True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-06-09
+" Meet Lizzie at Six"

That was all the dispatch contained
-Four little words; yet what excitement
they caused in the household at Maple
Cottage; the quiet, sober household,
whose members, at the moment of its re-
ception, were on the point of going 10
rest for the night.
"Meet Lizzie at six - Was our dar-
ling indeed 50 near US I? Two years and
three months had passed since our eyes
had been gladdened with her girlish beau
ty, since her voice had mingled with lhe
bird music that floated all the long sum.
mer days among the naples. Two years
and three months she had been buried
among books, in far.away city, bowing
her sunny curls, over algebra and geom-
etry, grammar and philosophy, astrono-
my and botany, French and Latin; pa
tiently at first, because her parents desired
it; afterward cheerfulIy, 10 please the
teachers she had learned to love and at
last, zealously, from pure thirst for the
treasures these studies unlocked 10 her.
But it was over now-.hese toilsome
years--and she was on her way to us
once more-our Lizzie-our pet and pride
we should "meet her at six"
She had left B. in the morning; had
journeyed without stopping all day; this
was guessed at once; and at eight in the
evening, finding hasty opportunity. she
had telegraphed to us the words above.
At six, the Eastern train arrived al oul
station Lizzie was to ride all night, fol
the sake of reaching home thus early
II was like her; impulsive, warmheart'
ed child that she was
How little we slept that night! What
slight sounds around US; how early We
were all astir--even the baby and the
white-haired grand father; "Meet Lizzie
eh ~ he said; faye, indeed will we =
And the old mans voice caught youth
lul tone, and his crutches an elastic
movement, as he hobbled about tn,
house, giving orders, as if all the respon
sibili,y rested upon him, 10 be sure.
There was Hannah, loo, bewilderin,
the mother about breakfast. "Did Lizzi
like coffee or cocoa best p And woul,
she make biscuits or waffies? And tn
mother smiling all the time, nodded he
head 10 everything, and went hurryin,
about, with the grid.iron in one hand
and the egg.boiler in another, coaxin
Fanny to curl the baby's hair, and look
ting at the clock every five minutes. Blu
Fanny, with mysterious apronfuls o
something, was fighting up stairs AM
down, leaving book, here flower there
dagueneotype on the table, or a rosl
checked fall apple in the window-some
thing for Lizzie 10 see and smile at.--
Only the father seemed undisturbed. w
noticed, 10 be sure, the dimples in hi
cheeks, which Lizzie always said sh
: made with her fingers when she was
babe, looked deeper when he smiled, an
that his voice was little less steady, h
} told Thomas to bring the horses; but h
! did not like to be considered demonstra
tive man, so we only looked significant
at each other, and said nothing. Sti
. waters are sometimes very deep.
} AT last the carriage came around, an
D we got in; two Of US, beside the fathel
] who was 10 drive. There was room fu
$ more; but it was quite out Of her line, tn
. mother said, to go on dashing driy
4 before breakfast; go we left her on th
: piazza, with the pickle dish in her hant
and wiping her eyes with her apron.
/, II was half a mile to the depot, and Il
a sun not quite risen when we s.arted,-