Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-05-25
A TuRouoIs R.Na.

Hattie Thorpe the nursey governess,
sat playing at building block houses
with her two little charges, Artie, aged
nine, and Louis, aged seven. She was
only eighteen herself-a tiny girl for
that age, with a sweet baby-face. and
evidently so much of a child that it
seemed perfectly natural to see her with
younger children, and as much inter
ested in their childish games as them
selves. A most efficient nursery covers
ness Mrs. Langley found her, as she
gave the children their reading and
spelling lessons daily, and played with
them at addition and subtraction in a
way to make the horrors of arithmetic
quite fascinating. She slept in their
room a. night, dressed them all day, as
we'll as Kept geute Surveillance over
them at the table, where she always sat
with the family, except on grand com
pany occasions, when she disappeared
with them into small temporary salon
q namgs, where they three dined
together, enjoying these meals most OF
any.
AS Nelly Langley told her cousin
Edward, with laugh, she was not
even called upon to play the part Of
elder sister except when she was in the
humor. 1t was a perfect comfort to
have girl like Hattie. She took all
responsibility about the children of
ones mind.
Cousin Edward laughed too when
she said it; but perhaps it occurred to
him that little responsibility about the
children now and then would do Nelly
good, while little less might occasion
ally relieve Miss Thorpe, for Artie and
Louis, though cherubs in general way
were not always angels. But he fell
no disposition to argue the point will
the handsome, brilliant girl, who al
WAYS received him with smiles, deferred
to his opinions, played her best music
for him in her finest style, and showed
in her whole manner that she considered
her cousin Edward the choice specimen
of manhood In the universe. MIR. Ed
ward Montague was wealthy young
man: and indeed, the great catch of the
set in which Miss Langley was bright
particular star; and that ambitious
young lady was credit to her mammals
bringing up, and left nothing undone
to captivate the heir of the family
besides which she greatly admired hel
COUSIN, and was as deeply in love with
him as any society young lady permits
herself to be before marriage OF a
positive engagement warrants an exs
travagant amount Of feeling.
The cousins smiled at each othor as
thier eyes met, after a minutes survey
of the there children playing block,
houses. Nelly put out her hand as il
Inspired to assist at the game; and then,
| catching sight of her slender forefnger,
she uttered an exclamation.
"Oh, my ring!-my lovely ring,
Cousin Edward, that you gave me''
aHave you lost it?" the gentleman
inquired, languidly.
~ hope not this time. It has beer
mislaid so often and turned up again.
But I shall lose it some time, / know
I'm unfortunate about it. You see, on
account Of the pearls, l take it off every
time | wash my hands, and then ! for
get to put it on again.
Pooh! 1t isn't lost, Nelly. Send
Miss thorpe to see if you have left il
| on youf dressing table"
Miss Thorpe didn's wait to be sent
but ran away at once to look for the
missing trinket. It was lovely ring
and many time little Hattie had
looked On it with almost covetous
chances, longing for such a ting to wea1
on her own pretty finger. She returned
| from her quest in few minutes, look
ing disappointed and saying she couldn'
find it II anywhere.
"You couldn't have half looked" tn,
). young lady declared, impatiently, ''be
| cause know left it on the dressing
table. | remember quite vol now,ant
SO mast you, Hattie. It was just be