Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-01-30

thing remember is living at farmhouse il
the country, but l don't know where. 1t wa
very nice place There was pond witt
geese and ducks swimming in it recollec
that pond perfectly and brown pony, tina
a man used to let me ride Sometimes hi
would hold me on and lead the pony; ane
sometimes take me in front of him, until a
last I could ride by myself. There were ne
children there, but plenty in village neal
by e.; but they never let me play with them
Nanny said was gentleman's son, ane
must not associate with common children"
"Who was mammy?" asked Lucy.
"The woman I lived with 1 always called
her nanny. Isuppose my own mother mus
have been dead then. I can remember some
body showing me picture once and telling
me it was her likeness; but I don't know what
ever became of it. I haven't seen it since be
fore went to school"
GLOW old were you when you first went te
school ?" asked his aunt.
II must have been six or seven years old,
think it is not more than about three years
ago. But I didn't stay at the farmhouse al
the time before that One day carriage came
and took me away, and 1 went to sort O.
boarding house where there were great many
other children. The people that kept it were
named Clarke 4; I remember Mrs. Clarke we'll
she was such kind lady. I liked it better
than the farm house, because I had so many
companions. Uncle Alfred was travelling
in Europe then, but he used to send on money
to pay my board, and get everything needed
"Where was this boarding house you speak
Off" asked Lucy.
"It was in the country, too; somewhere neal
the Hudson river, in New York. And aftel
a while letter came from uncle saying
was to 60 to Mr.. Bells school in New Yorl
city, and I went. 1 was sorry to 60, but
did not mind it after I got there. The teach
ers were good to me, and I did not have very
hard lessons, and I had some good friends
among the boys. l used to be rather lonely
in the vacations, when all the others wen
home, and I had to stay there; but there wa
nowhere for me to 60, because had no rela
tions at all but uncle, and you know he wa'
away"
II wonder some of the boys did not invite
you," said Lucy.
Once one of them did-Tom Markley, my
roommate. He wrote to his father to tel
him about me, and his father wrote back Il
say he must carry me home with him to spenc
the vacation, and I wanted ever so much tt
gol But when I asked Mr.. Bell, he said no
that uncle had told him he wished me to re
main all the time at school, and not 60 any
where else 80 I had to refuse Tom, and w
both cried about it. Wasn't that silly?"
"It was very natural to cry about such {
disappointment, think, my dear"
"And at last 1 heard that uncle had come
home and had got married. l didn't know
then, how dearly I should love you when
knew you," said Claude, giving his aunt al
afectionate squeeze.
"Do you love me so much, Claude?"
"Now, aunt Lucy! You know I do. Yor
are the best friend have just like my owl
mother. 1 don't know what should do with
out you here, am sure" said Claude with 6
serious look. "If it was not for you should
want to 60 right back to school"
"But your school-master is dead, is ht
not ?" asked his aunt.
"Yes-I was so grieved when he died
Mr. Bell was fond of me, and always treated
me kindly, though he was grave, stiff sor
of man in his ways. But I would rather &
to any other school than to live here, if it wa.
not for you, aunt Lucy. just hate Mrs
Ford" said Claude, sinking his voice to {
Whisper as if he thought the walls had ears
"Is she not kind to you, Claude {" asked hi
aunt, gravely.
The boy flushed deeply, and hesitated.
"Tell me the truth, dear child" said Lucy
taking his hand. "Dont be afraid that vii
betray you"
"She is cross sometimes" said Claude, eva
sively.
"Does she ever punish you in any way, i
you displease her ?" asked Lucy.
"No ma'am-that is s-she makes me stay
in my room," stammered Claude, looking
away from her as he spoke.
Lucy perceived clearly that he was afraio
to speak openly on the subject, and his hesita
ton convinced her that there was really some
thing in the background, which he had beer
told to conceal.
She did not know how far to press him; fol
on the one hand she was unwilling to expose
him to the farther malice of the woman, who
should she ever discover that he had betrayed
anything wrong in her conduct toward him
would surely wreak her vengeance upon him
in some way which she (Lucy) would be pow
erless to prevent On the other hand, she was
most anxious to discover how far Mrs. Ford
had really ventured to 60, and was wretched
to think of the poor boy being left so com
pletely in her power as he often was, if she
did entertain any malignant feelings toward
him.
None but fiend, she thought, could be
harsh or unkind to the innocent child, who
was most gentle, submissive and unofending
in all his ways.
If she treated him badly, it must be with
the object of promoting some end of her OWL
which she had in view.
Lucys heart burned with indignation al
the thought that creature of 80 coarse and
tyrannical nature, should be allowed tc
wreak her own unkindly impulses at will upon
ono 90 sra;l and tendar as the nrnhan hnY