The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-09-21


one narrow room, the street outside, and q
small glimpse of sky above the roofs of the
opposite houses-except for that strange
kingdom" my mind to me kingdom is'
which the poor young thing seemed to
have taken by storm, against all opposition
of fate, and where, by her looks at least
she reigned in content. Her books, hel
needle-work, when she was too ill to study
the flowers beside her, the little MS. book
which she did not offer me, nor did pro-
pose to read-all bespoke nature strong
in itself, and capable of doing what SO few
of us do-making the best of things.
| said little, scarcely more than the girl
herself-in fact, could not felt that in
stead of instructing, | was learning; but
promised her few books, and gave her
the advice that q wise friend-a literary
lady too--gave to me in my teens: "My dear,
never mind your poetry finish your educa-
ton"
Throughout that sweet spring day, full
of strange mixture of pleasure and pain,
which it is needless to dilate upon here
across the scented moorlands, cleaning
with yellow furze, and the wide green
down, every mile of which was haunted
with many memories, until we came out
upon the long blue sea-line, calm as the
eternity which rounds them ALL was fol-
lowed by the thought of that helpless little
figure and placid contented face lying in
the dark corner, quite away from the sun
shine, the sea-line, and the flowers.
Not altogether from these last, for one of
my young folks took her that same after
noon the most lovely handful of hyacinths,
primroses, orchises and cowslips. If only
we could have gladdened her ears as we'll
as her eyes by waiting to her the happy cry
of the cuckoo, the song of the lark and
thrush, the musical beat of the waves ON
the beach, or the thud of the tide against
the Mermaid's Cave But all these de-
lights, which SO many count as nothing,
yeS which to one of the poetic tempera-
ment are-must be-almost everything,
were to her, at present at least, denied.
But "my faith is large in time" and in
that patience which, by cheerful acceptance
of the sad present, sometimes opens the
way to better future. Only the wicked
are God-forsaken even in this oftentimes
world.
went home, and turning over in my mind
what could possibly be done to brighten
that sad, Swallowed life, to make the most
of it for herself and for Others, be it q long
life or short one it occurred to me to send
one or two of her poems, and tell her story,
for the benefit of the readers of the Youths
Companion. And in order that the facts
might be given as simple facts, without any
gloss, wrote for accurate in
formation as to her brief history, which
her mother had told me, but which had
listened to in hasty, preoccupied fashion
while watching, full of thoughts, the little
childish face.
This was the answer / got, inclosed in q
letter from the MOTHERHOOD are worth any
language of mine:
Il was fifteen on July IS, 1877. have
been to Miss HIS boarding school for
two and half years, before which had a
few months at the British school in this
town. In addition to geography, history,
ETC., learned French and little music
From midsummer to Christmas, 1876, l
learned Latin, and taught junior Glass;
In December, 1876, passed the examina-
tion of the College of Preceptors, in the
first division of the third class, and receiv-
ed certificate for the seven subjects on
which l was examined, viz, arithmetic,
grammar, geography, English history,
Scripture history, French, and free hand
drawing.
II gained three first prizes in the first
class before began to teach-one for Eng
ish, and two for French and English. I
also received some prizes from the editor of
Kind Words viz, senior prize in the young
authors competition, for a poem called
Dreams and Realities two books, and ten
'hillings in money, July, 1874; senior prize
in handwriting competition, January, 1874;
unior prize for verses for birthday card,
October, 1874; senior prize for poem on
the Sabbath August, 1875.
81 also gained honorable mention in
Kind Words for sonnet for handwriting
1879 for an essay on favorite proverb,
Tor set of button-holes, for historical
mental picture, and for six original pro.
verbs. In July, 1876 I had poem called
Summer printed in Kind Words
"E. M. H."
Merely this statement-bare facts, not a
word more-but what a catalogue of work
done including the admirably feminine
work of the "six button-holes.n What
patience what perseverance and this is
no high or even middle rank, but that of
postman's daughter! What an indomitable
struggle after education in the boarding
school, probably Il very small one, where the
little pupil-teacher contrived, during the
two and half years, to do so much, when
many girls, healthy, well-todo young
creatures, whose parents pay from e100 to
e150 year for their education, contrive
to do so very little
rl1 4
father, but here is what her mother says of
her:
"DEAR MADAM,-My little girl herself
has written the statement which you re-
quire; and as you wished for her charac-
ter, will give it to the best of my ability.
"She has always been truthful and CON
scientious, fond of study, and anxious to
learn; and far as have been able to Judge,
during the time she was with Miss H,
won her respect and confidence, and the
love of her school-iellows.
81 have always wished that she should
have education enough to fit her for
teacher, for l thought it probable she
would not be able to earn her living any
other way. In consequence of her spinal
weakness, which she has suffered from ever
since she was twelve months old, and for
which she wears iron supports, fear that
the teaching and learning combined, dur
ing the last half year she was a: school, was
too great demand upon her strength, and
was partly the means of bringing on the
illness from which she is only just recover
ing. ~.
at will be great grief to me if she
can not have any more education, as she
has often said, when we have talked of her
future as teacher, 'Ah, mother, if l am
able shall be writer = Throughout her
life she has had great deal of suffering,
which she has always borne cheerfuIly and
patiently" ETC., etc. 0hc rest is merely
thanks, and need not be copied.)
Both letters have transcribed lterdtim;:
they are absolutely accurate as to spelling
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