Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-07-17
THE MANTLE OF BEAUTY.

81 pity Margaret, she is so plain.
Certainly, she is very plain; but, then
she is so good"
Goodness is very well in its way; but
q handsome face and fine person will dc
more for girl than goodness" was the re,
ply.
'In worldly point of view, you mean?'
The first speaker did not answer this re-
mark.
1t suggested thoughts not wholly in agree
mcnt with the sentiments just uttered.
The subject of conversation was the
youngest of three sisters. She was called
homely by almost every one yet it is but
fair to say that she was too often seen as a
foil to her handsome sisters, whose bright
eyes, regular features, rich complexion, and
free, graceful carriage, had won for them
the appellation of "the two beauties"
Parents are not always wise and just -
The fact of being father or mother does
not, as a matter of course, lift a person
above his OF her natural weakness and de-.
fects Of character, or change materially the
old estimate Of men and things. The
mother of these girls was very far from be-
ing wise woman, and quite as far from be-
ing just towards her youngest child. The
beauty of the two elder sisters she sought
to increase by all the available arts OF dress,
while the very plaincst and coarseness of at
tire which she deemed good enough for
Margaret, made the latter seem homier
than she really was. Margaret, not being
an ornamental appendagc of the household,
was made useful. While her sisters dress
ed and saw company, she was at work, and
often at work for them. She felt the unjust
discrimination, and often cried overit, when
no one saw her; but neither rebelled nor
complained
II pity her, she is so plain" This was
often said by those who saw Margaret in
contrast with her sisters. But it almost
happened, that those who had any true
knowledge with regard to her character
would answer-''But she is SO good"
There is beauty in GODDESS. That was
her compensation. IF the outer garment
was plain, tie inner form and true substance
of her being had symetry and grace be-
yond what the flesh puts on in its most en-
We'd perfection. And compensation went
farther still. The soul is in perpetual ef-
fort to impress likeness Of It's quality in
face, to mould the features into il, image of
itself. Ii this law was in favor of Margar-
ct, it was against her sisters, for, while she
was living in sclfdenial, both willing and
doing right in every relation, no matter how
unplcast, they were cherishing pride, selfish
ness, vanity, worldiness, envy, and ill-na.
ture.
The time came, as years progressed, when
it was no longer said, II pity her. she is So
plain"
Not that any saw signs of beauty in her
face, but it was no longer perceived as
homcly. She did not appear in company
as frequently as her gay and brilliant
sisters, who always had around them cir
Gle Of admirers, but when she appeared,
she did not sit lone, as once, nor SO often
form the subject of dcpreciating compaii-
son.
Persons who had kept aloft from her be.
gan to feel an attraction that drew themsto
her side, and many wondered how it was
that they had been so slow in discovering
how greatly she was, in some things, super
ior to her more snowy sisters.
There was sphere of tranquility about
Margaret, which was felt by every one who
approached her The repose of her man
ner did not break up easily but TO right
sentiments and feelings she responded with
warmth Of expression that yelled nothing
OF insncerity. In conversation, where the
subject was agreeable thought would light
up her countenance, and play over it in
manifold changes. 1t was singularly mobile
to the answering to emotion, never
Time came when the two elder sisters
found themselves often less attractive in
company than the homely Margaret Young
men whose favor they desired to win, were
not unfrequcnty indifferent to all their arts
and Establishments, and yet, stranger still,
as it appeared to them, so interested in
Margaret, as to be cmulous of attention to-
ward her. -
1t is not always that truth comes to ears
most concerned in hearing it. Friends and
neghbors see and talk about our personal
defects, peculiarities, and hinderinc faults,
though we see them not, and go on bindly
ndulging them to our loss and injury. Mar
garct's two elder sisters still thought them
'elves beautiful, winning, graceful beyond
Ill comparison with their Cinderella, as
'nce they had been vain and heartless
enough to call her. They did not recog-
'izc the fairy work that, with slower than
I'D fairy touches, yet with more enduring
magic, was Transforming her daily. But
here were eyes that could see while theirs
we're blind, and it happened that through
he sense of hearing, they gained knowl.
'dge' OF what their sight had failed to give.