The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-01-06
JACKSON G. H., OHIO, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1870.
been in bed an hour ago"


After Miss Elton had begun to teach
me, | improved rapidly, for was anx-
ious to please her in everything, and
studied hard. My mother was very
much gratifed by this, for had hither-
to disliked study exceedingly. When
she had been with us for some months,
| heard Mamma say to Gerald:
II am very much attached to Miss
Elton, but she is an enigma to me. She
takes no pleasure in things most young
ladies like. think she has bad some
misfortune. She has probably lost
some relative, as she wears mourning"
A lady came often to see her whose
name was Mrs. Lawton. They were
about the same age, and seemed bound
together by the closest ties of friend
ship. Mrs Lawton was very refined
and intellectual. She informed my
mother that Miss Elton was the dearest
of friends TO her-that she loved her
like sister. Miss Elton, or Miss Flor
ence, as she had requested me to call
her, spent all her vacations with her
uncle, with whom she had been living
before she came to u.s. and when she
came back she always looked sad, as
though some old trouble had been re-
newed.
She was so kind to every one. When
Mamma had a severe attack of head
ache, no one could sOothe the pain so
well as my governess, as with noiseless
step she moved about the room exclud-
ing the glaring light and bathing the
aching brow, while her soft touch mes
merized the sufferer into sweet repose.
Gerald told her Of his many disagree
ments with Minnie Lloyd, the "queen Of
his affections"
Miss Florence always gave him the
best of advice, which generally brought
about reconciliation. She was very
kind to the poor, and received a liber-
raj supply Of ''pin money" from her
uncle, nearly all of which was given
for charitable purposes.
CHAPTER II.
One morning, after Miss Elton had
been with us over year, Gerald told
us at the breakfast table that he was
going to bring a friend of his home
with him, to stay some weeks.
"What is his name!" asked Mamma.
"Dudly Ringgold. He was a class
mate of mine, aud is splendid fellow"
II have often heard you speak OF
him, is lie married yet?
"No indeed! being handsome, and
having considerable fortune, be is a
great favorite with the ladies; but do
not think Dudley will marry soon. He
once told me his beau ideal. His wife
will have to be almost perfection, and
it may take him some time to find such
paragon" ...,.
"And perhaps when he does find
lady he loves, she will refuse him"
said Mamma, laughing.
81 should not be surprised if he mar
ried some one far beneath his standard
of excellence; it is generally the case
with those whose ideals are so faultless.
On the day we were expecting Ger,
AIDS friend, Miss Florence came into
the room where the maid was curling
my hair. She wore heavy mourning
silk, with rich rose lace at the throat
and wrists. How lovely she would
look in colors. thought I, and l said
"Oh, Miss Florence you have worn
black ever since you came here; do
wear that lovely blue silk l saw in your
wardrobe yesterday. Won't you, to
please me, wear it this evening?"
81 would do much to please you,
Oracle, but shall always dress in black.
The dress you saw was one | used to
wear, and was packed up by accident.
There now, Catherine has curled your
hair nicely. Mr., Ringgold has arrived,
and your brother has been asking for
you"
"Are you not going down now, Miss
Florence
"No my dear l have letters to
write, and cannot come down for some
time"
| trpped out of the room, stopping
for a moment to look at myself in the
large mirror in the hall. As years have
passed since, it will not be vanity to
say that l beheld pleasing picture
there. A petite figure, even for one of
my age, arrayed in>bright colored mer-
inc, round face, framed by brown