Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-03-05
4" Our Hatty."
BY FANNY FERN.


here what a fright you are, Hatty!" till the poor
sensitive child almost felt as if she had the mark
of Cain upon her forehead. She had brothers
and sisters, but they were bright, and saucy, and
bold, and cunning; and when they wished to carry
out favorite scheme, could throw their about
the parental neck fatter some weak side, carry
the day, and then laugh at their juvenile foresight
so their Golfers were always filled, while poor Hat
tvs was empty, and she laid all these things up
in her little grieved heart, and as she saw dupci-
ty better rewarded than sincerity, began to have
little infde doubts whether the Bible that her faith
er read out of was really true; while Joseph's
''coat of many colors'' Haunted ever before her
fearful eyes. All her sweet childish impulses were
checked and crushed; and where the sweet flow
ers of love and confidence should have sprung up,
the weeds of distrust and suspicion took bitter
root
She took no part in the conversation of the do
nestle circle. "She was stupid they told
her. and she had heard it till she believed it true
Sometimes, as often the case, some talented
person made part of the family circle; Hatty would
listen in her corner, till her great wild eyes gowed
and burned like living Goals of fire. But there
was spot where none disputed Hatty's right to
reign little lonely room at the top of the house
that she had fitted up in her own wild way, and
where she was free from reproof or intrusion.
You should have seen her there with her little
yearning heart half broken by neglect doubtful of
her own powers, and weeping such passionate tears
that she $50 stupid and ugly, and disagree
able" that nobody could ever love her And so
she made friends with the holy stars and the teecy
clouds, and the brilliant rainbow, the silver moon
beam and the swift lightning; and an artistic eye,
to have her soullit face at that small window,
might have fancied her some Italian Improvisat
rice There, the letters fell off, the soul free,
and the countenance mirrored it fourth. Back in
the family circle she was again Our Ratty."
"That young daughter of yours differs very
much from the rest of the family, Mr.. Lee said
a maiden lady who was visiting there.
eyes, yes' said the old man with shrug
'she don't look much like Lee; in fact she's very
plain. She's strange, unaccountable child; likes
her own company better than any body's else, and
don't care rush-igh for all the nick nacks other
girls teasing for, Sometimes l think she be-
longs to another brood; got changed in the cradle,
or something"
''How does she spend her time % said Miss
Tabetha.
''I'm sure 1 don't knoxville says she has a
little den at the top of the house, where she sits
star-gazing. Queer child that Hatty plain as a
pike-staff; and Mr.. Lee took up his newspaper,
and put his feet on the mantel.
Miss Tabetha was COMPOUNDED. She had an
uncommonly warm heart for an old maid She
had never been parent; she wished she had, just
to show some people what nice one she'd have
! made. She inwardiy resolved to know more OF
"Our Hatty"
Rap tap on the door of Hatty's little den
what on earth did it mean? She hoped they did
not mean to take that away from her; and with a
! guilty frightened look she opened the door.
Miss Tabetha entered
care you vexed with me for coming here, child
, Y on don't look GLAD to see me p
mo. no!' said Hatty, putting back tangled
mass of dark hair; but it's SO odd you should
aCant to come. Nobody ever wanted to see me be-
FORE
''And why not, Hatty ?"
e s'Well, don't know!' said she, with touching
meekness and simplicity, ''unless it's because I'm
stupid, and ugly, and disagreeable.'"
''Who told you that, Hatty %
s'All of them, down stairs, said she, "and
t don't about it, only-only," and the tear:
rolled down her cheeks, sit is SO dreadful to fee
that nobody can ever love mel
Miss Tabetha looked rather strangely, and NUT
tered, "Humph !''
"Hatty,' said she ''come here. Do you evel
look in the glass -
. ''Not since long while,'' said the young girl
shrinking back
Come here and look in this little mirror. d.
e you see those large bright eyes of yours DE-
you see that wealth of raven hair, that skillfu
hand might render a beauty, instead of that tan
gled deformity? Do you see those little, supple
limbs, that little and training might rende
graceful as the swaying willow /? There is intel
lect on your brow; soul in your eyes; your voic
has thrilling heart-tone. Hatty, you are gen
IN the rough! You cannot be ugly but, lister
to me. 1t is every moman's duty to be lovely an,
attractive. You have moderated and negecte,
yourself my poor child. Nature has been no mig
: gard to you. / do not say this to make you vain
but to inspire you with proper confidence in your
SELF But-what have you here % as a large port
folio fell at her feet
"Oh, Miss Tabetha, please don't It's only
little scrbbling--j Just when felt wretched Pleas
DON'T
eyes, but shall, though It's just what
want to see most" and she went on reading pape
after paper, while Hatty stood like culprit be
w fore her When she had finished she said, yer
: slowly and deliberately
"Hatty, come herel Did you know that 20
: were genius 2"
"a what Miss Tabetha?''
GA genius. you delicious bit of simplicity;
genius You'll know fast enough what it means
th and to think should have been the first to find
1T" and she caught the astonished child in he
es arms and kissed her, till Hatty thought geniu
must be the most delightful thing in the world,
bring so much love with it.
4. '.Look here, Hatty--does any body know this
n holding up the manuscripts.
Hatty shook her head.
j $50 much the better; Stupid, and ugly, an
- disagreeabe,' humph Do you know / m gon
O. to run off with you?" said the little old maid
eve shall see what we shall seq Miss Hattv