Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-06-13

tastatio.
You ought to tell 'ue,'' replied the la
dy, "lou know, OF coursc-the pretty Ital-
ian poem with the playhouse name
do you mean Dante's Divina Clmedia,
Madam
not?"
at is considered a very fine poem, Mad
am
Yes, pretty or fine, that's what Mr.. Rob
crt Smith called it; though | think if It's
comedy, it shouldn't be called Dnile.r
Lucy assured the lady that the Divine
Comedia was not a play in FIVE acts with
stage directions, but rather a religious 10
en-.
81 understand your meaning. 'gslid her
employer, something like Milton, | sup
pose. ] heard Mr.. Robert Smith remark
his remarks are 50 to the purpose-that Nil
ton was tragedy quite. You will under
stand that you are to teach Priscilla Italian.
And about the terms, Mr.. Robert Smith
says you are not to increase them, as he
really can't afford it
ma amp said Lucy, astonished
ali you object, of course, we must liud
another responsible person, who will include
Italian for the amount OF your present sal
ary.'
Lucy mother was in liIling health. Need
we say that she was too happy to teach ltal-
ian without remuneration, under the circum-
stances. On the same morning Mis-. Rob
ert Smith dismissed her cook. who blunder-
cd at pate de foIe grds. and hired another
at greatly enlarged wages
The widow Hinchliff was not only IL fail
ing health, but she was nearer death than
Lucy had any idea Of. When the poor girl
returned home that evening-she went to six
| houses first, and walked distlnce OF seven
miles,-she found that her parent had been
obliged to retire to bed. The servant, alarm
ed by her mistress condition, had called in
neighbor, who only waited for Lucy return
to urge the propriety of sending for Doctor
Lucy not only assented, but ran herself to
fetch one. - can give you no hope" he
said; and she felt that blight had passed
over her young life. When one that VIC
dearly love is stricken down TO die, we look
out upon the world as if we had no longer
hope, or part, or lot therein.
She had TO practice the quadrilles that
night, on her hired piano, in fulfillment Of
the promise made to Mrs. Smith. Her moth
er had fallen into one of those doing restos,
"a
the thought Of waking gay quadrille music
in the house. on whose threshold, even at
that moment, Death the destroyer stood,
shocked Luey's feelings. No, she could not
do that, let Mrs. Robert Smith say what she
pleased.
She sat through the longest night she had
ever known-ior the heart measures the
hours, not the clcck--a watcher by her
mothers bed. When the glad sunshine
came gushing in at the easement, and lark
after lark poured forth his jubIlant thanks
giving for his sleep in the dcwy grass, she |
undresscd hcrscIl and went to her own
chamber, leaving the servant 10 supply Lcr
place. There was no visible alteration IN
her parent when with many fears and one Of
the siddest hearts that ever beat in human
bosom, she left the cottage upon her con-
slant diurual mission. She was late. and
had 10 walk hurriedly. 1t raincd. too, aud
she had no smile for the toll gate keeper
lie saw she was sad, and contented himself |
with a touch of his hat, by way Of recog- |
milton. He WAS sad, too, for the scaldei |
child had died during the night. " Best |
not to tell her now,' he thought, " she has !
her own trouble this morning G)d help |
her. She had indeed.
" You are full ten minutes behind your |
time, Miss lIInchlif. | never find you Stlys |
ing ten minutes over your time, was MIS-. |
Robert Smiths salutation.
II am very sorry Ma'm-but left my |
mother at home very ill-dyIng, Ma am, the |
doctor says replied Lucy, bursting into /
tears.
Dyins-doar me. OF course you feel |
very much put out; but puncmality, Mr.. |
Robert Smith says, is the soul OF an engage
l,,- al,r .4t4 T. EQrf
but as YOU are come, you can set Prlsci.la's
mind at case she is dying to Ilay the qua
drilles and to begin her Italian
oil was unable to run them through
last night, Ma am stammercd Lucy, my
mother was so ill.,.
"Then you arc not ready with those qua
drilles again, Miss Ilinchlih, - exclaimed Alrs.
Robert Smith really, at your age, a
Young woman should know the value Of her
promise.
- could not disturb my mother. said
Lucy, appealingly.
"Of course, l take that into consideration,
replied her employer ."but you, as respon-
sible person, .should know the value oil a
primise. However, | excuse yon since your
mother is dyfng-only don't let 1t happen
again. You will commence Priscllla's ltal-
ian this morning, of c "rse.
al have been SO unfortunate as TO forget
nv own grammar, b It if Priscilla Is not pro
yided with one
"Her father says that he cannot afford any
Italian books, her French ones came 50 oX-
pensive lie thought YOU could have no OBJ
lection to lend her yours.
What could Lucy say, but that her books
were at Priscilla's service.
Her mother was worse that evening and
had been, as the neigh5ors said deiirious dn-
ring her absence. Lucy asked herself wheth-
er She should practice the quadrllles. She
was not lcng in declining. Though she
should go without bread, she would not ior-
get her duty as daughter. Her place was
at her mother bed SIDE.
That day Mr.. Robert Smith paid visit TO
a friend whose governess not only taught
Italian for the same salary that was paid to
| Lucy Hinckliif, but also proiessed to include
| Snanish. When Lucy was admitted the next
morning. the lady placed small sum ol
money in her hand, and informed her that
| s.domestic arrangements would render her
future attendance unnecessary. The poor
| Girl was not at all cast down by the circum-
stances. Was not her mother lll-dyins at
home? She would not be Obliged to leave
her SO early in the morning
Her mother died three days alterSdTds. y
letter written by Lucy to the rich relation,
brought cool answer back; in which the
writer recommended her to he inductrlous,
and to " keep her character.
And now Lucy was alone IN the world, IN
which are 50 many faces, aud 80 many hearts
beating with warm life. Even the toll-sate
keeper had disappeared. Ills place was sup
piled by a stranger, man of coarse ,srepul
sive aspect. Lucy felt the loss, even Of that
acq lalntancc.
Within a month after her mother death,
she was compelled to resign another OF her
engagements her employer. widower,
having made dshJuUrable profosils to her.
She advertised IN tne papers. but could not
meet with an appointment She had re
moved into lodgings now.
One night-cold. rainy November night
Lucy Hiuchliff, sat in her little room by her
little room by her fire, much pcnderlng over
many things, what it was fitting for a young
girl like her to do, who being 50 unprotected