Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-11-23

THAT is the zebra-plant, Miss"
he spcke slowly and dlstinctly, and made nc
iurther remark. Arrah looked attentively al
the plant, and repeated the name several timos
Finally. shes said,
q. .Dra Isn't pretty name. Dennis"
he took hold OF q spray Of the plant, and
made Arrah notice the green and white stripes
on the leaves. As soon aa he was sure tha. she
fully ccmprehended what he wac .a,king about
he told her that Ii wes called zebra plant be.
cause IL was striped like q zebra.
"What 10 o zebra7'
"a zebra is little horse with striped
skin"
"Whs.! tell Arrab again"
"A zebra ig little horse"
"Yes, a zebra is a little hor.e Wba,
else2"
with striped ekln "
"Yes, with striped skin -
SIZE considered for moment, looking al the
plant ve.J stsentively, and then sue added,
Little zsbra-horse has striped skin. ebra.
plant has striped leaves. expect liste zebra.
horse eats zebra plant"
And che pstted the plant With an appearance
o. great satisfaction.
"Ye see, ma'am, che kenu,' said Dennis
turning 10 triumph to Mrs. Herbert. "ThC
bonny BARN kens vera weel; and, TO my tbipkin'
them that ca her lou are mair like 10 be fOus'
their ala sells. She kens as much as oDy one u
| "leee sheis quite intelligent about the plants;
| suppose because che ie interested Ia them, "
said Mes. Herbert, seeing that Arrah was NOT
observing them, being quite taken up with the
plants.
"Aye, nye," said Dennis. "that she 10; and
had her ain mither lived to have tocht her wi
patience, che wad na hA' been cad an idiot
then, I'm .hnkin and II ony one wad take a
mlthers Interest in the puir bairn now, II wad
be a. RIGHT wi her yet. | Gamma raise choice
plants ma'sm, without plenty of care, to cav
naethin' o. air and sunshine"
| The broad hint OF the shre Nd old Scotchman
was no! lost upon Mrs. Herbert, and sbe watch
ed prayerfully for opportunities to cultivate the
germ of intellect she saw "a that clouded mind.
When the long silent piano wac tuned, and lie
rich chords echoed through the lofty rooms.
Arrah's delight was unbounded. She danced
up and down the parlors, keeping peIfec. time
with the mueic, laughing and clapping her hsnda
in ecstscy. Mrs. Herbert, fearful of the effect
of go much excitement, would have closed the
instrument, but Arrsh begged to have it left
open, and finally tried the keys with her own
slender fingers.
Six months later, Mr. Herbert came home
one evening with cloud upon his brow. A
bookseller had pressed upon his notice some
delightful attractive ohildrenS books, and his
heart ached because he could not buy them
He was reading newspaper, when Arrah came,
and leaning on bis shoulder, looked over with
him. Presently she put her small forefager
on the page and begsn to read slowly, hesiJat-
ingly. but correctly, little story for childrea.
He listened 10 delighted surprise until she had
finished, and then exclaimed,
l UWhv INV dauohtor 1uhn faunkk 49,, tc
read7"
Mamma did; and can play she piano, too.
| am not an idiot any more"
"My child; who ever told you that you were
an idictY" ''a. ~
"Oh, have heard Aunt Benton cay go a
great many times; but I am not, for l can
| read.h .... ....
| No indeed you are not. There is the tea
bell. Mamma, done you think It Is about time
for this great girl to have done eating in the
nursery2 She is almost eleven yeaFs DID,"
There was sn amused smile around Mrs
Herbert's mouth at this evidence of the sudden
rise Arrsh had made in her fathers esteem, as
she quietly answered,
| "Yes, have been thinking SO for some
time"
Accordingly, Arrah was given seat at the
table With her parents, and her father watched
her movements with feelings quite akin to these
he might be supposed to have II she had been
suddenly restored to him after being lost for a
long time. After ahe had gone to bed, Mrs.
Herbert told her hueband ell about old Denpis's
opinions as expfsssedlin the cocservastf ,Auah'a
delight upon hearing the piano, aud her at
sempis 20 play herself.
"I soon discovered" said che, shat she had
q good ear for music, aud taught her 20 play
several little tunes and sing the words. Pres
emily she became very much interested 10 the
sheet music and told her that would dc her
nc good until she could read. She ran away
and soon returned with little book her own
mother had used in teaching her. She laid It
on my lap and pointed out A aud o. thought
If che had remembered those two letters 90
long she could learn more. I began wi.h the
word method, and IL took whole week 70 learn
her the relation between the two words cat and
dog, and the objects which they represent. AT.
ter that had comparatively little trouble. She
learns slowly, but she never forgets anything,
and in time think she will make @ good sch
ar. She 10 biginning 70 learn to write pov."
"Why did you not tell me before7'
ooh, thought you would find It out, ju,t sa
you have. Il would have tried your patience
somewhat to have watched her progress from
the first"
/ y
amlable lady, but had she been as shreEish Of
xsntippe, and as ugly as "Muckle Mould Meg ,
1 her husband would have seen nothing but per.
lection In her after this. His song OF .hasks.
giving took the shape of choice and costly gifts
for his wife; any quantity Of pretty books
for Arrab, and large new Bible for Dennis
who was as much surprised as pleased at the
gift; because, honest old man, he hardly realz.
ed himself, much less suspected that his master
knew of his instEumentahty In bringing little
Arrah's hidden intellect to light. NeyeEthe-
less, from that day he took great delight in
hearing her read she words of Inspiration, when
his days work was done.
Ten m oro years passed away, apd the gem,
which it bad cost SO much time and labor to
polish, shone gloriously In most lovely set
ting. No daughter ever comprehendsd better
any business perplexity her father might ge,
into, and showed more accurate judgment ir
helping him straighten his accounts, or wrote
better home letters to soothe the anxiety of ar
4 absent parent. No elder sister ever gave more
patient end tender love-. or wiser and more
careful instruction, than did Arrah, TO the little
i group around her mothers knee. No drawing
room belle ever entertained her friends with
better grace, and mora sonnd aerse than she
could. Her conversation was always pleasant
aud although she never attempted any brilian
asshes of wit, there was q quiet vein of humoi
running through her thoughts, which plesset
without wounding any one by an undue sharp
ness.
She had rich and powerful voice, and gres
musical talent, and her playing and singing
would put to the blush many Q professiona
performer, and altogether eclipsed che hess iu
the crowd of amateurs to be found every where
Her piety was not conspicuous thing, becaut,