The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-09-23
From the Galaxy.l
MISS FAITH.


Miss Faith Langley. being my ideal
woman, was power In mine. used
to sec her, Sundays, when / first be-
came a teacher in the academy at
Winton-a lady with delicate features,
bright eyes. and sunny brown hair. L
remember / thought the face grave
one, sometimes. when 1t was lifted In
earnest attention; but II, after the SER
vice. she turned 10 speak 70 those
about her, it seemed the very bright
est and sweetest face IN the world.
Sometimes in my solitary evening
walks, / caught glimpse of her black
robed figure on the street; or, passing
at dusk by the great. old fashioned
white house where she lived, saw the
red glow Of the fire lighting the walls
within.
1t was house that seemed to live
a cheerful life of its own. 1t had
great windows, made up Of a multi
tude of panes; a lawless woodbine
ran over and around four of them,
and the rose-viues on either side of
the door had climbed over, and we're
peeriDg into them audaciously; two
irregular gables jutted out in the
shadow of the elms; spacious ''yard"
was on one side, with garden and
stables back, and, on the other a
dwarf hedge ran along the fence,
leaving a narrow place for strag
CLING colony of irises and English
violets that grew under the window.
FkWhen l first used to see the house,
IN the warm Spring weather, the
great door was usually open, letting
one look in on a wide, sunny hall that
ran through to the yard behind; the
old trees. around it were getting their
leaves, and the grass was rich with
dandelions.
Everybody in Winton knew Miss
Langley, and loved her; so / made
her acquaintance, through others, be-
fore | ever heard her speak.
But one morning she came down to
the school, bringing two poor chill
dren. She was standing In the cOrri-
dor when [ came down, at nine
O'Clock, and they were clinging to her
skirts and crying.
= Are you Miss Fletcher" she ask
ed, looking up at me with a little
smile.
Yes,u L said. ~
+" | have brought you two new schol-
ars, and i expect they're going to be the
greatest scholars in the school. They
have always been my piccaninnies,"
she continued, addressing the children
more than me; land they're going to
show how much picaninnies know.
Aren't you, Jule?" A4y
Yes'm, said the poor little mite
at her side, casting a fearful glance
at me.
Wont you go in, then, with the
lady and me?p Miss Edith asked,
bending down to wipe the tears from
the round cheeks. See, Lizzie is
ready
After some demur, julie suffered
Miss Faith TO lead her into the school
room, where she aud Lizzie gazed
about them with affrighted eyes.
May they sit together?" asked
Miss Langley, and not have lessons
till they get wOntedY
"Oh, yes, said Il know how it
is with children; they want day to
look about"
/ put them at an empty desk, where
with Their odd, Irish faces drawn down
dismally.
. pity them so much" said Miss
AAAuHlGJy MlGu l. GIAuG DdCh4
at me for sympathy, 1.-THE poor, little,
deserted thingsl They never have
been used to restraint, Miss Fletcher;
you won't mind if they are restless,
will your -r
No, certainly" | said, following
her 60 the door. Restlessness is a
disease prevailing among my chill
dren
- ...,.-.-. :. IL. ~ - III - -.
shall you be at liberty this evening,
Miss Fletcher | should like to have
you take tea with me, and hear about
julie and Lizzie; think they will in
terest you, as they do me. aF,
| was only too happy to stop that
night at the house that had SO often
attracted me, instead of going on
a lonely pilgrimage over the road
beyond 20 watch the sunset from
Brxton Hill. It was a beautiful
April evening of warm air aud
sOltened sunshine. The lilac hedges
in the gardens We're budded, aud
the CHERRY trees were white with
bloom.
As turned in at the gate, / saw
Miss Faith pacing back and forth in
tho hall1beside a tiny old lady dressed
in stiff, lus,rous, black silk. Every
thing aaout this lady was dainty, from
the rutile at her throat to the silk
CATERS; her white hair was smoothed
away under a plain muslin cap, and
her slight hands clasped before her.
As she came down the length of the
hall, she looked like an ancient
countess or court-lady, exiled and
worn with years; and Miss Langley
walked beside her In her light dress
Of gray, was like sister of charity
rObbe1 of gloom. The latter FASTENED
forward to meet me with welcom-
ing smile. ri. VI
Thank you forcoming Miss Fletch-
or, she said. Walk in. This is Mrs
Wall. We are having our evening
promenade.
Mrs Wall lifted a pair of intensely
black eyes a moment, and bent hel
head haUghtily. Miss Faith led me
into the parlor. Ut - 4
sit down" she said. Now,
am afraid this fire will make you un
comfortable. It's one of my selfish
peculiarities. | never can get alonJ
without fire. Shall raise the win
dow HAt
mot on my account; l like fire.
Miss Faith laughed.
Then / am sure we are kindred
spirits, and | congratulate my fire OF
making your acquaintance. 1t sound
very heafhenish to call ones self
fire wor-hiper, Miss Fletcher, but
believe I'm little of one"
While she was goRe with my ha
and saeque, | looked about me.
was such a comfortable parlorI Larg
aud lofty, with book. shelves covert n
one side OF j, with a great red-tufte
rug before the open fire, and a roun
tlLle draMn clnsn .Hhorn -, . -.