Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-01-16
Stlett Storp.
PLAIN MARGARET.
ny EDITH SI\CLAIR.

II pity Mu garct She j. :" plain"
Certainly. >hcis yer, plain: hut then,
she Is 50 good"
Goodness is very well in its way; but
a handsome face aud fine person will
do more tor girl than goodness. was
the reply.
"ln worldly point OF view, YOU
mean
The first speaker did not answer this
remark 1t suggested thoughts not
wholly in agreement with the sentiments
Just uttered
The subject ot conversation was the
Youngest OF three sisters. She was caiI
eel homcly 10y almost every one; Yet it is
but fair TO SAY that she MAS ton often seen
rs a toll 10 her handsome sisters. whose
bright eyes. regular features. rich COM
pleNions. and lies graceful carriage, had
Won Tor them the appellslion ot "the two
bsautieS."
Parents are not always wise and Just.
The tact o. being father or u mother
does not. az matter OF course, lit a per.
sou above his OF her natural Weaknesses
and defects oi character. or change ma
terially the old estimate OF men and
things The mother of these giris was
very tar from being wise woman, and
quite ~ iat from being iuSt towards her
youngest child. The beauty oi the two
elder sisters he sought to increase hy
the available arts at dress; White the
very plainur>S and coa>cne,> Of attire
which she deemed good enough tor Mar.
gSret. made the latter seem hoiuelier than
she really Mas. Margaret. mol being AN
ornamental appcndase to the household,
was made useful While her sisters
dressed and SAW company, she was at
work. and often 1t NorN or them. She
fell the unjust discrimination and often
cried over it. when NO one SAW her; but
neither rebelled nor complained
al pity her; she is 50 plain" This
was often said by those who SAW Mar,
garet in contrast with her sisters But it
almost always happened, that those who
had any true knowledge with regard to
her character, would answer-"But she
is so good."
There is beauty in goodness. That
MAS her compensation. 1t the outer GAL
ment was plain, the inner form and true
substance OF her being had a symmetry
and grace beyond what the flesh puts on
in its most envied perfection. And COM
pensaticn went farther still The soul is
in perpetual effort TO impress likeness
of It's quality in the face; To mould the
features into an image ot itself. II this
law was in favor of Margaret. it was
agains, her sisters; for, while she was
living iu seli-denial. both willing and do
ing rgh, in every citation, no matter how
unpleasant, they were cherishing pride,
selfishnc>s. vanity, worldliness, envy.
and ill-uaturc.
The time came. IS years progressed,
when it was no longer said. Il pity her,
she Is so plain" Not that any saw signs
of beauty in her face; but ii was no long
er perceived As homey. She did not ap-
pear in company as frequently as her gay
and brilliant sisters, who always had
around them u circle OF admirers but
when she appeared, she did not sit alone,
I rs ence, nor so often torn the subject of
depreciating comparison. Persons who
had kept aloof from her began to feel an
attraction that drew them to her side
and many wondered how i was that they
had been SO slow in discovering how
greatly she was. in some things. superior
to her more snowy sisters.
There was sphere of tranquility
about Margaret. which was felt by every
one who approached her. The repose OF
her manner did not break up easily, but
to right sentiments ami feelings she re-
sponded with warmth of expression
that yelled nothing OF insincelity In
conversation. where the subject was
agreeable, thought would light up her
eounlenance. and play over it in manifold
changes II was singularly mobile to
the mind-answering TO emotion; never
concealing.
Time came when the two elder sisters
found themselves often less attractive in