Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-07-12
Pete in There!"
LET EVERY ONE READ rms.

sat in the depot, awaiting The ears
There came in a group, evidently bearing
the relation OF father mother, nurse and
child. This is quartetie common Tho
world over, yet always interesting, and tho
lille traveller can find 10 better subject loI
observation.
In this instance my curiosity was excited
by noticing that the delicate mother carried
in her own arms the chill, evidently as
much as three years old,) while the hale
young father and the robust nurse bore no
burden.
She seated her gently, and the little girl
said, Now please take off Libby's veil AID
bonnet. Libby will walk
looked at the child's face-her cye-lils
dropped so much could not tell the color
of her eyes. She was very white, and |
shall never forget the sweet sadness Of her
expression,
Now Libby will walk--Libby is moi
afraid here; and she crossed the room,
raising her feet at every step and holding
ont her arms in way that told me p'ainly,
.Libby is blind = Then OWNED why the
pale mothers arms wore so strong to carry
her helpless one. The tender eyes with
which she followed her, tod Of more than
mothers Iowa mo hers pity--it was
easy to see that she would work, endure,
brave danger, fight for her blind daughter.
Yet she committed wrong toward her that
gave me the heart-ache.
Libby, in making the circuit Of the room,
came near the stoye--her mother exclaimed !
Don't 20 there, Pete IN there. Big back
Pete acW catch Lib5y!' The child drew
back with shudder, and felt her way as
fast as possible to the other side Of the room;
here she laid her hands upon the handle of a
door, lealng into The ticket Office. Fer
father said, Libby must open that door.
Pete out there, and he wW eat Libby mp =
A look of terror ran over her face, aud she
came TO the window where ! sat, carefully
feeling every chair by the way, and asking,
Is this pretty chair?' By-and.by she
touched my dress then the nurse spoke,
Pete Here--don't 90 there. Not choosing
10 be a ue-bear TO brighten a little blind
girl drew her gently &c me, gave her my
sun-shade, found some parched corn in my
travelling bag,and pleasantly seated her upon
my lap, where she softly examined my face
and bonnet with the tips OF her tiny fingers,
greatly embarrassing her papa with the ques-
ton - Is this pretty lady Has she on
pretty bonnet?'
Now Libby will sing for the lady and
in sweet soft tone (not screaming as chill
dren usually do) she sang =
Iwant to be an angel and with the angels stand,
crown upon my freheaA, a harp within my hand
81 80
Ia wake the sweetest music and praise hin day and night
Her voice was singulary clear and pa
thetic, reminding me Of the swamp-robin
that trills his pensiye notes from the wood
at sunset.
As soon as her song was finished, with
a sudden transition she slid from my lap.
saying, Now Libby will dance, aud
began polka, humming her own tune to ii.
She danced till her wachfu mother fearing
she would be exhausted, babe her rest
Still she turned round aud round apparent
ly free from giddiness, and conscious only
of the pleasant motion. Then her mother
thought il time TO summon Pete. Pete
viii come up through the floor and catch
Libby's feetl' Instantly her dance stopped.
She crept into chair, and tucking her feet
under her, sat mot:onless. Still for ever
Pete--alas is it not enough that this dear
child must grope sightless through life?-I
for ever denied the blue OF the sky, the YER
dnre of the earth, the lordly growth of the
trees, the lowly grace of the plants, the
varied dyes of the flowers the forms of the |
brds--with a yearning too for half compre-
hended beauty, betrayed in her constantly |
repeated question, is this pretty
Must her mother inrcnt monster to ter
r:fy her long night ?--for God never made
the man or brute that would harm blind
girl
She had seemed pleased and grateful for
my interest il Libby, and ventured a re-
monslrance about the fictitious Pete, but
with no effect. She smiled inereduousIy,
said Libby was inqusilye, that her spirit
Of investigation led her often into danger
But her firm belief in and terror of The |
imaginary Pete, governed her perfectly and /
beautifully, making any resort to coercion
or punishment unnecessary.
am not fond Of whipping children
Least of all would | like TO strike such a
helpless one; but if necessary 10 keep her
from danger or make her obedient, would
rather apply tinging rod TO her flesh, than
dread 10 her imagination. But this mother
was unable TO conceive of any suffering but
physical pain, and turned from me as a
cruel diseiplinarian.
Afterwards in the ears there was a creak-
ing sharp enough to wound Libhys nerves,
and she screamed. They said to her Sit
still, ttis NE squcotiag Of Pete's bin boots r
Mamma please held Libby. Libby so
much afraid were the last words heard
her say.
My eyes were blinded with tears. In
her fragile hands, the pathetic miner Of her
voice, the angelic sweetness of her smile.
sought to read her early death. Ipraved-
Jesus take her quickly; 40 bosom but thine
not even moiher's--is tender enough
for blind infant. Enclose her within those
pearly gates where the tramp of old Pete
shall never again brighten her Imagination.
Let her first enchanted gaze rest upon her
Savior, and reveal TO her new born sight the
beauties Of gloriiied bodies richly encom-
passing her for all her deprivaiions and sui.
ferings here. Already she sings -
Oh. there I'm be angel and With the angels stand
a crown epoi my f,rehead harp within nv hind
I'D there tefore my Savior glorious aud - brit
u the heavenly a. hum