Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-01-27
miscellaneous. ri
A Country Chorister.
From Harper's Magazine. !

1T is the case" said Jane. ''of the sheep
that tumbled over the precipice. and the
whole flock rushed pell-mell after it. or
course our little eve lamb couldn't be eN-
pected 10 escape the ridiculous infection.
At this obscure hyperbole Mrs. Fairfield
opened wide her eyes and loAed at her old
est daughter in bewlderment.
Its plain 10 be seen" pursued Jane,
that Doras head over ears in love with
Miles Van Dorm. like all other fools In the
parish"
Mrs. FAIRFIELD quite blushed at this bold
assertion.
I'm ashamed of you. Jane" she said,
severely. "Dora's a mere child, and has
no more idea of that Kind than a babe in
arms. | should think you would have more
delicacy than 10 accuse your sister OF Civ
ing her love unsought."
That's all balderdash, mother" said
the practical Jane. ! don't profess 10 pro-
less 10 know much about the tender pas
sion. but the little attention I've bestowed
upon il proves to me that 1t holds itself
quite beyond the volItion of its victims.
Her failing to gain the appreciation OF this
piping shepherd is the only thing that gives
me hope of quenchiDg her love Tor him."
Nonsense, Jane" said her mother. OF
course she respects him-we all do; but as
for love-
LAS for love" repeated Jane. Il never
saw more decided case OF iniatuation in
my lite. The way she hung upon every
note of his at the singing-school tonight
was simply distracting."
shes fond of music" pleaded the moth
er.
Yes, and for that reason" said Jane,
''she should have listened with anything
but delight. His voice is psssable, merely
passable; in the high notes il fails igno-
miniouslv. But high or low, true or false,
upon every note Dora hung enraptured.
| felt chill creep down my yertebrie as |
looked at her
Jane Fairfield was the eldest of the two
daughters OF the village school-master, and
had, years since. left the paternal roof and
gone up to the city in search of fortune.
Steadily eschewing more aesthetic but less
profitable employment, she had served
long apprenticeship to the dress making
business, and having graduated with an
artist in that line at the metropolis, she
counted her future safe in her own hands.
Devoting herselfto her Deedle ahd shears,
the world dwindled down TO a small COM
pass with Jane, and time flew speedily by.
Once fortnight she ran down home, aud
heartily enjoyed what domestic amuse-
ment she could CLEAN there-advised and
harangued her mother, scOlded and drilled
her little sister, accepted reluctantly the
benign patronage of her father, and lock-
ing around upon the village folk. devontly
thanked Heaven that she was not as other
people are.
In all dispositions like James there must
be one element predominating; her nature
was too strong to be dffiusive. 1t was nec-
essary there should be a concentrating
D Wifb har IL G.
herself-that was given up long ago With
a bitterness that partook of sco-n. Moth
ing .cOnld be done without a reasonable
capital. and poor Jane had scranny figure,
/ harsh voice. and a general tOut-ensemble
/ that possessed more character than grace.
[ That portion of James life which the
French gracefully term the beauty of
youth, had been frittered away in the
struggle for Independence. so that Jane
had ceased to hope for any personal joy;
! but it had become delight TO her to fancy
that something might come 10 Dora.
When her sister was but a child it chanc-
ed that she sang simple little ballad
within hearing of professional friend OF
James who fell into raptures over the pure
clear notes. and declared there was a germ
of fine, or perhaps an extra ordinary
voice. Jane cherished this semblance of
promise, and as soon as Dora WAS old
enough she was brought to the city twice
a week and placed in the professors hands
as docile little pupil as that ardent lover
/ of music could desire. And the child grew
| lovable as the years went by-lovable and.
above all, lovely; above all with Jane, as
| it was the one thing she held altogether
without approach. She had been known in
one of her audacious flights to declare the
| result of genius could be attained by appli-
cation, but nothing had ever been found
| that quite took the place of beauty. So the
energetic spinster gloated on DOra's fresh
young loveliDess, upon the 1.-the plant
IRON, the shifting lights In her hair, the
" onderful color that was never the same
form one minute to the other-now faint
and fading rapidly. now bright. vivid, in
creasine in intensity. until it glowed like a
flame, then neeting again like the gorgeous
tints of an evening sky.
The music lessons went on. the profess
or became more and more encouraging,
and poor Jane revelled in FOOLS paradise.
Heaven knows what lofty aspirations took
shape in her mind. When her establish
ment was closed and Jane. who could well
afford it, took hack to the stylish board
ing-house where her nights were spent,
she allowed her busy hands resting spell I;
they lay idly in the folds Of her well-fitting
robe, while her Imagination wove many q
fanciful dream of the future. The dream
generally eliminated in a spacious hall
crowded from pit to dome with full dress