True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-11-21
y. RAGAN, Editor and Proprietor,

inmate In FARMER SOmerS' house, was al
most forgotten; nor was tile history of
the poor woman ever known, nor any in
quiry made about her, after all had been
made public in the newspapers of the
day. a. ~ % *.''' ''
The little child thus rescued from de-
sruclion, was brought up with Farmer
Somers's own daughter, and the. same
care and tenderness was shown to both ;
but both did not thrive equally. The
sparkling beauty and mental quickness Of
'Gipsey Jessie as she was called in the
village, formed striking contrast with
the paleness of Mary's delicate features,
and her slow progress in what Jessie
called learning But Jessie's Two broth
ers loved meek Mary as well, if not bet
Ter than their true sister; and Jessie her.
self poured out all the warmth of her af
lectionate heart in behalf of her compan-
ion, nor was she conscious of any super
iority. except that Of being two years
Mary's senior. Children are slow 10
feel their own infrriority, unless it is
forced on their minds by those around
them. The orphan knew that Jessie was
The pretIiest and the cleverest, Just as she
knew that the hair of the latter was dark :
er, and her limbs stronger TO bear fatigue,
than her own but the knowledge gave
no pain; and, secure in the affection of
all around her, she enjoyed quiet hap
piness, till accident caused her to institute
a comparison in her own mind, between
her merits, and those of her more spright-
ly companion.
Size was sitting at The door of the farm
house one sultry day in August, watching
Jessie and her brothers, who were help
ing the reapers at some distance. The
orphan had exerted herself to the utmost
| that ,day--even. beyond her strength ;
and had stolen home to the threshold of
the house TO rest little while, Farmer
Somers had returned a few minutes be-
fore, and speaking 10 his wife within doors,
SO that Mary scarrelyrheard their conver-
salion, Till the sound of her own name
awoke her attention. Yes, Mary was
there, TOO, poor Ahipg,' said the farmer,
in answer 10 his wiIe's question, doing
her best, and that was bul liule.'g .Jy
'She, always does her besl,' said Mrs.
Somers quietly, tsa.e e,aa ,t. .,g.-
Yes, yes, l know the girl does all she
can, but there 'sIno more strength in her
than a biz of wash lealher--you should
have seen Jessie, The lillle sturdy gipsey,
she did as much as a grown woman; and
with such a merry smile on her suuburnt
face, God bless her, as Gid ones heart
good 10 look at. The other will never
be any thing hut burden upon US all her
life long, sa,g,a a ug,,,y,a, q., u7
'Oh, don't say SO, Richard; twas she
who put The cider ready 6 lor you that
you've just, been drinking /; she's'a deal
more thoughtful Than Jessie, and pretty
enough top, IF beauty goes TO any thing.
Don't speak as if you ,repened the. great
chali'y God has put it in your power to
DO ri aal l.mtJ coa agpiOasg >i
Il don't repent it, said the farmer ye-
hemenlly, ! never see her enjoying a
summers day-wi,h the boys and Jessie,
or warming her lille shiyering hands at
our hearth i9, winter, without thanking
Heaven for, having made, me the means
of saving her life, But that's no reason
| should think Of her as of my own girl;
and ! will yell you that she will never be
/ ft for any thing-never.' VI 5yrst,,
Mary heard no more, (, She rose. from
the Mace where she had been sitting,
and walked very slowly 70 lhlle bank
which overlooked tbe field they were
reaping; and rhere'she sat down and sob
bed bitterly She was'roused by appeal
Of merry laughter from the field and
presently Jessie and her. brothers came
bounding towardshet. Ihsliule orphan
dried her tears, and watched them till
they reached the sunk fence which fotm.
ed The boundary Of the cornfeld. The
eldest Of the boys cleared II, then the
next and lastly, Jessie threw Over-her
little sheaf Of CLEANED ears for the 'HSr.
vest HOme,' and jumped across it as
lghay and iearlessly as her brothers. i3'
tAh!t sighed poor Mary,rI. coulda'i
doahat |; j always go round 10 The little
gate.S And she looked @is,fullyg Up ii
Jegsis's face, as she bent over her and