True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-10-20

Of humanity that fingers in the hardes,
heart; and the blind one, unused to ought
but hard words and ceaseless toll, gradu-
ally changed into a new being.
The pot of mignonnette was carefully
tended; and metimes in The evenings
Amy and Ruth, with their arms twined
around each others neck would bend over
10 inhale its perfume. And another and
another flower was added, and they BIOS
somed well, though in that crowded street,
SO darkened by the black, overhanging
roofs, as scarcely TO admit more than a
narrow strip of The bright blue sky above.
One day there was gentle tap at the
door. Amy rose up to open it, for the
invitation to enter seemed not to have
been heard. A pale delicate looking
young lady, very plainly dressed, timd-
y entered the room. The tailers were
singing; but they stopped when she en-.
tered the room, and Mrs. Hartley rose
up and brought the lady chair, but she
sulkily resumed her seat, and muttered
something about not wanting Methodist
folk, when The stranger said that she had
called with some tracts
"People often want bread more than
tracts" said Mrs. Hartley. Besides,
I can't read, and Johns loo tired wnen
he comes home"
The young lady's pale cheek flushed
but at that moment the tailors came for
ward and asked for some. She opened
a little basket and gave them a couple
with smile of such sweetness, that Amy
who had been gazing wistfully at her, now
glided up and said in low voice
II can read ma am"
"Can you dear!" said the lady, "Ther
you can read for your mother"
"She's not my daughter. I've only
that poor blind thing that's making the
baskets"
The young lady murmered, in a low
sweet voice, some compassionate exprss.
sion. 1t won Mrs. Hartley, and sh,
poured out her tale of woe.
The stranger looked earnestly into
Amy's face and said
$50 this is not your own child, you
say!"
"No ma'am. She is my husbands
brothers. Her mother was a decent
body, quite above the common, John
says. She was companion to the min.
ister's lady at Fairfield, but she took 0
fancy 10 William, and they got married,
which so spited my lady-for she always
wanted to keep her with her--that she
turned every one against them. They
both died Of the typhus fever, which was
going couple Of months ago."
"Poor child I" said the young lady,
passing her hand caressingly over Amy's
silken curls. 81 will take this little cir
to sew for me, and will pay her so much
a week, so that she can assist you better
if you like it,"
The woman mused some moments al
this proposal. Amy keep, as she called
it, was not much and she was very useful
Ruth works better beside her, the people
bought readily from her, loo. But though
a hard worldly woman, she was not SC
bad, but she could feel what world oil
good might accrue to the poor orphan by
the change. The thought occurred, too
that it might be better for themselves. -
So she said that she would ask her hus.
band. . .... ..-..
John consented; and it a0as better fol
them all. Miss Warrington, the young
lady. lived with her brother wealthy
clerk in the East India Company's ser.
vice; and by his interest, John got place
as light porter, with a salary of pound
a week. Ruth had taste for music, ant
Miss Warrington got her into the Insti
tute for the blind, the physician Of which
declared that the recovery Of her sight wa!
quite probable, when her constitution hat
sufficiently recovered from the effects o
early and protracted toll, to permit an op'
Grafton to be performed. Amy saw hel
months after, looking fat and rosy, ant
better, gentler and kinder, speaking with
gratitude of her instructors, and dear
blessed Amy" as she called her wher
she kissed her.
Mr.. Warrington and his sister lived in
fine house--not in the fashionable par
of London, but in a large black square
SO quiet and still, that the people seemed
always asleep in it.
Miss Warrington was an invalid
She did not complain or take medicine
but Amy Hartly, who learned to love he
with all the warmth and devotion Of he
affectionate nature, soon became sensible
that she was not strong like other people
She moved SO gently and languidly
through those beautiful rooms, and thel
Mr. Warrington asked her how she fel
when he came in, and his voice was al
ways soft and tender when he spoke 4
her. The servants, too, moved quiete
when near her, and spoke Of her as poo
Miss Edith.
], Sitting in that lovely room with thos
spacious windows, looking down on cool
t green grass and large trees, that even ]
summer never looked dusty, the child
hear. expanded with delight aud happi
ness. Exquisitoly susceptible Of out
ward influence, her fine taste appropria
ted naturally all that was refined and elC