Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-04-19

came quickly, signs OF delicate nature
and tender conscience, befitting to a SER
want as queen, both of them being
Gods children, One would have said
the girl was born to be in time pure
maiden, a loving wife and faithful
mother.
She went to school years after her
brothers were at work, but learned little
more than to read and write whatever
ability she had assuredly did not lie in
the path of book-knowledge; the boys
bought her cheap piano at auction, on
which she strummed a few street airs
People who noticed the girls readiness
and winning manner, told her mother it
was time she was making some provision
for her, and offered to take her into their
houses as servant. But mental work was
acertainty which to Lucy's vaguechances
was an insult. Even drudgery at home
was spared her that she might run with
her school companions, or read the cheap
papers of the day. Gradually the fine
delicacy faded out of her face; her
voice grew loud; the quick step dragged
lazily; it became a matter of course for
her while she sat idle. AT last the turn
came; the elder brothers married; the
old man and his wife died I; deformed
brother kept the house with Lucy, but it
was necessary that she should earn her
own living.
There were half dozen homes open
to her, where she would have had light
work, which would have fitted her for
her duties when she married, high wa
ges, and the protection and seclusion of
refine Christian ia nily. But this girl,
whose Master was born in stable, was
indignant at being asked to take the
place of a servant. She went into a
mill. The wages we're good. She could
at least faunt in Terry and Milton gold.
She had the Imagination of other young
girls-the zest for love, adventure. No
knights or gentlemen came about the
mill, or lovers to the house, but there
was chance compliment from young
men on the streets the encounter ON the
street cars when going home from work
at night.
The story is told. There came day
when the deformed brother. who had
watched over her since she was a baby
with sorer tenderness because no other
woman could ever be near or dear to
him, cursed her and drove her from the
door. She went gladly. The street life
suited her now for the change In the
girl did not begin in dress or face or
voice it worked out from within. Year
by year her training had corrupted soul
and brain. 1t mattered little when the
symptoms of decay showed themselves
to the world. For years she has tested
the street life. Last week it ended. In
the bright sunlight bloated, filthy wo-
man crept out of the prison van into the
stone archway of the city prison, and
the iron gates with their heavy clang
shut on her, not to open for two years.
Lacy, sentenced for grand lar
ceny." Whether, when they open, her
ruined body will be there to drag itself
out into the sunlight again, matters lit
tie. 1t may live until old age. But
Lucy, honest, unselfsh, pure in thought
died long ago. If it had been only to
sleep with her mother on yonder hill
side, we might have made the grass
green above her, knowing that the child
would come again. But she. still living,
went down into grave from which there
is no place of resurrection, though we
seek it carefully and with tears.-Per-
haps it is story without moral at
least it has none if mothers do not find
it for themselves. Tribune.