The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-12-24
e asse RAvENNA, o. THURSDAY DEC "a. 1868

= 77-7-7-7-7 - 77----7TE- ! = j7777T e.
herself on her bed to snatch a few
hours repose. Generally, she fell
asleep at once !; but the thought of her
newly acquired beauty made her
wakeful and restless, Presently the
bed she had hitherto found so COM
Portable appeared to her a very hard
one; SO hard that, instead of giving
her repose, it made her limbs ache
painfully. What misery was hard
bed. She was sure that Erica, whose
parents were much richer. than hers,
had much softer couch; and she be-
gan to feel that she had been used very
hard in not being born rich. In the
midst, however, of this sudden fit of
pettishness, she fell asleep. On wax
ing, she ran at once to the glass to see
that her beauty had not flown; but, as
she looked and saw that it was still
there, it occurred to her that she was
not as pretty as she thought; and she
began to wish that she had chosen to
be like Sufita, who had the soft brown
eyes and golden hair. Very much dis
gusted at the mistake which she had
made, she went down stairs and sui
lenly sat down to breakfast. Never
before had she noticed how coarse her
fare was; and again she considered
herself ill-used. for she felt certain
that Erica was eating a much better
breakfast. Then she thought how
wretehed the room was that she sat
in, how harsh were her parents vol
ces. how toilsome were the duties
they asked her to perform. What, a
hard life was hers! Was ever a girl
SO wretched ? and now, SO lovely as
she was. she might have been born o
queen. - sl5.-.zs a.-5
These and many such like thoughts
passed through Lula's mind and, al
most weeping with vexation at the
thought that she had not asked for
riches instead of beauty, she went to
find cons olation in some of her favor
ite haunts in the wood. But the bright
morning sun had no charm for her
that day, nor the fresh budding trees,
and bright Spsing flowers. The sing
ing of the birds wearied her, and she
thought how tired she was of the coun-
try. She longed to be in . town,
-
where she could see houses instead OF
trees; gay shops where she could buy
fine dresses. Above all, she longed
to be where her beauty could be ap-
preciated, and where she could lead
more amusing life than the intolerably
dull one which was now hers.
With a feeling OF intense WEAKNESS
she returned home, and mechanically
went through her round of duties
But where was the interest gone with
which she used to do them? Where
the pleasure with which she fed her
numerous pets Where the happi-
ness that she felt in the fact that she
lived in beautiful world, that she
was gifted with life, and youth, and
strength, with which to enjoy all that
was given to be enjoyed~
Later she went out into the village,
but her second walk gave her. no more
pleasure than the first. Her friends
seemed to shun her; and the little
children who generally came prattling
up to her seemed to run away as if in
fear. But she tried to think that to-
morrow it would be very different,
for all would see how beautiful she
had become. The day passed wearily
away for Lula, and, toward evening,
she went out again into the woods,
and sat herself by the side ola brook,
with feeling of despair at her heart
such as she had never felt. are
What had come to her? she won
dered. ri rs.r5.s.ut- ..s.a
Even the thought that she might be-
come Oswald Erling's bride seemed to
have lost its charm, for as a poor mans
wife, she would have but toilspme
existence. Why did she look upon
life almost with loathing2. And then
a kind of terror seized her, for fearful
thoughts came into her mind as she
watched the calm flowing of the wa
ter at her feet. es.. oils. g
" Has Lula obtained her wish 2"
And at the words Lula looked up,
and saw the old woman she had seen
before. 'ar n#
Lula nodded her head, but told OF
her misery.
/ elbow is this, Lula? you have been
promised beauty as great as you can
desire, and yet you are discontented,
what more do you want?" v
Everything in the world but what
L have,,' said Lula despairingly.
"What was the treasure you gave
up?n e-asal 3.tf
l know not, unless it was the pow.
er of being happy" ea az .1 t.,a
"And what, child, will give you
happiness but the content that once
i filled your hearth" H. ~3l..~ .or'
Lula waited to hear no more, but
ran back to her cottage without mo.
ment's hesitation, Once more she
looked into the glass. Beautiful as
she was, how repulsive did her face
now seem, with its miserable discon.
tented expression. Now she under.
stood why the children had avoided
her, for though they had seen her still
they had seen her when content ha6
gone from her, and she felt that ever
had her beauty been visible, all would
have Stunned her equally. With {
thankful feeling at her heart that she
had not met Oswald Erling that day
she started again for her journey tc
| the mountain. She had been anxious
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