Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-06-10

too. Almost with her last words she told
me to take care OF Lily; just what father
had said, years before. But mother said
something else. too. Mother said
Take care of her. Margery, and
bring her up lady
Lily was u strong, healthy beautiful
girl. was pale little cripple. Some
mothers might have thought that the
healthy girl should take care of the
cripple, maybe But my mother said ::
Take care care of Lily and make lady
oil her. Perhaps it was well enough. l
never could be n lady myself. from hav-
ing been born drudge and from being q
hunchback. So obeyed mother and
worked for my beautiful sister, worked
my fingers off and my eyes out almost.
Aud Lily? Lily went TO ladies' school,
where she learned to sing aud play and
look pretty. She learned line ways. too
Ito desplse our shabby little rooms,
among other things and, finally, learned
to be ashamed OF her hunchback sister,
Margery. That was the hardest to bear
of all. because. you see. had done 1t
myself. had brought Lily up to be
ashamed of me. II seemed TO me then
that the load was heavier than my poor
crooked choulders could bear. But
gulped my troubles down and said moth
Ing. That's always the easiest way TO
get over anything, find. Lily was dis
contented and unhappy all the time. and
made me unhappy too by her perpetual
rcpnings. None of my path in this
world has led me through bed OF roses.
But worked on aud said othing.
when Lily was twenty grand gem
tlemau foil In love with her and married
her He saw her in a tableau, where she
was "A heather goddess, or something.
never understood th"se matters. and it
was love at first sirnt with him. Some.
times love ut first sight wears, and sons.
times it doesn't. Lily was married in
church. | saw her from up in the gallery,
and a more beautiful bride than my sister
Lily never looked at, in her orange
wreath, aud The lovely veil had worked
for her with NY own hands. After the
wedding they went away of to their
grand home, and my sister Lily is a lady.
and ha. her carriage with the proudeSt.
and no end of silk dresses aud diamonds.
That was fifteen years ago | have
never seen them since.
"No: Lilly didn't aSk mo to 20 and live
with hor. would be happier in my old
home. where had always lived, she said,
and then | never could feel ut ease anon 2
grand people. SO she went away
Awhile alter that my cyesight began 10
tail had hurt them 90 working on
Lily's wedding clothes that they never
were strong again. Five years ago they
failed me entirely Tor embroidery, and
have never made so much rs leaf since.
Then sold little pictures. taking them
from house TO house. i had 10 keep the
wolf from the door. | did well at first.
! People knew me and knew my story ,aud
they were kind TO me. They bought n y
pictures whether they wanted them or
or not, and always asked me to stop aid
rest. But il l. different now. People
are richer than they were five years ago,
and don't want my poor sngravlngs o. y
more. When ring the bell servant
comes 10 tho door and asks me my bust.
ness. and always say the lady of the
house doesn't want any pictures. And
then the chill of disappointment falls like
cold lead over my heart. ! didn't use 10
mind. but | can't bear what could once.
! am growing bashful lately. somehow, |
can't understand il. but it makes me feel
scared and faint 10 ask strangers to buy
my pic,eres. Maybe Its because I'm
growing old. Then. TOO. the walking Is
very hard on me, and when sit down 10
rest, sometimes, the boys gather about
and stare at me. and stare after me, a.
limp along the street. | oughtnt 10
mind 1t. maybe, but il makes me feel
like hunted animal, with no place to
hide. Oh! if could only 60 into the
beautiful country, away from the sight oi
men! But know that can never be.
IL made a mistake in my lite. When
was young and could work l ought to
have put by money enough TO bury me in
my old days, instead of spending It al
for Lily. was wrong. Lily ought to
have worked for herself. 1t would have
been better for both of us. My beautiful
sister is one of the most selfish and heart
less of women. made her so. Many Q
man and woman are made selfish and
heartless in the same way. have seen
mothers drudge their lives away for theil
children, only to make their children
despise them afterwards, and 60 through
the world in the belief that it was every
mothers duty to be drudge for her chill
dren. know people who believe that /:
what mothers are made for. But am
sure it is wrong; wicked even. No hu
man being ought TO be slave to another
human being. 1t hurts them both
When am dead and buried, if you ever
see Lily, tell Lily that.
IL don't think want to live any long
er. Lie is getting to be too hard for me
and can't do anybody any good. Then,
too, have horror Of being old. II