The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-02-09
VOLUME Is.
Janet's Fortune.

ma Leeds, smiling from behind hel
spectacles to the young girls around
her.
"Your fortune, grandma? What
viii it be? That old basket, witt
its horrid yarn and needles, and tn,
never-ending work2 If SO, yor
need not leave it with me. Janet
will use it to better advantage thar
could"
"Yes, Lettie, you are right, and
don't want it either. H'mi what q
fortune, to be surrey
"Tn accept it, grandma, and prize
it, if you viii only add your sgset
contented disposition. Itwou1d be
a fortune which none Of us need
despise."
Janet Leeds was the youngest OF
the family, and the plainest. She
had a sweet, fresh face, and tender
eyes; but these paled into ugliness
before Lettie's black orbs and shin
ing curls and the blonde loveIiness
of belle Margaret; so she settled
back like a modest violet in chin
ney corner, and waited on grandma,
or assisted the maid in the house
work.
Once in a while she ventured out
to a party in the village, but so sell
dom that people never observed her,
which made it unpleasant, and she
stayed at home still closer.
But on that morning, while they
sat chatting with grandma, she felt
a real discomfort for the first time
in months.
Clara Bosworth, her bosom friend,
was to give party that evening,
and she could not go. For weeks
preparations had been going on in
their quiet family. She had given
up the money for a new winter
cloak that Lettie's green silk might
be retrimmed for the occasion, and
the best dress she had in the world
was a plain garnet-eolored poplin,
with black velvet trimming.
She had family suggested that
she might wear that, but the cry of
dismay from her sisters silenced
her.
"Go and wear that old poplin -
cried Lettie, from the clouds of
white billowy lace that waste adorn
the green silk. s"You must be era
", Jnetr
81 should think so, chimed Mar
garet, who was fitting lace berthe
over the waist of the delicate lilac
satin. "Do you want Austin Bos-
worth to think US a. family of pau
pers? It is to be a grand affair,
and Clara expects all who honor it
with their presence to pay her res
pect enough to dress respectfully.
It is Austln's first appearance after
his European tour, and surely you
don't want him to think meanly of
usY'
The tears came up, but Janet was
brave, and no one saw them.
That night when the two girls
the one in her dark beauty and
wonderfully becoming array, the
other all delicacy, her fair pearl
loneliness enhanced by the pale pur-
pie color of her splendid dress
came laughing into grandma room,
little shadow darkened her face,
and she found it very hard to keep
back the tears.
''Fine feathers make fine birds,
but fine birds do not always sing
the sweetest, JAMIE" said grandma,
after they were gone. "I know who
is the true one in this family. I
know my little singing bird, jamie,
and she is dearer than dozen fine
ladies. Austin and Clara will come
tomorrow, and he viii tellus about
his travels in foreign lands, and you
win be far happier than you would
he mp at tho house tonight, amid
dancing and confusion"
Il suppose 50, grandma" and ia
net took her seat by the fire and
went on knitting, with peaceful
face.
The eldest sisters returned with
rumpled plumage, but in high spirits
Pustin Bosworth had returned, a
handsome, polished gentleman, and
flirted desperately with Lettie.
why, grandma, he almost pro
posed to her." laughed Margaret
who was engaged to Judge Leon
ards hopeful son, and therefore had
no place for jealousy. more than
one of the company predicted that
it would be a mattel"
Don't count your chickens be-
fore they are Matched, y called grand
ma from her pillow. "Austin Bos-
worth is no fool, I can tell you"
What an old croakerW
They were entering their cham
Der across the hall, but grandma's
ears were not dulled by age, and
she clearly heard them.
Don't mind them, grandma,