The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-06-17

Tour Whlte naDJS must not be Solled-
look at mine? They are bruised, an,
chapped, and swollen, but no matter
!, 1t is mo one but mother, and she
oid!' Yes, my child, I am Ill, an,
scarcely able to toll on as have done
cannot long-Ii fear you will live t,
remember this With many vain regret
The daughter was silent, and tn,
weary, disappointed mother rose ans
left the room9 baroqaI 81 .soifeia I
Il don't care said Kate, pfiulantly
as soon as, the door was closed i
can't help it if she does work. l DOM
think | ought to spoil my hands. "a
fine hand is one of the first points oi
beauty So tits, end as long as { eau
keep mine .Ene,' I shall Mothers SC
inconsid derate She might know that
woufdn't be ft for society. and would
never be married in the world if my
hands were disfgured with bousework.'
! A firm, footstep sounded on the side
walk, and Kate looked eagerly out.
With blush of pleasure she returned
the bow of a fine looking. young man
who passed the house, and then, as if
from sudden impulse, turned back,
ran up the steps and rang the bell
Mrs. Palmer, as usual, attended the
door.
When he entered the parlor, Horace
Magma found Kate with one exquisite
hand still supporting her head, and
the other carelessly holding magazine
of fashion. She was inst as beautiful
may more beautiful than when he had
seen her from the street.
Her cheeks gloxed with emotion;
her soft eyes bearhed him welcome from
their clear, blue depths; her Fly hand
trembled in his, and the magazine fell
beside her daintily slippered foot that
rested on velvet cushion.
But the light had quite faded from
the young mans face. He had sud
denly grown cold and distant. She was
as graceful, as afable, as entertaining
as ever, but Horace said little, and de,
parted soon -Ho never called again.
Kate's white hands had waited aud her
blue eyes beamed 10 vain.
A year afterward, Horace Magma
married sweet Kitty Foster. Her
hands were not white, nor even shape
ly; and she was very sensitive about
them. Somehow, when they had been
twelve month, Horace dis.
covered that Kitty did not like that he
should look at her hands.
'How is this?' said he, playfully-
sWhat ails my Kitty? Amt her dear
little paws clean2 or, has she some long,
sharp nails that ought not to see p
Kitty laughed till she cried, and then
told him that her hands were so home
ly that she couldn't bear to have him
look at them. He took her hands in
one of his, and throwing his arm her,
said: Il once thought Kate Palmer the
loveliest girl had ever seen. A great
many other fellows thought the same,
and guess they all came to the same
conclusion that [ did, eventually
Every expression of her face, every
word of her lips carried the conviction
to my mind that she was lovely as she
look ed.-But lips lie-so do iaccsl
didn't know it then, and while I ad-
mired her form and features, and voice
and manner,~I admired her character
equally. I had never seen anything
in art or nature, to compare with her
hands; and Kitty-ycu don't care cow,
do youI l wanted to put two rings on
Eer beautiful fingers. Going down
town one winter morning, consider
ed what sort of ring the first should
be, and concluded that diam ond-a
like your engagement ring,
Kitty-would best suit her style, and
probably her taste. Thus rejecting.
passed the house, and saw her sitting
at the window, one beautiful hand up
so; as if waiting for my gift.
"Why not now? said l. to myself,
and turning, went up and rang the
bell
"The door was opened by pale,
gray haired woman, who had
always attended the door when 1 had
been there. She said:
My daughter, sir? she is in the par
Ior.'
Il Looked at the mother. Poor soul!
Her calico dress was old and faded; her
apron soiled; her sleeves rolled up, and
she wore no collar; her hair was ,disar
ranged, and her bands-I don't know
what they were hke-worse than any
servants. She opened the parlor door
and said: oe..f asai,.:rsfa. =
Daughter, a gentleman wants to see
you.' and went away.
I mentally contrasted mother and
,hild. Katy's snowy cuffs and collar,
md handkerchief, and bright dress; her
slippered feet and beautiful hands!
Thoy! were contemplate sham, and
stampedrher as a vain, proud, wicked
would sooner have drowned
han married that girl! I despised her
Il was with. difficulty that could hard
y stay as long as civility required.
After that, when | met pretty, en-
yaging girl, my thought was; How |
does she treat her mother2"
Il found in you, my Kitty, one who
was the sunshineaot home; the helper
Of the needy; the kind companion of
he brother aud sister; the seffsacrifc
ng, devoted daughter. / know what
t was, my darling, that darkened and
hardened those dear little hands; works |
,f love, every home service; the faith
rul care that would not let a mother
pear the burden and the heat of the
luy.' Bless you for hands like these,
Aittyl If yoa don't admire them, re-
mem Der that they are miro l will
not have you depreciate my property,
md run down my treasures b.. gag
Meanwhile, wear this, and let 1T
prove that 1 love these dear hands, and
he gentle heart that prompts them to
works of .oVe.' lii lsn0zIs3 meas