The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-12-24
[From Once a wcek.l
LULA'S CHOICE.

Lula Thyrl was the only daughter of
an old couple who lived in solitary
cottage on the outskirts of the small
village of Genar. The Thyris were
stingy, surly and hard-hearted, and
were therefore no favorites among the
scanty population of Gonar, but for
the sake of Lula the old people were
tolerated. Lula had many friends, for
she was by far the sweetest-tempered
and most contented girl in Gonar.
She was also the plainest, fact which
gained her friends even among the
envious and ill-natured. Lula's pa
rents treated her with such harshness
that it was considered a wonder she
could always look so smiling and
happy as she did. And, perhaps, what
was even a greater wonder, Lula,
though her life was hard one, not
only looked, but was happy. What
her friends called drudgery was to her
only work, which was done with
cheerfulness, and when she had fin
.ished it, she knew where to look tor
pleasure.
Gonar was dull place, and the
Gonar people led dull lives; but Lula
had days of excitement as great as if
she was grand lady. No grand lady
ever waited with more anxiety for the
arrival of the wreath which was to be
worn at the next court ball, than Lula
watched for the opening of the bud
which told that spring was near !;
neither did the finest singer give that
same lady greater pleasure than Lula
felt when she heard the song of the
birds, which told her that spring had
come. And thus it was throughout
the year; Lula had always something
to look forward to with that pleasur-
able longing which made each day in
its turn a happy one.
But there came time when even
Lula had cause to weep, and it hap
pened thus: Her parents did not love
her, because she was not beautiful,
and when they had nothing else to do,
they used to sit and grumble at the
fate which had given them such a
daughter. One day Lula overheard
their lamentations. -..s
WAS ever women born so unfortu-
nate," said Frona, "as to have had
given her so ill-favored daughter
why, she will be on our hands all our
lives"
"You speak truly, wife, for sure
enough no one will marry the wench
unless it be Kolf Lyn, who, for the
sake of few pence, would marry sin
herself"
"Well thought of" exclaimed
the old dame. "If Lula can't be
matched any other way, Kolf's wife
she shall become"
Lula, like other people, had bull
her castle in the air, but a certain Os
wald Erling, and not Kolf Lyn, hai
been the lord of it. At her mother.
r.
trembled, for dame Frona's wish wa
will in that house. Then Lula wen
into the woods, and sat in her favorit,
nook and cried bitterly.
What do you weep for so bitterly
my little maid ?"
Lula started, and on looking round
ea1- that on old 1ryo,,oo 80 4Io I'LL, N.
had sat down by her side. 1t wa
difficult for Lula to tell the trouble sh
was in, SO she merely replied that sh
was not crying about anything in par
ticular.
'Yet you are not one to cry abou
nothing. Come, tell me your trouble
perhaps / could ease it."
Lula declared that no one could he'll
her.
4"Ahl then 1 know what the troubl
must be-" said the old woman, smiling
and plucking dandelion, gave it t
Lula. Now let us see whether it
yes or no."
Lula grew very red, and threw tn
dandelion away. "No," she sale
while her eyes again filled with tears
lit is no use; | am too ugly for tha
sort of thing"
The old woman laughed, but kindly
clears won't give you beauty, wi
they, now?"
"No, but what will?"
"Why not take a journey to til
black lake ?"
Lula shuddered as if struck by
Sudden fear, for she knew we'll VIII,