Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-04-08
"OUR HATTY.o
BY Fanny FERN:

| Dh GANN1 FERN
She might have had twenty other names
but that was the only appellation ever heard
Ii was get out of my way Hatty,s Il dare
say Hatty broke that vase or lost that book
don't come here; what fright you are
TIL the poor child felt almost 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 fayorite
scheme, could throw their arms about the pa
rental neck, fiatter some weak side, carry the
day, and then laugh at their juvenile fore
sight; so their Golfers were always filled while
Hatty's was empty, and she laid all these
things up in her little grieved heart and as
she saw duplicity better rewarded than sim
cerity, began to have little infdel doubts
whether the bible that her father read out of
was really true; while Joseph's "coat of ma
ny colors," Haunted ever before her fearful
eyes. All her sweet childish impulses were
checked and crushed; and where the sweet
flowers of love and confidence should have
sprung up, the weeds of distrust and suspi-
cion took bitter root
|
the domestic circle. "She was stupid they
told her, and she had heard it till She beliey-
ed it was true. Sometimes, as was often the
case, some talented person made part of the
family circle; Hatty would listen in her cor
ner, till her great wild eyes glowed and burn
ed like living Goals of fire. But there was
one 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 re-
proof 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 was $50 stupid
and ugly, and disagreeable," that nobody
could even love her. And so she made
friends with the holy stars and tieecy clouds
and the brilliant rainbow, the silver moon
beams and the swift lightning; and an arts
tic eye to have her soul-lit face at that small
window might have fancied her some Ital-
| an lmprovisatrice There the letters fell off,
the soul was free and the countenance mir
rored it forth. Back in the family circle, she
was again "our Hatty."
THAT young daughter of yours differs We
~ much from the rest of your family, Mr..
Lee" remarked an elderly maiden lady who
was visiting there.
ayes, yes! said the old man with shrug;
'she don't look much like Lee; in fact she
is very plain. She is a strange unaccounta-
! Die child; likes her own company better than
any body's else, and don't care rr,shlight
for all the knick-knacks other girls are teas
ing for. Sometimes | think she belongs to
another brood, got changed in the cradle, or
something"
"How does she spend her time ~ said Miss
Tabetha. .....t
81 am sure don't Knoxville says she
has a little den at the top of the house,
where she sits stargaztng. Queer child that
Hatty. plain as pike-statf; 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 would make. She inwardy resolv-
ed to know more of sour 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 guilty, frightened look, she
opened The door.
Miss Tabatha entered.
care you vexed with me for coming here,
child? You don't look glad to see me-"
mo, no. said Hatty, putting back tan
gled mass of dark hair; "but it's so odd you
| should want to come Nobody ever wanted
to see me before
"And why not, Hatty?'
"Well, don't know" she said with touch
ing meekness and simplicity, unless it's be-
cause am stupid, and ugly and disagreeablc."
"Who told YOU that, Hatty."
"All of them down stairs" said she, "and
| don't care about it, only-only," and the
tears rolled down her cheeks, at is so dread
full to feel that nobody can ever love me-"
"Miss Tabetha looked rather strangely, and
muttered "hump"
"Hatty," said she, "come here. Do you
ever look in the glass :"
Not since long while" said the young
girl, shrinking back.
"Come here and look in this little mirror.
Do you see those large bright eyes of yours
Do you see that wealth of raven hair, that a
skillful hand might render beauty, instead
of that tangled deformity! Do you see
| those little supple lips, that little care and
training might render graceful as the sway
ing willow! There is intellect on your brow;
soul in your eyes; your voice has thrilling
heart-tone. Hatty, you are GEM IN THE
RoUGH You cannot be "ugly;" but listen
to me. 1t is every woman's duty to be love
! ly and attractive. You have moderated and
neglected yourself, my poor child. Nature
has been no niggard to YOU. do not say it
to make You vain, but to inspire you with
proper confidence in yourself. But what
have you here!" as large portfolio fell at
her feet.
"Oh, Miss Tabetha, please don't. its only
a little seribbling just when felt wretched.
Please don't"
SIZES, but shall though. It's just what
l want to see most" and she went on read
ing paper after pHper, while Hatty stood like
a culprit before her. When she had finished
| she said. very slowly and deliharately-