The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-10-28

Never mind; let her come in. "Tll
give her minute or two"
Another second and Lofty, her brain all
in a whirl, found herself breathess and
trembling in a bright looking loom, stand
ing i'll the presence of slender, light
haired gentleman, whose smiling eyes, like
two benignant suns, seemed to send light
and cheer into her poor, cold, frightened
little heart.
Well, any thing the matter with your
eyes, little woman? Come here and let
me see"
Lofty, too frightened to speak, went for
ward mechanically.
"They don't look like it. Suppose you
take off your bonnet and let me examine
them more closely
Lofty pulled off the dingy head dress,
disclosing one of the sweetest and fairest
faces that heaven lent to earth.
cit isn't my eyes, sir, it's mothers"
she said, falteringly.
"Oh. And who is mother?"
cts Mrs. Gaddis and we live in Thorn
vile"
eve do? But that's long distance
from here"
Only few miles, sir. l walked in
since yesterday
Walked. Coming, John, in few mo-
mentS," he added, as the servant came to
the door. odd You say you walked?"
Yes, sir. | felt SO bad for mother, be-
cause she can't sew any more, and that's
the way she earns our living. For Betty
is lame in the hip, and can't go out to SER
vice, and mother, now she can't see very
well, cries good deal to think she can't
work, and that makes her eyes worse.
thought if you would give me something
r, .la& i
thank you so much9 And if you'd please
wait till I'm grown up, | would surely pay
you the money for it'd be certain to pay
you every cent
The doctor looked her all over, from the
curly crown to the coarse shoes, all dusty
and travel worn. Then something came
into his eyes which he winked away, and
he put his hand on the child's head.
" You're a brave little girl, he said, and
that was all
She dared not raise her eyes to his face
while he drew on his long riding gloves.
She did not see the pressure of his lips,
and then the half-amuSed smile that curved
them, as he looked forward to the growing
up of the mite who stood trembling before
him.
Come he said, in voice that made
her start and thrill to the heart with ioy,
though she did not know why. But she
looked up and saw that he was moving
towards the door.
. am going to see your mother" he
said, smiling like prince, and oh, what
pleasant eyes he had, They seemed as if
they might look life into poor eyes that
were dead
'Seven years ago." he said, 81 was at
Thornville. and weaIied out with long
I
at cottage door and rested. A sweet
faced woman, with a little girl in her arms,
gave me some cool, fresh milk to drink.
Who knows but it was your mother?'
lie took her hand in his, and to the sur
prise of the portIy housekeeper, led the
little girl, with her homely frock and her
old SUM- bonnet, to his wide, substantial
buggy. Then placing her carefully upon
the seat, he got in beside her, and they
went off together.
The afternoon sun set it's mild beams
over the country lanes and fields, when at
last little Lofty, her scheme triumphant,
drove up to the cottage home.
They found the widow in terrible con-
sternation, and Betty, the lame girl, crying;
for news had just come that Lofty had
gone off to the city by herself, and the
fond mother heart pictured all sorts of
catastrophes for her child. But when the
doctor told his story, and presented the
brave little girl, the mourning was turned
into joy.
No pains were spared to restore sight to
the eyes, diseased from overwork and tears
The doctor adopted the whole family, in
fact; procured help for Betty, a nurse for
the mother, and the benefit of a good
school for the little Lofty. And sometimes
he tells her that he is waiting very pa
tiently for her to grow up, that she may
fulfill her promise, and pay him for having
restored her mothers sight; and l have
not the least doubt in the world but she
will do it Youths Companion.