Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-01-30
A Mothers Mistake.
BY ANNA SHIELDS.

/ WOuttC1Iu III LlldSlIdl IL SCCul
as if she delighted in study. From til
time she was a little girl learning t,
spell, it has never been any trouble t.
keep her at her books.
The lady smiled pleasantly, and movet
on to congratulate other fond, prouC
mothers.
The day was one when all Hillsborc
congregated in the only concert hall O
the small town, to witness the annua
exhibition of the female seminary, which
was the favorite school for girls within
many miles. On this occasion Their,
could be no doubt that Laura Garnet
was a queen among the group of fai
girls who were also graduating.
Upon the gilt-edged, delicately tinted
! programme was promised
Essay on Modern Literature, Miss l.
| Garnett.
Original Poem in Italian, Miss L. Gar
nett
Musical Composition for Piano, Miss
L. Garnett.
And the girl had nobly fulfilled the
| promise.
Standing upon the platform, receiving
| her diploma from the hand of the graft
fled principal of the seminary, Laura
Garnett attracted admiring glances from
all in the crowded hall, but there was
one gentleman who stood near the door,
man of some forty years, whose eyes
saddened as they marked the fair girls
face.
&" [ wish l knew that child's parents, "
he said to friend near by.
"Why, Doctor, you are not smitten,
are you?"
u would warn them of what they
are doing, the doctor said gravely.
"What they are doing?" said the
friend. "You speak as solemnly as if
there was positive crime in this innocent
exhibition of their daughters talents.
| She really is very accomplished. Mons.
Lefevre pronounces her a thorough
French scholar, while Signor Faranelli
is as enthusiastic about her Italian. You
hear yourself what a fine pianist she is,
and she has by no means forgotten the
groundwork of solid English studies"
"And how old is she ?"
- Eighteen"
Poor girl :"
. Poor girl! Why she is the envy of
every other girl in the room. This little
tribute to her vanity will not harm her.
- was not thinking of her vanity,
but Of her life. However, the high
pressure system may cease, now that
She has graduated. If some friend will
warn her parents, she may recover yet -
Recover! Why, Doctor, she is the
very picture of health. Her cheeks are
like damask roses, and her eyes like
stars"
True; she is in state of feverish
excitement You would think different
" if you could see her after this is all
over
but, Doctor, you surely approve of
educating girls ?"
. Most assuredly. But l tell you it is
such education as Laura Garnett has re-
ceivnd that fills our cemeteries with
Young wives and mothers Look at her.
She is so frail that a breath would seem
sufficient to blow her away. Her com
plexiOn is far too waXen white for health
and under her large eyes are the dark
rings caused by too close study and an
over-excited brain. | tell you, if she is
not taken entirely from her books for a
wear or two, she will be in her grave. or
in a lunatic asylumn.'
In the meantime the proud, fond mo-
| Their Of the lovely girl was hearing from
all sides the admiring comments upon
her daughters wonderful proficiency,
and almost as many upon the great
beauty of the sOul-lit face. There was
in her heart no room for anxious fore
! boiling, because she fully and cOnscien-
| tiously believed she was doing faithfully
| her mothers duty to the talented, studi-
GUS girl.
Laura had been her idol, the one Oh
iect of her love. ambition and hope, from
the time when she lay in her cradle, and
her mother dropped a widows bitter
tears upon her fair, sweet face. Young
herself. and mistress of large wealth,
Mrs. Garnett had devoted her life to the
welfare Of her child, as she understood
the word
When Laura was five years old she
was regarded as a little wonder by the
parents of less precociOus children. She
could read with wonderful COmprehen-
sion for such a mere child, had already
mastered the rudiments of music, and
was fond of her books.
Stimulated by her mothers ambition,
the praises of her teachers, the envy of
her young friends, provided with every
encouragement, the best instruction, the
! best books, a fine piano and harp, the
Ulil GTHSi)tt tNtlN dtlN illbttS-Ns SthttF III =
in school and out, porting over her books
far into the night, taking her daily eX-
ercises with problems in mental arith-
metic working in her busy brain, praC-
| Using with untiring energy, till at
eighteen she graduated with the highest
| honOrs of the HillsbOro Seminary, and
as the best pupil in all the "extra
| branches.
Driving home through the soft spring
air with her mother, the girl still felt
the excitement of the morning, and
talked in an animated strain of the fu-
ture.
Il think now, dear mamma" she
said, 81 will commence German, and
give a little more time to my drawing.
| really could not find time for either in
school, but now l can divide the day to
suit myself. There is one advantage in
private instruction, that one does not
have to wait for the Rotations of a
class"
So she planned, feeling, is was but
natural, the gratiied vanity of the
praised and petted scholar, and express
| ing warm determination to keep up
every study, even after she entered so
ciety.
/ But when the pleasant slttlnG-rOom
was gained, and the long strain was
| over. Mrs. Garnett was alarmed at the
sudden pallor and WEAKNESS that came
over Laura's face. She sank down upon
a low couch, gasping:
" Mother, am faint am falling I!
You are tired" her mother said
gently; lie down here and l will get
you some wine"
SO, instead of sleep and quiet, the girl
was stimulated by wine till her checks
Redeemed again.
"There, you look like yourself again,
her mother said, kissing her. . You
must look your best this evening, for we
shall have quite party here. cannot
tell you how many of our friends asked
permission to call and congratulate you.
1t was pleasant evening. The fan
Young graduate, still in her fleecy mus.
lin and soft white lace, played and SANG
for her mothers friends, chatted anC
gained new laurels, as her future popu
larity in society was prOphesied by those