Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-10-24
ONE OF THE LEAST.

"Hallie, would you like to drive down
to the island with me? am going to
visit a patient there" said Dr. Max Mar
shall, putting his head in ac the door of
the sitting. room, where Halle was prac-
ticing a sonata.
Eyes, indeed! anything to escape this
horrii practice ~ she exclaimed, jumping
up with an air of relief.
"You are dattering, upon my word" "
said her brother, smiling, as she dashed
out of the room in search of her hat and
sack.
"How does the picnic come ON ~ he
queried when they were fairly on their
way.
"Oh, capital invited them all to- day,
and not one of them declined Tlere is
one girl in our class that | did not invite.
But am sure my reasons are very good
ones. The girls name is Huldah Lamb,
and she lives OYER on the west side OF the
island. Her father is nothing but com
mon fisherman, and as poor as poverty.
He's coarse, and uneducated and common.
Belle Elmer has seen him: be went TO her
fathers not long ago with fish to sell.
Huldah used to 90 to school on the island
when they had any, but it has been closet
for the past six months. Last term she
came to our school, and Mr.. Kerby put
her into our class. To tell the truth, she
is a smart scholar, but she is drcadfully
disagreeable in other WAYS. She talks
very un9rammaticallya and dresses horribly;
then, too, feel very sure she has bad
temper"
"Suppose Huldah bad your opportuni-
ties and advantagesl The fact that she
comes to school proves that she has some
ambition, for it must be long distance.
How does she manage! Does she walk
to town every day p
''Shc has a boat and rows up when the
weather is not too bad then she walks.
1t is three miles by land, | heard her say
one day; and she has not been absent
once"
"Now, Halle, wish you would invite
her to YOUR picnic Give her chance ;
YOU do not know what a kind word, or
look, or act may do But of course you
must make up your mind to treat her pre-
ciselv as you do other guests, with the
same welcome and friendly kindness; and
indeed You Will be obliged to watch little
TO see that others do not slight her or
wound her FEELINGS by thoughtleSS er un.
kind remarks. | know that this will not
be quite pleasant, will, in fact, require
some sacrifice on your part, but, my word
for it, YOU will not regret it in the end"
But" sail Halle, rather reluctantly,
do wish it was any other occasion; Pm
afraid it Will spoil all our pleasure. The
others will look upon her as an intruder"
"They will soon cease to do so if you
use fact and G!cta and | will be there to
help YOU"
But do not sec what good is to come
of it,"
"'InaSmuch as We have done it unto one
OF the least of these nv brethren We have
done it unto me-" Max said, gently.
"Is that Huldahs home, do You sup
pose ?" asked Halle, pointing TO weather
beaten cottage situated ar the termination
of theroad, and some distance below them.
"It must be, as | was assured there
was no ether house near the beach. |
shall have to be little careful! in driving
down. 1t looks rather rough"
1t was rough, but they got along nicely,
and soon drove up to the door. Just as
they stopped, IIuldah herself came round
the conner of the house with palr OF oars
in her arms.
"Good afternoon, Huldah," SAID Halle,
cordially. ave are jaSt in time to catch
you, see. Lit me make you acquainted
with my brother DR.. Marshall" "
Max lifted his hat with as much defer
ence as if Huldah had been queen. She
in rt turn flushed, and bowed rather awk
wardly. She was, as Halle had SAID, :" a
striking looking Girl" Of rather gypsviSh
cast. \ brunette naturally, she as rem
dcred still darker from constant exposure
The effect was neutIaliZcG, however, hv
the rich color that glowed iii the rounded
checks. Her dark hair was cut short and
CLING 10 her head IN close curling locks,
like a bcy's. Her eyes exactly matched
ncr hair in color and were very frank and
pleasant in expression. Altogether she
was anything but unplcasing, and Max was
very much struck with her appearance.
= Won't you come into the house /" she
said, putting the oars down. Her voice,
too, was pleasant; not the harsh tones
that Max had expected to hear.
Nc. thank you; we will not detain
you, I have come to invite YOU to Il pic mic
am to give next Wednesday, to celebrate
my fifteenth birthday. Al! the members
of cm class are going, besides lew others.
NV brother, here, and sister Greta are
going, too, to keep US young people out of
mischief" and Halle laughed merrily.
We are going in yacht to Thompson s
Grove, at the lower end of the island.
We can stop here for you, and that will