The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-03-23
CHAPTER III.


1 am sitting by this open garrst- window as
in summers ago. Sanding on the wide slope
Of grlhood. and looking back those dim. far
away years are beautiful. bathed in the mel
low light of memory. am lonelicr now than
then, and looking backwards from this dark
ness those hours are Straight.
| am alone in the dim twilight, | hear
Athalis's gay laugh. and the rich music OF
Carries voice as she sits at the piano. Nam
ma. and papa, and Arthur are out on the
piazza. All gay. all happy. save plain Lyra
in the garret. Papa seldom speaks to me,
save TO say. "Oh Lyrs! what perfect fright
YOU are" And mamma never earesSss /.
talks TO me. This morning picked Japonica
for my hair, and she pushed me from the
mirror, and told me to go from the drawing
room. have often heard Carrie and Athalie
say, "Lyra can never go from home into the
gay world. She would be stared at. she is SO
very plain" And the other day | was in the
library looking at the paintings, when Arthur
heard the gay voices of some Of his friends,
and he said. kindly to be sure .Iou had bet
ter go out. Lyra! My friends would be sur
prsed to meet you here" So l came up here
again.
thought that mamma mentioned my name
Just now. Yes. they are talking about me.
Il is mammals own voice that says. Il wish
she was shut up In some nunnery. We never
can do anything with her. All she cares for
is brush and paint. and canvass. forbid her,
but it does not signify. am quite disheart-
ened. She will never do TO 20 into society.
She is such an absolute fright, | an quite
ashamed to have her seen
Oh. it is cruel TO hear those words from
mammals lips. This is why no one loves me.
Well, shall not stay here CANNOT. |
shall so away.-lciere, l hardly care. for l
never can find home, with brothers and sis
ters in it who will love me- No one will miss
me here. How happy they all are down there.
Carrie and Athalie are riding away IN a splen-
did carriage. to attend brilliant festival in the
lighted halls OF the city. Oh, why did not
God make ME beautiful?
shall not stay at home. am Lyra Rivers
still. The patrician blood OF the naughty
Rivers. flows in my veins, and have all the
family pride. l viii mortify them no longer
CHAPTER Ill
am very near the city this golden summer
afternoon | see the dusky clouds of
smoke and mist rushing over it. / can hear
The loud din. the confused jar. l can catch
glmpses of the gleamy water of the bay and
"Sshth, 'iaid Si Cats gong mo tilc CitN
can hear the shrill whistle and the distant
rumblns of cosches, and the puffs of the
loaded steamboat. l can see the shapeless
mass of buildings. and the tall spires and
monuments.
am almost there. Oh. how many long
miles am away from the grand. high old home
OF chlldhood, wonder ii my plain face and
awkward figure is missed yet? Every person
'nal l nave met. stares at me as ii l were a
snos'' ! met kind looking man and he
,ooSed al me p'ttytuily; and as passed on
heard hlm Poor girl, fear She is crazy.
Wha. wild eyes She has Two bows went
by me. and one said" Look, Jim. there i =
veri,sble spirit from Tophet, and he looked
a me sharp that went on faster. and ,ba
one that was with him she oaied-'. Haste alon.r
You little hobgoblin!' And lady met me
who said-'sI pity girl so painfully plain,''
ana gay beautiful girl came along. who said
- wonder if the days Of the witches hsv,
10. returned" !"
Sometimes | wish tha. | was quite dead
ny plain features mouldering away into dust
nut passionately love the true and beautiful
ieould say forever mid paintings aud statu
MY There is life in the creations Of Raphael
ana Angelo. and Claude Lorraine
wonder if | shall find home in ihi.
NlSe city. home from whence no one car
sac me back TO my proud parents. But
= Isl hasten on. for the shadows lengthen. ant
s sunshine Is fading. How strange this is
De that this wanderer is Lyra Rivers