The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-03-26

orphan should have all the care, and
love, and tenderness, and more of real
companionship than most mothers give,
but [ would guide her wisely as well as
tenderly.
L had any quantity of pet theories.
Now | would see whether any of these
tine-spun things would stand the actual
wear of life. / had laughed often at
the ir%reconcilable difference between
the theories and practice Of my married
friends. Perhaps / should succeed no
better, but | Thought / should.
She camc. And if the patter o. little
feet brought music, and the fitting Of IL
little form brought sunshine, both
brought Watching and care with them.
All the diseases of childhood had appar-
ently been reserved for my acknowl-
edged talent of nursing; and now she
went faithfully through the whole round,
not emitting even c~lickcn-pox, which
many children, [ believe, DO skip over,
winding up at twelve with an attack OF
scarlet fever, that came near finishing us
both up together. This last Gangerover
| began to breathe more freely.
II the little orphan had proved 1t great
care, she had also proved a great treas
urc. Here is the one advantage Il single
or Il childloss woman has over the mother
who has a natural right to her children.
She must take whatever is sent her,
whether uglincss or bcauty-an angel Ill
embryo or a devil in disguise. But We
are free to choose the child OF orr ad0p-
ton, and from Il given number take the
Il that suits our fancy best. | stand
by Il sensible woman's rights, and this is
one Of them
No choice could ever have been more
fortunate than mine. She was one of
those children SO often found in hooks-
so rarely seen III real lie. \ little figure
fashioned most daintily, every movement
full of Grace-thc soft, dark eyes. gentle
and t~oLsier, Il welI-skaped head with a
wealth OF brown, wavy hair. and tie low,
musical voice, when it rippled in laugh
ter, was the sweetest I ever heard.
This was the outward showing of a
lovely disposition and Il ~well-DalanccG
mind.
Through her earlier .years, 50 broken
by sickness, [ took her education into
my own hands. | was her mother, plav-
mate, ttacher, friend !; and never was
there mere entire love and confidence
between IA child and q person of ma
tur"r years. What happy hours we
had IN ti&t dear old sitting-room.
How easy study was, with the
eliza shadows dancing III at the
open window, and playing hide
and seek with the sunlight on the floor.
The earlier routine of knowledge came to
her SO PLEASANTLY and easily in this natu-
raj home way. il never brought a thought
of distatC and WEAKNESS. The cabinet
waS a perpetual fund Of interest. How
many lessons of other lands, their eli
mate, people, resources, were learned as
one lesson grew out of another, and then
her awakened curiosity and eager inter
est led her to books to find out more.
This was the carrying into practice OF
II of my pet theories-and it worked
admirably. | always pitied the long
rows of weary little childrenin a crowded
school-room, trying to learn lessons of
not the slightest interest to them, or the
least practical value.
How full of quiet JOY those summers
Were, How pleasant the lessons for both
teacher and scholar. Often on the back
~verandah, with the sweet music of the
brook, and the green woods 80 near, and
oftencr i'll the still depths of the woods
themselves was the studying done, and
then, the books thrown aside, we both
learned better lessons from Gods W
works than ever books contained. If
her education in this way was not
by rule, it went on rapidly and
thoroughly, and when, with health
established, she was able to go
into school, she took her place at the
head of her companions.
As her young life unfoldcd III beauty,
and came near Che point where the girl
and woman meet, how ~anxiou8ly I
watched, guarding, ah. st carefully, from
all companionship that could harm. I
never shut her away from the pleasant
pastimes of her young friends. I had
onn1n thn fNll.. md u.rnnn Af tL;. -, cunn,n