Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-08
THE CROSS-EYED ANGEL.
After the German Of Adeline Yolek.

1hE CkOSS.ElEU ANGEL.
After the herman Of Adeline vslek.
Our old nurse was the first to call me "Cross-
eyed Angel" her example was followed by my
brothers; theirs by the children in the neighbor-
followed, i am quite sure, by the gentlemen
whom i met at parties, went with to picnics,
and danced with at the casino.
In the nursery i was Indifferent to the nick
name-so Indifferent. indeed, that I myself
sometimes employed 1t; and, although my older
brothers occasionally used II as a means to tease
me, it never really Wounded my feelings to be
called by 1t, until heard 1t cried out behind
me for the first time on the street.
never go out again; but I allowed myself to be
consoled by my mother, who explained to me
that the word "angei' far outweighed the Of
fensive qualifying term, adding, as she passed
her hand lovingly over nv head that there was
not little girl in the whole city who had such
beautiful golden hair As had.
That was, perhaps. true, but the golden rich
ness of my hair did not lessen the terrible squint
Of my left eye. 1 must try to conceal it, 1
thought; and, as had read i'm some old books
that the Baroness off, don't remember what
prim and venerable spinster. admonished her
neices and other young damsels TO clasp their
hands before them, to look down. and never at
the bachelors, L resolved to range myself among
her disciples.
But found this very embarrassing; and
when i met aequaintances, it was quite inn
practicable. therefore compelled to give
IL up. and to look at everybody as 1 always had
done. except the bows in the street. considered
them as my greatest enemies, and avoided
think 1 endured the irremediable with a fair
share of resignation. l say irremediable. be-
cause il seemed as though there was remedy
for the defect. NV parents consulted several
surgeons, but they all shook their learned heads,
and refused to undertake the operation. NV
case, II seemed, was not an ordinary one; the
operation required was more severe than the one
usually performed in such cases, and the result
was very doubtful.
Ny father and mother were, nevertheless,
10th i'm favor of having the operation per
formed, but 1 had not the courage. 1 shud-
dered at the mere thought OF having my eve
cut, and then feared might lose it entirely.
one-eyed.
In one respect, at least. nv misfortune dill
not operate to my disadvantage. In society 1
never hal the modification of being neglected;
and at balls and dancing parties my card was
hlled sooner than, perhaps, that of any young
girl Of my acquaintance. But, then, l was
always careful to be cheerful and sunny, and
not to reply In mOnosyllabies; on the con-
trary. to always do my share Of the talking,
and 10 talk my best, without appearing to be
In love with the sound of nv own voice, or
seemng to think that I was Sir or Madame
Oracle, and should be listened to more than
another.
some never tires of talking to the Cross-eyel
Angel, once overheard a gentleman of my
acquaintance say to another. All, but the CON-
Pliment the remark conveyed was not sum
eient TO assuage the pain the nickname caused
to be unkind. =
A certain timidity and bashfulness, which
was altogether foreign TO my nature. usually
came over me, and lasted for time, after being
unpleasantly reminded OF nv bodily defect
AT such times would retire To some obscure
corner-shed, perhaps, few tears-and re-
main, until, getting out of patience with myself
would cry: .sAh, fie, III they don't like nv
looks, they need not look at met" and 1 would
sally forth again.
Ii was. perhaps, on account of her beautiful
eyes that was so partial to my friend Charlotte.
L, at ali events, sometimes thought so, and often
expressed NV admiration for them to her. when
she would reply that Il, too, would have hand
some eyes if! All, that unfortunate s.if!- As
they stool in their sockets, the one looking one
WAY and the other another, they were little short
OF repulsive.
Charlotte and had grown up together; our
families were Heighbors. She hal PLAYED in
our narsery and in theirs; she in our gar
den. and ON their lawn. Thus habit had
united US more closely than choice would
have done; but, although when grew up, this
was sometimes unpleasantly apparent. STILL
changed.
The atmosphere in our house was very diff
ferent from that in Chariotte's. Her parent,
were rich, and belonged 10 the so-calletl fash
ionables They kept little army of servants,
who, we always thought, did much To pamper
and spoil the children. Charlotte was perhans
the most spoiled Of any of them, which WAS in
some measure due, doubtless, To her being the
do anything, but she was not allowed to do any-
thing, that pertaineti TO household duties. She
was surrounded by a certain do-nothing, would
he poetic nimbus, which falls to the lot OF wo-
men in exclusive circles only.
i, on the contrary, was brought mp in q very
plain, old-faslloned way; at a very early age 1
had nv share TO perform in the domestic duties
of our modest establishment, and 1 learned be-
times how to use my needle. At school over
took Charlotte. although she was two years nv
senior. and entered the first class at the same
time she did. But, as had always intended to
be a teacher when i got old enough, IL seemed
TO me very natural that | should study harder
and know everything better than Lottie, who
would be rich, and never have to do anything
for a livelihood.
MY father occupied himself great deal with
us children; his leisure hours were always given
TO US. From him we learned more than in school,
and in a much more agreeable manner. His
was one Of those natures that are not content
uniess they are continually communicating tn
those around them whatever they may know
that Is worth acquiring, and consequently al
ways act as an incentive TO others 10 make daily
additions to their stock OF knowledge. To this
peculiarly of my father was doubtless dus the
fact that my mother, despite her manifold
household duties, retained certain mental
youthfulness and freshness To the day of her
death. He alvays exercised a sort of superyis-
ion over our reading, talked with us about VIII at
We read, and, indeed, often read to US aloud
No wonder that our house was callei a"learn-
ed house," and when any one, for a change.
called me anything but Cross-eyed Angel, IL was
sure TO be Learned LtZze;" which, % mo, was
scarcely an improvement as could not abide
the abbreyiation, and especially the .'ie'' ter
mination. vary much preferred my fun name
-Elizabeth-to anything else.
Go where / would, found no house that wsf
better kept, in which there was more real com
fort, or where the inmates enjoyed themselves
better than We did; even Charlotte confessed
that, although IL would have been hard % find
house In which there was a greater absence OF
what Is called style"
My father was lawyer. He stood high IN hi,
profession, and was consequently alwsys fulh
employed. IL was, therefore, very natural tina
the young iurists who located in O., or came
TO I'll governments positions, should not onIy
ca on ms, but should be invited to our little en-
tertainments whenever my father saw no reason
why their visits should noe be encouraged In
criticising these young people, he showed then
no mercy. He condemned their weaknesses ana
failings, when we were alone, with q severity
that sometimes surprised me; but later 1t va
clear to me that he did il solely ON my account
In order that I should not indulge In romanti,
illusions with regard 70 persons OF questionabl,
worth. This was undoubtedly the reason neve
had any little love-aairs to recount like all tn,
Toung girls Of my acquaintance, especial.