The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1876-03-02
THE HUMP-BACK /;

4 Beauty and tho beast.
"Besuty and the Beastl Minnie
HStoke. for Beauty - who'll be the
Beast?" and Mrs. Lovejoy looked at
The group of eager children before
her for an answer.
Minnie had already stepped from
the ranks; and now there sprang to
her side boy some three years her
senior, who said: Il will, Mrs. Love-
joy!"
"You1l do" was the laughing re-
sponse. "Stand over there, both Of
you = and the young couple joined the
ranks of performers, whose position
was assigned them. ,
"What are you doing?" cried a
merry voice at the door and in mo-
ment the new conner was tho center
of group composed Of all the chill
dren in the room.
"Now, Lou, see how you've both
cred me. shall never get these chill
dren sorted again in the world
"But what was it?"
"My Clara is going to have a tab
leau party, and we are taking the fairy
tales to illustrate. I've found parts
for some of the children, and sent
them off to that end of the room"
Trn, sort tnem out again; come,
I'll help you;" and, catching up the
book, tho merry girl called name after
name from those written.
Beauty and the Beast: Beauty,
Minnie Stokes; Beast, Henry Wood.
Oh. FAM" she whispered, chow could
you?'
"Chose it himself, my dear" was
the answer. "a good joke, l call
it"-and Mrs. Lovejoy took up the
list again.
But Leu's pitiful eyes, resting on
the children, did not mirror any OF
her cousins mirth. Minnie and Hen
ry were standing in one of the win
dow inches, talking earnestly, uncon-
scious of the soft blue eyes bent so
lovingly upon them.
Minnie was a beautiful child Of
twelve years, with brown curls and
dark eyes, perfect in form and fea-
ture. Henry had the face Of an angel,
with the figure of a Calican. He had
been a tall, well-dcveloped boy for
five years of his life, when terrible
fall had ruined his form. His spine
was injured, curving till he was al
most hump-backed; his hip was
crooked, causing him 10 limp; and
the whole figure was twisted out OF
shape and almost the semblance of
humanity. The face was lovely,
blonde, waving hair, large blue eyes,
delicate features, and an expression
of perfect good humor were it's lead
ing points of beauty.
Minnie, the pet Of the whole town
of Fairwater, was the warmest cham
pion and friend Of the crippled child
of the clergyman, the Rev. Godfrey
Wood. She was the only one that
knew how false was the content the
unselfish boy professed to his sorrow
ing friends. She alone knew how
every jest he made upon his own de-
formity was a sword thrust to his
sensitive spirit; and now, as they
stood in the window, she was plead
ing with him to relinquish the part
he had chosen. But he was obstinate
the character would keep, him at her
side, and he determined to take it.
AT last all were provided, and the
rehesrsals and dresses wero the main
business OF all the little folks who
we're counted in Mrs. Clara Lovejoy's
circle OF friends.
The birthday party was complete
success. Never had Minnie looked
lovelier than when she knelt over the
expiring beast, whose false head and
shaggy cos ted figure her tender little
heart longed to hide from the curious
eyes looking at them. As is often
the case, the names of the performers
clung to them; and for many weeks
Minnle's heart swelled painfully at
hearing Henry called Beauty's Beast
but at last the tableaux and names
faded away in nvnew interests among
the young folks OF Fairwater.
Years glided by, and Henry Wood
was ordained. He had followed in
his fathers footsteps; and Fairwater
was waiting to hear his first sermon
before he left them for the home and
duties to which he had Decn ap-
pointed.
Minnie, an hciress and belle, beau
tiful beyond even the promise OF her
childhood, was most anxiou. to hear
the first effort of her old friend.
Years Of studc and humble seeking