The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-03-21
RIDGWAY, PA. THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1872.

would be excellent for Peggys lungs,
and perhaps keep her from going into
the consumption.
my nephew, James Fairweather,
keeps a singing school," said she, and he
says he will teach her gratis. You need
not feel under great obligation for her
voice will lead the whole school, and her
ear is so quick it will be no trouble at all
to teach her. Perhaps you would go
with us sometimes, neighbor Turnpenny?
1t is very pleasant to hear the children's
voices"
The cordage of Aunt Hetty's mouth
relaxed into smile. She accepted the
invitation, and was so much pleased
that she went every Sunday evening.
The simple tunes, and the sweet young
voices, fell like the dew on her dried-up
heart, and greatly aided the genial in
huence of her neighbor's example. The
rod silently disappeared from the table.
If Peggy was disposed to be idle, it was
only necessary to say, "When you have
finished your work, you may go and ask
whether Mrs. Fairweather wants any
errands done," bless me, how the fingers
flew Aunt Hetty had learned to use
turnips instead of the cudgel.
When spring came Mrs. Fairweather
busted herself with planting roses and
vines. Miss Turnpenny readily consented
that Peggy should help her, and even
refused to take any pay from such good
neighbor. But she maintained her own
opinion that it was a mere waste of time
to cultivate flowers. The cheerful
philosopher never disputed the point,
but she would sometimes say, "1 have
no room to plant this rose bush, Neigh
Dor Turnpenny, would you be willing to
let me set it on your side of the yard !?
1t will take very little room and will
need no care" At another time she
would say, Well really, my ground is
too full. Here is a root of lady's delight.
How bright and pert it looks. 1t seems
pity to throw it away. If you are
willing, will let Peggy plant it in what
she calls her garden. 1t will grow of
itself, without any care, and scatter seeds
that will come up and blossom in all the
chinks of the bricks. 1 love it. 1t is
such a bright, good natured little thing"
Thus, by degrees, the Grabbed maiden
found herself surrounded with flowers
and she even declared of her own accord
that they did look pretty.
One day, when Mrs. Lane called upon
Mrs. Fairweather she found the old
weed grown yard bright and blooming.
Tab, quite fat and sleek, was asleep in
the sunshine, with her paw upon Pink's
neck, and little Peggy was singing at
her work as blithe as bird.
"How cheerful you look here" said
Mrs. Lane. And so you have really
taken the house for another year. Pray
how do you manage to get on with the
neighbor-in-law!"
81 find her very kind, obliging
neighbor," replied Mrs. Fairweather.
"Well that is miracle :" exclaimed
Mrs. Lane. Nobody but you would
have undertaken to thaw out Aunt Het-
tvs heart"
"That is probably the reason why il
was never thawed," rejoined her friend
1 always told you that not having enough
of sunshine was what allied the world
Make people happy and there will not
be half the quarreling or tenth part Of
the wiekednesss there is"
From this gospel of JOY preached and
practiced, nobody derived SO much
benefit as little Peggy. Her nature
which was fast growing crooked and
kpotty, under the malign influence o.
constraint and fear, Strengthened up
budded and blossomed in the genia
atmosphere of cheerful kindness. Hel
affections and faculties were kept in sucf
pleasant exercise, that constant lightnes
of heart made her almost handsome
The young music teacher thought hel
more than almost handsome, for hel
affectionate soul shone more beamingly
on him than on others and love makes
all things beautiful.
When the orphan moved to he
pleasant little cottage OH her wedding
day, she threw her arms round the bles
sed missionary of sunshine, and said
who hast made my life Fairweather.-
Mrs. l.. M. Child.