Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-08-01

to fte as if Lettie had always, from the first,
gor.s softly cropping her way, and had al
wa, led her to chapel and back. Harry
stu led in London +; then we heard Of him in
Edinburgh; and at last his. mother said he
hadtgone to Paris and she was half afraid
he would settle there and marry a French
wife. Lettie looked sorrowful and restless
for day or two after that, but presently re-
covered her cheerfulness Wehad not much
change or variety at home. There was for
eveis at my work, and Lettie at her music.
She had gained great deal of skill now
anc many time have seen knot of peo-
ple- standing at the corner of our garden
hedge to listen to her singing. have heard
lsezsral grand public performers since then;
but never one who could touch myheart and
bring the tears into my eyes as my poor blind
sistcrd did, On Sundays, at chapel, we could
hear her voice, clear and sweet, above all
the rest; and, though our tunes we're wild
and simple-sung by her, they were beau
tifui. Sometimes she would 90 to St. Johns
church for the sake of the organ and the
chanting, but did not feel it right to change;
habit is strong in slow, untaught people; and
it sd not seem as if | had kept my Sabbath,
unless I SAT-, my prayers in the homely little
chapel to which ous mott,,::A ,,::Ar had led US by
the hand when we were chl,1ren. Lettle
loved the grand church music, and who could
wonder at it, poor lassie Once or twice
when she begged me to 60 with her, it had
seemed to fill my heart with pain almost; so
how much more must it have excited her
who was all fire and enthusiasm She said
it made her feel happier and better, and
more thankful to God. Perhaps in losing
one sense her enjoyment through the others
grew more intense.
".
At the end of these six years Harry Crofts
came home He was often at our house,
and we liked having him but, though Let
tie seemed happy enough, he was uneasy and
discontented. have seen him stand beside
the piano, and never take his eyes off her
by the half-hour together; but his face look
ed quite gloomy. At last he one day said
to me: Jane, are you timid-I do not
think Lettie is? She seems strong and
WE'LL" I knew he meant more than a sim
pie inquiry after our nerves, and [ asked if
he thought he had found out cure for sis
ter, He turned quite red.
Eyes. I believe I have; I saw an opera
tio1 performed in Paris on girls eyes SINH
larly affected. It was successful"
TOO good too beautiful to be e15seff true Jase at
this minute Lettie came in through the door
way; there was sunshine behind her, and
she appeared to bring it into the parlor with
her. care you here, Harry p she imme-
diately asked.
It was strange thing, that although she
never saw nor heard him speak, she was at
once aware of his presence. He got up and
took her by the hand, and brought her to
me. "Tell her, Jane, or shall | % he whis-
pered. I signed to him to speak himself,
which he did without hesitation.
"Lettie, have you courage to undergo an
operation on your eyes which may restore
your sight?'
She clasped her hands, and such bcauti-
full color came flushing up into her face-you
would have said it was like an angels face,
it changed SO brightly.
"Oh. yes! anything, anything. Harry,
only give me that hope!' said she, softly.
| looked at him questioningly to ask if he
had not better warn her of possible disap-
pointment, and he said at once:
''Lettie, I ought to tell you that this ope-
ration may fail, though l do not fear that it
will. For my sake, Lettie," he added, in
an under-tone
"Well, then. for your sake, Harry" she
reple ], with a low sigh. ''Even ifit should
not give me back my sight, I shall only be
as am now"
They went out into the garden together; !;
and, from the earnest, gentle way in which
Harry talked to Lettie, know that he was
preparing her for what she had to undergo.
She did not want for courage in any circum-
stances, and [ did not look for her being
weak now.
The operation was performed during the
following week. Doctor Phillipson and Doc
tor Nash were both present, but Harry
Crofts himself did it, His nerve was won
derful. Lettie behaved admirably too :;
indeed, nobody was foolish but myself, and
when it was over [ tainted. 1t was entire
ly successful my sister has her sight now =,
as good as [ have. For several weeks we
kent her in darkened room, but she was
gradually permitted to face the light, and
the Joy Of that time is more than words can
describe.
Harry Crofts soon after claimed her as
his wife; and really, to say the truth, no.
body had better right to her. The report
of the singular cure he had made, lifted him
at once into consideration and, as he made
diseases of the eye his particular study, he
is now as celebrated an occulist as DR.. Phil
lipson himself; many persons indeed give
him the preference. The operation, then
thought SO much of, is now of frequent oc-
currence: Lettie's kind of blindness being
no longer irremcdiable.
And this is all need tell about our histo-
ry; it is not much, or very romantic, but I am
often asked about it, so | have just set down
the truth.
9EsTs'The times are hard, wife, and find it