Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-06-10

gray eyes with coarse brown hair, as Bella
says nothing pretty about me, but my
mouth and teeth but even they do not
keep everybody frJn calling mo 'bomely.
Father and mother-Oh dear wish |
could die. aud then they would not be as.
hamel of me all the time :"
"Thc slrrowlul vo,cc ceased, and sob NJ
ter sob fcll uina my aching ear. | could
restrain myself no longer, hut entering the
chamber drew tho weeping child to my
bosom, layishlns kisses aud cares'c, upon
her.
80 Aunt Mercy" at length she sad ;
you think mea y,ry silly ll,,le girl; bat
YOU do not know whata dreadful thing It
is To hl home'y. lihoush,-I thought II
everybody els called mo homely, Harry
May would not because 10 always takes my
part AZ school, when the children laugh ut
me, and only last week when one Of the boys
called me "spcckle.lace." !" he found me cry.
inr under the old elm at the back Of the
scho1l.housc, and he told me not 10 mind 1,
Tor was very pretty n him and always
would be. But now ho thinks - too aud
who will iako my part? What shall |
do2"
Twill Lucy darling" sad as I gent.
" smoo,hel her hair from her burning
brow -" You are very. sweet and dear to
me, aud love you better than any li,tIs
girl know Of. 80
"p,ar Aunt Mrcy she rrplicl. a' she
looked up into my lloa with hrr whole SOL
m ncr eyes "h.w god yon are'' aud
then she slii lrom NY lap into the louus',
aud som tell asleep. lIsr breathing was
short and irregular. anl her f,r, wt' pair
fully lp.hol lclrcl she was ft,eush; and
my tear, wer, well founded f1r ero morn.
Ing. she was de.rous. watched over her
night and LAY. Tor she hal bcpma very
dear t, me. Many thins' passed her lip
that were not quite understood by ia1 hn
ily bat knew ih'r import we'll.
go Harry Do ni, let the boy. teAsa mc, "
she would s,m',imas murmur, in broken
s'n,'nc,s. Then again sac would sob, II
shall licifynnl,we m, Harry B" or " have
you f-rs,tt'n the tims when We made sand
hous,-.pns, lon; asIg' "wilI YOU
l,ay, u1f o Harry Harry" aud
many other brok'n sentences. whici though
broken AMI weak. revealed 6, ne tho heart
history of the uncln.,ili, lii,la slG,rcr.
Two week, aree Lucy va, taken sick,
Harry Nay ler. hl' hIn, - cnt'r tha mer.
cantIc hons, of hi' uncle, who r..iici in
Cmton-hi, father ,hukins it ,inl or him
q prepare him,.,l Tor business, Us ho was
nearly ,e,onirrn years OF age.
"li was SIX week. before Lucy was s,
that 30, could l,lgo h,r bel. well TO-.
member ,lu ir.t ,iml she i,lsp. lava, a
mild, pleasant evening IN June. and ~ she
nt .ipp,rt'i ln her arm chair before the
window wl,chln, ,hi hl.ns IinI. ot the
golden sunset. -i, lo,k,l almost bilutiCal
to me. II.r Ia, was very pale, aud her
eyes had a s,i', dsnny, expression, qIito
now 6, them.
"Aani Mercy" at length Sac said, d,
ittrui that !lsry Nay has g,ns away?
dreamed i, IS, many times whIls was sick
and lesl a, IL ii were true"
Idrs,iei the result bat replied in the ai'
frmltiyo.
lam very gnl, auntia," she said calm.
ly. IL, i, much better -, for now am
going - b, your own Iit'le GIRL am -.
ins 10 live with yon. You know you s'id
you would care inr me-"
"Dlr li,il, Lucy - you shall" I said
with forced c1mp,.urc, fearful OF exciting
her in any way; bat ny heTt cri,d oui
for very j,y. l1r thIs was a thought which
had never lef, mo since the first mpaent |
met "a, child And 5, il was decided tha I
she should accompany ms to my New Eng
land home.
Toay that Lucy was not teniorly loved
hy her parents, would not bi true Tor, in
reality she was as dear u them as either OF
tho more favored one. but somehow they
had formed an idea that an apology was
due Tor her p'ainness, and thus had formed
. hahi, Of offering on' on all OCCASIONS, little
thinking how thaiT wIrl' plin,l her scnsi
tive heart Now that shs was abjni 70
leqyo them, every member Of the family,
showcrcd kindncssos upon her, and | some
times thought she mi sht regret her hastily
formed decision so ono day when We were
alone. | said
" Lucy dear, do you not regret leaving
al your homo friends, to find homo with
Aunt Mercy? lsomc,lmes thiuk they love
You ton well to spare you"
"They loyo ma very much ; but still !
am but plain littl, Lucy to them, and it is
better shogll 20. Bill, Frank aud Wal.
ter are beautiful, hut | am ono by myself, "
was her quiet answer.
Ifs; painei at her reply but could nos
says word, FOR, in my heart | said, :" 1t i'
even 50.
That Lucy was right. her mothers part
ing word. testified. rs she pressed her to
her bosom. she said IL il better to be
Lucy than Bella; for YOU. my love, for
your little plain face will no, meet 9TH the
trials and temptations that Bella would with
her beauty.
" Good bye, my plain little puss," 'aid
the father as he folded her in his arms.
" God bles. and care for you !"
Tears stood in Franks eyes as he pressed tho