Butte record., 1855-12-08


OF them very young at the time of the
child 5 birth and beholder, looking
first at that rough honest pair, and
then at their delicate little girl, might
almost have believed in one Of the old
tales of the neighborhood, that their
offspring had been changed in its era
die, and little radiant fairy substitu
ted in its stead.
The little Effie, how er, throve like
any other mortal child and at fifteen
had grown into one of the fairest young
creatures 1t was possible to behold
Her parents We're justly proud of her,
and often, when some grand lady
would look from her carriage, and turn
and gaze again at their girls faultless
face, or as she sang in the little church
on Sundays, and the fine company in
the Sqmre's pew turned their eyes in
amazement toward the gallery from
whence her rich young voice poured
forth in its fullness Of childish devo-
ton, they would sigh to think how few
advantages 1t was in their power to af-
ford their daughter; and that all her
richness Of beauty and genius must be
hidden in the lowly village where she
was born. In their simple affection
they longed to send forth their fair
young flower into a world that could
appreciate her better than their own.
They knew not then how far better it
would have been, had she thus died, in
the promise Of her unSpotted youth,
upon her mothers breast.
When Effie was about fifteen years
Of age, by a strange chance their wish
was destined to be fulfilled.
One summer day the girl was sitting
out, as was her wont, at work in the
little farmhouse garden and half
shaded from the observation of the
passers-by under the shady branches
Of large Old pear-tree. As she
worked, her voice broke out in one of
its richest melodies. Note after note
succeeded, each clearer and more bird
like than the former ones. She
scarcely followed the simple air she
was singing but her sweet, wild ca
dences seemed actually oyerfowing
from the music of her own soul.
The good dame, her mother, sat
spinning before the house door but
turning ever and anon to gaze upon
her darling. As she did so for about
the twentieth time in as many minutes
she perceived the figure Of a man
standing in the road, half concealed
from view by the tall garden shrubs.
but evidently listening in wonder and
admiration to the voice of the singer.
When Eflie concluded, the stranger
slowly sauntered on, but in a few min
utes returned and three or four times
in the course of the afternoon, Mrs.
Leigh watched him pass and repass,
and gaze up at the house. He was an
ordinary looking man, about fifty
years of age and the good dame,
with that discrimination not uncom-
mon among persons of her class, deci-
dcd in her own mind that Effie's admi-
rer was not a country gentleman. He
was, in fact, the manager of one of the
great London theatres, taking a sum
mer tour; and never was he more as
tonished than when walking down the
humble street of an obscure village, he
heard a voice, and taste, and execu-
ton, which, his long tried judgment at
once whispered him, might do credit
even to London boards.
| need not enter into the details of
this part of my story. Suffice it to
say, that Effie's parents were delight
ed at the offer made to them by the
London manager, of educating Effie at
his own expense, for the stage nor
was the poor child herself long proof
against the dazzling prospects held out
to her-of brilliant and certain sue
cess.
Within a fortnight all necessary ar
rangements were over; and Effie ac-
companied Mr.. ", the manager,
TO London. At the end of a few
months he congratulated himself on
his extraordinary luck in meeting with
his young protegee, whose voice, under
cultivation, was already beginning tol
Surpass even his own hig expectation.
\ new surprise awaited him-her tai
ent for acting was to the full as great
as was that for music-and this united
TO her rare beauty, (of which even |
can speak Of the faded traces) com
bined in forming a star whose early
dawn upon the horizon was already
beginning to be a theme of interest
among theatrical circles in the metrop-
obs.
Three years passed away since Efie
left her home and the eventful night
arrived in which she was to mrke her
debut before the public. She appear
ed in a character which was well suit
Cd = her bird-ike voice, and to the