy's friend, he had proms-
:, ed to board her in his family and allow hel
sufficient compensation for her labor.
sin few days she removed to her new
home. 1t was now fifteen months since She
eft orr street. She came once TO tell MI
that she was perfectly satisfied with he
place, and since then have heard nothing
of her. Do not look so reprovingy my lad,
Mentor. I have been intending for SOM
time TO call at Mr.. Rosss TO make inxqirie
about her. My story almost brought lis t.
the shop: "John Ross, glove manufacturer.
This must be the place. Stop one moment
Grace, and look through the window; thi
man no doubt is Mr.. Ross himself. Wha
fine hcad You might know such ma
would succeed in the world, let his Ice
where it would. He would have made & res
olute general, safe statesman; but he is a
honest thriving glover; and that, perhaps,
J Just as well; nothing truer than the trite ol
couplet
"IIonor and fame from no condition rise,
Act well your part, there all the honor lies"
''Thc old man looked as though he migt
be a little tyrannical though. Heaven graz
that poor Lucy may not have suffered froi
that trait in his physiognomy.
"The only customer is coming out, no.
we have clear field, let us 60 in.
"Mr. Ross, believe.
"The same, ma a'am."
81 came, Mr.. Ross, toinqurc after your
woman who came to live with you last Chris
mas"
II have had a great many young womc
living with me, ma'am."
The old mans humor requires me to
explicit "Her name, Mr.. Ross, was LuC
Wendall."
- .sAh, Lucy Wendall did come into the ia
tory abotu that time"
There was an expression in his face at Il
mention of her name, that might betide goo
and it might betide evil of Lucy.
II merely wished TO know Mr.. Ros
whether Lucy had given satisfaction, whet
er she still remains with you.
"Were you a friend to Lucy Wenda
ma a'am?"
Il should think it an honor to call mys
so, but could hardly claim the name. S
was my neighbor, and interested me by h
correct department, and uncommon dutyfi
ness to her old parents"
Ross made no reply, but fumbled oy
some gloves that were then on the count
ihGn tied up the bundle and laid it on
shelf
You seem, Mr.. Ross, not disposed to {