Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-07-17


| a footman. Mrs. Davis had always noticed Lettio
Harry Crofts looked back twice to see Let
tie was following but when he found shs was not,
he proposed to wait for her. and we sat down by the
water on tree-trunk which lay there.
This is sad thing about Lette's eyes, Jane" DO
said suddenly.
there any chance for her 7"
! Doctor Nash says not; but Jane, next week Phi
p,on the best oculist in England, is coming TO stay
a couple of day: with Nash Let him see her.
Il meant to try to get her TO London for advice
! There is nobody clever Phillipson OH
Jane, wish had passed.
DO you fancy you know what would ours horf'
sd try. Youknow, Jane, love Lettie. Imsant 10
and she said, MOI and then told me about hor sight
lit is only that know she likes me: indeed shs
did nottry to deny it,
Yes, Harry, you have been 30 much togeshsN eua
there must be no talk of marrying.
That is what she says
'She is right-shc must just stay with mo. Yow.
could not do with blind wife, Harry: yea, yosng
man, with your way to make in the world
He tore up handful of grasa, and hung Il upea
the river saying passionately, why, OF all the girls
/ in Dalton, must this affection fall on poor Letter
and then he got up and walked away to meet Acr
coming along the bank. They had good deal oftak
together, which did listen to; for their Young
hearts speaking 10 each othcrtelling their So
crets. Lette loved him: yes certainly sho loved HIM
Dr. Phllipson's opinion was tho same as that OF Dr.
Nash Iettie was not so down stricken rs dreaded
she would ne and she babe good bye to Harry Crofe
almost cheerfully when he went up TO London;
There Jane, now | hope he'll forget me; dont
like TO see him so dull.
That day Mrs Davis sent her ticket for concert
| at the Blind Institution, and she went. when she
came home to abe told me that the girls and boys
who sang looked quite happy and contented And
why should not be tool what a number OF beau
tiful sights remember which some OF thsm nov
or saw !! she added, with a sigh.
fiar This imnerraptbly her sight went: until mo
ced that even III crossing the floor she felt her way
before her. with her hands ont. DIR. Nash again Of
ered to his influence to get her admitted into tho
Institution but she always pleaded, Let me stay
with YOU Janeyr and had not the heart 10 refuse,
tho she would have had more advantages there thaA
i could afford her.
Not far from us there lived an old German clock.
maker who was besides musical, and acted as organ
! list at the Roman Catholic chapel in the town. We
had known him all our lives. Lettie often carried
him posy from our garden, and his grandchildren
came TO me for patches to dress their dois, Muuos
was grim, fantastic looking figure, but he bad .
heart of pure gold He was benevolent, simple, KIND
it his talk that reconciled lIeie, more than any
thing else to her condition. lie was so poor, YET 80
satisfied so afflicted yet unrepiaing
Learn music-I will teach thee lie said to nay ais
ter So, sometimes in little parlor, and sometimes
in his he gave her lessons i'll fine sacred pesss from
Handel and Haydn and taught her to sing IN churcn.
es-which was grauder than our simple Methodist
hymr 1t was n great delight to listen to hor Ii
seemed as if she felt everything deeper in her heart,
and expressed it better than before andit was her
consolation to draw the sweet sounds UP out Oh ,hat
well of feeling which love had sounded know thas,
TO remember how Harry loved her, gave tenderness
and patience her suffering which 1t would else have
lacked She who used be quick with her tongue.
never gave anybody sharp 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 to even Mrs. Davis soiteneo, ana
mentioned to me, under the seal OF confidence, hat
if could not quite make up the rent, she would not
nross me but fortunately had not to claim hor for
bearance or else do fear she could not have borno
tn lose a sixpence and when it had como to the point
we should have hao to go like others enc was 30
very fond of money, poor woman!
Ietie used to 20 the Institution sometimes, where
she learned to knit and net and weave basket-work
Our rectora better never lived or kinder TO the pcer
had her to net for his fruit trees, fishing nets
and other things; and to knit wooden socks for HIM
self and his boys that altogether she contrved to
make what almost kept her. Now that the calamity
had really come, 1t was not hall 30 orcaoiul us ha1
seemed long way off Lettie was mostly cheerful
never heard her complain, but she used to say, Oh
en that there much to be thankful Tor with u.s.
She had quiet religious feeling, which kept her from
melancholy and tho | did not lind 1t out TIL alter
wards hope that perhaps her affection might some
, day be removed. Harry had put that thought into
, her mind, and do not think am overstatlng the
truth in saying that his honest, manly affection for
her was the great motive to his working so hard at
his profession in which he has since become deBerv-
edly successful and famous.
We had six very quiet years. 1t seemed to me as
II LottIG nau Always from the lIslj EOHc
ping her way and had always led her to the chap.
el and back. Harry studied in Londoni then we heard
of him Edinburgh, and at last his mother sa'd ne nad
gone to Paris and she WAS half afraid no would sch
tie there and marry Papst wife Lettie looked sor-
rowful and restless for day two after that, bus
presently recovered her cheerfuness we had not
much change or variety at home. There was forev-
er at my work, and Lette at her music She hadgan-
ed q great deal of skill now and many time nave
seen a knot of people standing at the corner OF our
garden hedge to listen to her singing. have heard
several grand public performers since then; bnt ne
| yer who could touch my heart ana brlng me
tears into nv ewes as my poor blind sister did. On
SUNDAYS 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 wore beou'
| tifnl Some time she would go on 10 81 Jonhs
church for the sake of the organ and the chanting
but did not feel it right to change; habit Is strong
in slow, untaught people; and 1t did not seem as Ii
| had the kept the sabbath, unless SAID my prayera
in the honney little chapel to which our mother had
! led us by the hand when we were children. Leiho
! loved the grand church music, and who could won
der at it poor assie? Once or twice when she beg.
red me to go with her it had seemed to fill my heArb
| with pain almost how much moro must 1T have
excited her who was all fire and enthnsinsmi She
said it made her feel happier and better and moro
thankful to God Perhaps in losing one sense her
| endowment through the others grew more intense
! ".
At the end Of six years Harry Crofts came home.
He was often at our house and liked to have hHn,
but though Iette seemed happy enough, no WAS nm
! easy and disconented have seen h'm. stand he
side the piano and never take his eyes OIL her by
tho halfh together; but his face looked quite
gloomy At last he one day said to me Jane, arc
YOU timidI do not think Lete is! She seems strong
and we'll" | knew he meant more than simple IN
curry after nerves, and asked II no tEought ne
had found out cure for my sister He turned quito
red
yes Ibclieve have I saw an operation perfor
med in Paris on girls eyes similarly Affected IL
wns successful. .
/ said not word The prospect seemed too good.
too beautiful to be true just at this.mnute Letto
came in through the door way there was sunshine
behind her. and she appeared TO bring u INTO mo
parlor with her :" Are you here, Harry she I'M
modiatey asked.
It,was strange thing, that altho' she neither
saw him nor heard him speak, she WAS at once
aware of his presence. He got up and took hef
by the hand, and brought her to nae. eli ner'
Jane, or shall \" he whispered, signed 10
him to speak himself, which he ala "lthou' mes
itation.
sIettie. have YOU courage to undergo an oper
alton ON vour ewes which may restore your sight
! She elapsed her hands, and such > beautiful
color came flushing up into her face---you would
have said it was an angels face, it changed so
brightly.
ooh, yes anything, anything Harry, only
rive me that hope ~ said she softly.
/ looked at him questioningly if he had not
better warn her of possible disappointment and
he spoke At once,
'Lettie. ought TO tell you that this opera
ton may fail. though DO not fear that 1t VIII.
For my sake, Lettie," be aided, in an under
tone.
"Well, then, for your sake, Harry, she repi-
ed. with low sigh Even if it should not give
me back my sight / shall only be as / am now