Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-11-20

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sing, went to my desk and wrote an an
swer. offered her home, with all thu
comforts a brothers tenderness could de
wise, and begged her to come to me.
received no answer for fortnight
Then letter came, written in a strang,
hand, informing me that my poor Laura
was dead, and that the writer had beer
directed to send the child to me. WoulC
be good enough to meet the stage a
the depot the next morning? showed
my brother the letter, and talked witt
bin about it. His quick sympathiei
were Immediately all alive.
The cbId's sex is not mentioned, he
said, running his bright eyes over the
epistle for the second time. But oi
course it is boy. What could you do
with a little girl?
The next morning / awoke with vi
olent headache, and was unable to arise
for some time, so that Leslie took the
chaise, and went to the depot in my
stead. Sooner than / expected his re-
turn heard the sound of his footsteps in
the ball, and rose from my chair to greet
the new conner. Suddenly the door
opened, and Leslie entered, leading by
the hand fair faced girl of fourteen,
with great wistful brown eyes, and shi>
ming braids of pale golden hair.
This is your guardian, Lucy said
Leslie, leading her towards me. 'How
quickly children get acquainted tho't.
As soon as took her little white hand,
she glanced up to me with a look that
made me start.
~ GU are very much like your mother,
dear. Do you think you will be happy
with me?' l said, in my blunt old fash
ioned way.
Her mouth quivered as she replied,
and her voice was as sweet as birds.
Yes, and l shall love you,' she said
smiling, with her eyes full of tears.
In the evening, after tea, we gathered
about the fire in the library, and drew
my ward upon my knee, while Leslie sat
at my fcct, with his eyes raised TO Lucy s
face in ardent admiration. | was not
obliged to question her much about her
past life. She told ME about her mother
how much she had suffered, striving
against poverty, and sickness, and con-
slant fear of being discovered in her re-
treat by her brutal husband. The young
girl evidently had great dread of her
father. She shuddered as she spoke of
him.
Il never wish to see him again
How well l remember that night
The rosy light from the Goals in the open
CRATE playing over my brothers hand
some, earnest face, and the shining
braids Of my wards golden hair, the
sound OF her sweet voice, the touch of
her slender arm about my neck, the thrill
which went through my heart when her
lips quivered as she talked of her moth
er--it all came back to me at this late
lay, like a pleasant dream.
There had been moments while wait
I'd for the child's coming, in which had
experienced a selfish fear lest the highly
'rhed quiet and serenity of my home
would be disturbed by the new comer.-
could not have entertained a more erro-
leous idea regarding her. She loved the
Ireary atmosphere of the old place as
veil as l did. Sitting at my window l
ometimes watched her, for hours, wan
ering among the flowers in the garden,
nd training the vines. She weeded the
hoicest beds with her own hands, tended ,
be slips and cuttings with her anxious 4,
yes, nursed the weakly plants,and tanned :
II the birds about the place. 1t was not
'ng before l began to wonder how had :,
yer managed to live without her If / +
Uttered with the headache, the soft touch
her magic hands cured me if | was
loody, she chatted pleasantly till was |
/ better spirits; she sung for me, and
lad for me, and managed me complete !
:. She always kissed me at night. l
rev TO think that slept sweeter re> y
embering tbe touch of her fresh young =
ps upon my forehead.
Her coming to lis made great change
Leslie. He always spent his vaca- n
ons at home; he became less head y
rong, and wilful. He excelled in stud a
S that he had before been deficient in,
I'd graduated with the highest honors. a
here was decided Improvement in h,
m. 6,
mentioned this TO Lucy one morning, h,
ID assured her that I thought it the =,
Ork of her influence. 1t was her sew
teenth birthday--how well l remem> 70
r how she looked-and she sat by the /,