The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-06-04
So PER ANNUM

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Anne. Are you not well :"
"Oh, yes, mother, perfectly wcl!' and
she sPrang lightly to her mothers side,
'mrrcssing kiss ON her check, and then
seating herself on an ottoman at her feet,
laid her head in her lap.
"Thcn, why do YOU talk so much abou,
dying I" asked Mrs. Leighton, smoothing
the shining hair back from the high fore.
head, aud winding it in glossy cutls around
her fingers.
IL don't talk ot it half rs often rs |
think Of it. never look over Beautiful
landscape, or listen To burst Of rich mu.
SIC, without thinking how much more
beautiful and glorious Heaven must be ;
for you know, eye hath not seen, nor
ear heard, neither have entered iuto the
heart OF ;nan the things the Father hath
prepared for them that love Him : aud
When think Of this, feel as if | could
leave everything here, if could only live
with Jesus and the angels"
The sunlight, tempered by the rose col
ored curtains, fell around the slight, white
robed hsurc like a soft halo, lighting up
the tar, pure face with a pale lu,,re; and
Mrs. Leighton, awed by the words and
mmner of the child, so spiritual and ex-
'I'cd' felt almost as if in the presence of
m angel.
las consumption been hereditary in
your tImiy!' she inquired of her hus
band when they were alone that evening.
i don't know. lncrcr thought about
1t. Let inc see. NV mother died of con
sumption, and William, and Lizzie, and
ANNE, lie said sadly. And have
heard that my mothers mother, and one
or two OF her sisters died Of Tie same dis.
ease. Yes, it certainly has been hcrcdi,a.
ry IN my mothers family. But why do
YOU ask =
Il feel troubled about Annie
"Why 7 Is she unwell 7" asked Mr..
Leighton, anxiously.
mo; but she talks so strangely, for n
mere child, about diving; and to dav she
wished she might die OF consumption"
"oh, is that all I" he replied, laughing.
It IS only some foolish whim she has
got IN her head she will soon forget i, :"
think not. She very often speaks
with a strange calmness about diving.
though 1t never struck me so furcibly be-
lore. She is much more lhoughtruf than
most children Of her age. Have YOU not
noticed the surprising vigor and depth Of
her mind, SO rare in one so young?'
les, very often. But wha, of that {?
Surely that isn't sign she is going to
die"
Il don't know. Fruits which ripen
earliest, decay soonest. And then, her
delicate, fragile beauty"
Why my dear" interrupted Mr..
Leighton, cheerfulIy, wishing to dispel his
w'ie's sadness, "you seem determined to
think that our darling Annie is at Deaths
door. For myself, instead Of seeing any
thing very alarming in Annie's beauty. |
feel proud of it,"
50 do |; but YOU know the fairest
flowers arc iraie'i and cannot help
tearing that Annie will share The fate Of
your sisters, whom she SO much resem
bles."
Mr.. leighton sat silent and thoughtful
a lew minutes, aud then said, as if speak
ing to himself
My fathers family were not consump.
tive, and | am as healthy AS any one
and your family" turning to his wife,
were never troubled with this disease;
SO don't think we need fear for Annie
on that score"
True; but after her strange wish, and
u'e subsequent strange conversation had
aroused my fears, remembered book in
the library which treats OF hereditary dis
eases; and as the idea that Annie mich,
possibly have inherited predsposi,ion to
consumption, had entered my mind, ex.
amined II. The author SAYS that the dis.
ease often lies dormant in one generation.
and developes itself in the next, and that
Il caI be controlled and held il, cheek on
ly by the strictcst attention to the laws OF
health. lie also gives yory minute de.
scrp'on OF those persons most Liable to be
affected by it. For instance, a very fair
and clear complexion, flushing instanta.
ncously with the least exercise or excite.
ment; an impcrfectIy developed chest,
and unusual precocity of intellect; and ali
this applies 10 Annie"
Well, cannot see any ycry great
S~N7S 'c' "'dihs one IS never very sick.
aud h's no cough"
Yes; but then she is not strong: and
when she takes cold, she is always ,rou.
bled with cough and hoarseness.|
Oh, you musn't distress yourself 80
much about her r said Mr.. Leighton. en-.
coaragingly. 81 think. il we take good
care of her, there is no danger"
But Mrs. Leighton WAS no, satisfied
She studied the best works on the disease
she so much dreaded; and her care Of
Annies health was redoubled. And Mr..
Leighton, although be would not acknowI.
edge even TO himself that his wife's fear
bad any foundation, watched his ido!ized
child with anxious solicilude.
Two years passed away, aud Annie
Leighton was tall, graceful maiden
Her mind had developed itself with aston.
i'hing rapidiIy and power; bu: The body.
instead Of gaining strength was still fniI,