Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-06-28
PETE IN THEREp
LET EVERY ONE READ THIS.

! CIlIu' IulS is quarletIe cOmmOn TIE
: world over, yet always interesting, and
Il the idle traveller can find no better subject
: for observation.
:, In this instance my curiosity was ex-
cited by noticing that the delicate mother
- carried in her own arms the child, levi.
IDENTIFY as much as three years old,) while
the hale young father and the robust
0 nurse bore no burden.
She seated her gently, and the lite girl
said, NOW please take of Libby's veil
and bonnet. Libby will walk
l looked at the child's face-her eye
| lids dropped so much could not tell the
color of her eyes. She was very white,
and shall never forget the sweet sad
ness of her expression.
Now Libby will walk-Libby is not
afraid here and she crossed the room,
raising her feet at every step and holding
out her arms in way that told me plain
| ly, Libby is blindF Then 1 OWNED why
the pale mothers arms were SO strong to
carry her helpless one. The tender eyes
with which she followed her, told of more
than mothers lOve-a mothers pity
it was easy to see that she would work,
endure, brave danger, fight for her blind
daughter. Ret she committed wrong
toward her that gave me the heart-ache
Libby, in making the circuit of the
room, came near the stove-her mother
exclaimed Don't go there, Pete in
there. Big black Pete aoiH catch Li55y Fl
The child drew back with shudder, and
] ielt her way as fast as possible to the
other side of the room here she laid her
hands upon the handle of door, leading
into the ticket office. Her father said, |
Libby must not open that door. Pete is
out there, and he aciH eat Libby upP A
look Of terror ran over her face, and she
came to the window where sat, care
fully feeling every chair by the way, and
asking, Is this apretty chair?' By-and-
by she touched my dress then the nurse
spoke, Pete Mere-don't 60 there. Not
choosing to be bug-bear to frighten
little blind girl, drew her gently to me,
gave her my sun-shade, found some
parched corn in my travelling bag, and
presently 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 question
Is this a pretty lady? Has she on a
pretty bonnet?
Now Libby viii sing for the lady
and in sweet soft tone mot screaming
as children usually do) she sang;
1 wantto be an angel, and with the angels stand,
A crown upon my forehead, harp within my
hand.
There right before my Saviour, so glorous and
so bright.
I'd wake the sweetest music, and praise him day
and night I,
Her voice was singularly clear and pa
thetic, reminding me of the swamp-robin
that trills his pensive 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 and be-
gan polka, humming her own tune to it. t
She danced till her watchful mother fear {
ing she would be exhausted, bade her
rest. Still she turned round and round. G
free from giddiness, and con- |
scious only of the pleasant motion. Then
her mother thought ii time to summon ,
Pete. pete will come up through the =
floor and catch Libby's feet y Instantly r
her dance stopped. She crept into e
chair, and, tucking her feet under her, +
sat motionless. Still for ever Pete--alas f
IS it not enough that this dear child must h
yrope sightless through life ?-for ever
lenied the blue of the sky, the verdure h
'f the earth, the lordly growth of the a
rees, the lowly grace of the plants, the 6,
Varied dyes of the flowers, the forms of f.
he birds-with yearning too for half n
;omprehended beauty, betrayed in her
repeated question, is this
pretty? II
Must her mother iauem a monster to
errify her long night?-for God never n,
made the man or brute that would know II
ngly harm a blind girl 6
She had seemed pleased and grateful Dc
or my interest in Libby, and ventured W
remonstrance about the fictitious Pete, 81
'ut with no effect. She smiled incred- Oil
lously, said Libby was inquisitive, that b,
er spirit of investigation led her often tb
nto danger. But her firm belief in and fla
error of the imaginary Pete, governed =
er perfectly and beautifully, making any 81 81
esort to coercion or punishment unnec- ar
ssary. in