The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-12-31

approached with eager steps and longing
hearts the one oasis amid an carth-wiGe
desert, where the never ceaaing springs
OF love and peace aud happiness should
ever be found
The house which the young girl shrank
from entering bore 10 appearance of
poverty or discomfort. On the contrary,
it was large, fashionable brick house,
with cheerful looking windows, into
which the sun light smiled, and with
doors Of inviting aspect.
Annie Rathturn had in that house a
stcp-mother, Il stcp-sister, two halfsis-
tens and half-brother. Why was there
aught for dread in that fact We will
answer. Since the time the Widow
Hartley entered that house as its mis-
tress, the wife Of Mr.. Eath5urn and
stcp-mother to his only child, the latter
had been an ohicct Of envy and dislike
to the lady: anG, as her p,cjudices were
strong, and her disposition arbitrary, the
martyrdom of the child Annie COM
menced not by blows or harsh language
or the deprivation Of ANY Of the Injuries
to which tie child was accustomed. She
was too polite for that, and regarded the
opinion Of the world too highly to ha2ar d
that: but by cutting sarcasns, wound
ing the child in the tcndcrcst points,
and the yet more effective weapon Of
ridiculo, BY willul misunderstanding and
artful misrepresentation to her father,
thereby alternating from her, in great
measure, her fathers affection.
Had Annie Ratlburn been OF weak
character, or humble disposition, she had
been crushed long ere this into the sub
massive thing Mrs. RatLburn wished,
with no will Of her own; but the reso-
lutte, high-spritcd child seemed uncon-
querable. Her stcp-motbcr sometimes
became discouraged, and regretted that
since she could not conquer her, she had
not rather cndcavored to manage her by
artrui lattcry and pretended affection
but the time for that had long since
gone by.
Surely Mrs. Rat.burn might have
been satisfied. Her work was apparent
L"Y"' I','i't, ''I " !",S''',r' var , '1
become proud, cold, unsocial, uuSyu-
' va, ny a'' Vi ''z"''V''
lhere was one warm place III Anne
h'aFt yet, however, ana hcr ltt!Ie hait-
brother, Willie, had crcpt into 1t. lie
was only six years old, and had been an
invalid almost from his Liwh.-.a iiUlc.
Aclp!rSS cripple. lie was the only one
Vi the children WHO Ies"MbIcu her father
III features or oi&lo>ition; and beautiful
was tie affection existing between Annie
ana TINS chiit, he depending almost
entirely rlrn her ior his lica$urcs-shc
ever tendor!y minlstering unto him. 1t
was the wonder OF the family that OF
them all, Wine cared most tor cold,
quiet Annie, and was ever happy when
sac was WIN MN. bnt 1t was when
alone with Ann that Annie manifested
the least tenderness; but then-~ah
well might he persist insayInS' g he knew
SISTER Anne loved hm."
lhliy' the youngest enid, was four
years Ola, hHa, just bursting INTO Woman-
h'od' nNd EdI'h Hartley few months
oIGGf yuan ANNE
boin lam ana Iva were radIantiy
'eaV'linl' strongly resembling then
mother IN feature as wen as mind. The
lor'Ner was Vai'l' selfish and. unlcelin@
Out she seemed so apparently amIabIe
ana artless' ana was so brilliant, and
coula renter herself so agreeable, 1t Na>
olhIcuit ut hfSt TO read her true charac,
ter. Eva was less artsnl, anu was KING
ana pleasant enough When her Wl5he'
were not t!i"artcu, cut lil-tompcrcd and
unreasonable otherwise. 1t may vel
be believed that with their mother
example and training, they did not
assist IN making Aiinie 5 home pleasant
10 lct
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w NJ ,a'"ol > o'' ~ 'N''c cars o'-o''
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