Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-05-25


waiting for an opportunity to move on, | heard
one of my young men ask another
How do you like Ia cousinen
lost part of the answer, but heard the
closing words distinctly-'et up peu passee /,
: Oui, decidenaent, was the prompt response,
and a light laugh followed, while, shrinking
close to my kind friend, I rejoiced that my
short stature concealed me from observation.
| was not very we'll taught, but, like most
schoolgirls, had smattering Of French, and
L knew the meaning of the very ordinary
phrases that had been used with regard to
me. Before the supper-hour, my headache
became so severe that | was glad to take ref
uge in my own room. There | consulted nv
mirror, and felt disposed to forgive the young
critics for their disparaging remarks. Passee !
| looked twenty-five at least, and yet was
not eighteen, and six months before | had
fancied myself beauty and an heiress
But will not weary you with details
Suffice it to say, that spent only three months
of this kind Of life, and then relinquished the
protection of Mr.. and Mrs. Somers, and re-
moved to second-rate boarding house, where
| attempted to maintain myself by giving les
sons in music. Every day, however, con-
vinced me Of my unftness for this task, and
as | soon felt an interest in the sweet little
girls who looked up to me for instruction, my
position with regard to them became truly
embarrassing. One day had been wearyng
myself by attempting the impossible task Of
making clear to another mind, ideas that lay
confusedy in my own, and at last | said to
my pupil
You may 60 home, now, Clara, dear, and
practice the lesson of yesterday. | am really
i'll to-day, but tomorrow | shall feel better,
and | hope | shall then be able to make you
understand me-
The child glided out, but shadow still fell
across the carpet. | looked up, and saw in
the doorway young man, whose eccentric-
ties sometimes excited smile among his fell
low-boarders, but who was much respected
for his sense and independence.
To make yourself understood by others,
you must first learn to understand yourself,
said he, as he came forward Then, taking
my hand, he continued What if YOU should
give up all this abortive labor, take a new
pupil, and instead Of imparting to others what
you have not very firmly grasped yourself, try
if you can make human being of me!'
looked into his large, grey eyes, and saw
the truth and earnestness shining in their
depths, like pebbles at the bottom of a pellu-
cid spring. | never once thought Of giving
him a conventional reply. On the contrary, l
stammered out
| am full Of faults and errors could new
er do you any good
! have studied your character attentvey,
returned he, 'and | know you have faults, but
they are unlike mine and | think that you
might be of great service to me or, if the
| expression suits you better, that we might be
Of great aid to each other. Become my wife,
and | will promise to improve more rapidly
than any pupil in your class
And | did become his wife, but not until a
much longer acquaintance had convinced me,
that in SO doing, | should not exchange one
form Independence for another more calling
and more hopeless.
Then this eccentric young man was uncle
RObert!'
Precisely. But you see he has made great
improvement, since
Well, aunt Frances, thank you for your
story and now for the moral What do you
think had better do!'
will tell you what you can do, if you
visit to his mother He finds her mere
child, gentle and amiable, but wholly unfit to
take charge of herself. Her clothes have
taken fire repeatedly, from her want of judg-
ment with regard to fuel and lights, and she
needs companion for every moment of the
day. This, with their present family, is i'm
possible, and they are desirous to secure some
one who will devote herself to your grand
mother during the hours when your aunt and
the domestics are necessarily engaged. You
were always a favorite there, and | know
they would be very much relieved if you
would take this office for time, but they feel
delicacy in making any such proposal
You can have all your favorites about you
books, flowers, and piano for the dear old
lady delights to hear reading or music, and
will sit for hours with vacant smile upon
her pale, faded face. Then your afternoons
will be entirely your own, and Robert is en-
powered to pay any reliable person salary
Of fixed and ample amount which will make
you independent for the time.
But aunt, you will laugh at me, know,
yet | do really fear that Kate will feel this ar
rangement as disappointment
Suppose send her note, stating that
you have given me some encouragement OF
assuming this important duty, but that you
could not think of deciding without showing a
grateful Difference to her wishes
That will be just the thing We shall
get reply tomorrow. With tomorrow
came the following note -
Nh Dear A,tnt Frances Your favor of
yesterday took US little by surprise. must
own had promised myself great deal Of
pleasure in the society of our Mary but since
she is inclined, (and think it is very noble