The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-08-01
VOLUME xII-NUMBER 81

bcr coming along the bank. Ihey had q
good deal Of talk together, which did not
listen to; for their young hearts weie
speaking to each other-telling their secrets.
Lettic loved him; yes, certainly she loved
him.
CHAPTER III.
DR.. Phillipon's opinion was the same rs
that Of DR.. Nash. Lettic was not so down
stricken Ms had dreaded she would be, and
she badc good bye to Harry Crofts almost
cheerfully when he went up to London.
"Therc, Jane, now hope he'll forget
me-" she said TO me, Z" don't like to sec
him so dull"
That day Mrs. Davis sent her a ticket for
a concert at the Blind Institution, and shc
went. VI en sh, came ho . to ,eO she told
me that the girls and boys who sang looked
quite happy and contentcd. And why
should not ! be so too ?what number Of
beautiful sights | can remember which
some Of them never saw she added with
a sigh.
After this imperceptibly, her sight went;
until noticed that, even in crossing the
floor, she felt the way before her, with her
hands cut. DR.. Nash again offered to use
his influence to get her admitted into the
Institution, but she always pleaded, "Iet
me stay with you, Janey v and had not
the heart to refuse, though she would have
had moro advantage there, than | could af.
ford her.
Not far from us there lived an old Ger.
man clockmakcr, who was besides musical
and acted as organist at tie Roman Catholic
Chapel in the town. We hal known him
all our lives. Iettic often carried HIM
posy from our garden, andthe grand chill
dren came to me for patches 10 dress their
dolls. Muller was n grim, fantastic looking
figure, but he had heart Of pure gold. lie
was benevolent, SIMPLE, kindly. II was his
talk that had reconcied Lcttic, more than
anything else to her condition. lie was 10
poor, yet 80 satisfied, 30 afflicted yet unre.
pining.
"Lcln muic--I will teach thee" he
said to my sister. So, some in our little
parlor, and sometimes in his, he gave her Z
lessons in fine sacred pieces from Handel and
Haydn, and taught her to sing as they sing
in churches-which was grander than our
simple Methodist hymns. II was great
delight to listen to her. IL seemed as If she
felt everything deeper in her heart and cI-
pressed il better than before; and il was all
her consolation 10 draw the sweet sounds up
out of that wcll feeling which love had
sounded. knew that to remember how
Harry loved her, gave a tenderness and pa
ticncc to her suffering which it would else
have have lacked Cd, JSbsMbp psel te befe aqahf
word now.
do not say much about our being poor
though, Of course, that could not but be;
still we had friends who were kind % us,
even Mrs Davis soltened, and mentioned TO
me, under seal Of confidence, that if could
not quite make up the rent, she would not
press me; but fortunately had not 10
claim her forbearance, or else do fear she
could not have borne to lose sixpence and
when it had come to the point we should
have had to 90 like others; she was so very
fond Of money, poor woman Lettic used
to % to tho Institution sometimes, where
she learnt TO knit, and net. and weave blsk-
et-work. Our rector. better man never
lived, or kinder To the poor. had her net
covers for his fruit trees, fishing nets, and
other things and TO knit woolen socks for
himself and his boys, so that altogether shc
contrivcd to make what almost kept her.
Now that the calamity had really come, it
was not half so dreadful rs il had seemed
long way of. Lettie was mostly cheerful.
never heard her complain, but she used to
say often that there was much TO be thank
ful for with us. She had q quiet religious
feeling which kept her from melancholy;
and, although did not find 1t out until
Afterwards, a hope that perhaps her affection
might some day he removed. Harry had put
that thought into her mind, and do not
think am ovcrstating the truth in saying
chat his honest, manly OBJECTION for he was
the great motive to his working so hard at
his profession, in which he has since be-
come deseryedly successful and famous.
We had six very quiet years. Ii seomed
to me us ir Lcttic had always from the first,
gone softly cropping her way, and had al-
ways led her to the chapel and back. liar-
ry studied IN London: then we heard Of him
in Elinburg; and at last his mother said
he was gone to Paris, and she was half
afraid he would settle there and marry
papist wife. Inttic looked sorrowful and
restless for day or two after that, but
presently recovered her checrfnlncs. We
had not much change or variety at home
There was ever at my work, and Lettic at
her music. She had gained great deal OF
skill now; and many time have seen
knot of people standing at tho corner ofou
garden hedge to listen to her singing. |
have heard several grand public performers
since then bu, never one who could touch
my heart and bring the tears into my eye,
As my poor blind sister did. On Sunday,
at chapel, We could hear her voice clear and
sweet above all the rest; and, though our
tunes were wild and SIMPLE, sung by her
they were beautiful. Sometimes sho would
20 to. st. Johns church for the sake OF the
org n and chanting, but did not feel Il
right to change; habit is strong IN slow,