The bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-1877, 1877-07-19
Subscription Price. sl.oo 4 Year.


--she was sunshiny little creature, full
Of bright. infectious hopefullness - and
somehow In that squalid room, she SEEM
ed like fresh rose blossoming in sandy
desert She was pretty with brown, ten
der eyes, just the shade Of the heavy
braids of hair above--a small coral mouth
and cheeks delicaicly shaded, and as shs
took up the newspaper, you couldn't help
noticing what snowy tender little hand
she had, with pink tipped fingers, and
dimples at every joint
mamma" she said, suddenly "here's
an advertisement for governess.
"Well, what of 1t AmyS" asked her
mother.
"Why, mamma" hesitated Amy, "you
know we are very, very poor, and-and
| shonld like very much TO earn little
money
Mrs. Ardenham had bowed her face
upon her hands. and in an instant Amy
was kneeling beside her.
Mamma, darling, please don't cry!"
she said.
~ don't mean to be SO foolish, dear
but 1t all came back to me at that mom-
ent of the wealth and station we have
lost--the poverty to which we are reduc-
ed. Oh, Amy, it is too hardl"
"But think, mammal" said Amy cheer
fully, how delightful it will be for me to
make all my school accomplishments
help us along in The world. May l try
for this situation ? l would like 1t very
much"
"If you think it best, my child" ac-
quiesced Mrs. Ardenham, very resigned
ly.
"Then I must lose no time said Amy,
as she began to arrange her hair and adj
just the details of her simple toilet.
"How do look, mamma she laughed
when at length she was ready to depart
And Mrs. Ardenham's admiring affect
ionate glance brought the roses to her
cheeks as she tripped away.
For she did look exquisiiely pretty;
the coarse shawl took graceful curves
about her slender form, and the cheap
straw hat with its plain black ribbon
might have been the most fashionable of
b0nnets without being whit more BE-.
coming.
Darling Amy pondered her mother,
as her light footstep died away on the
stair; 'she is a perfect little sunbeam
in the darkness of my daily existence
Her heart has never acled with the bitter
pangs of life's sharp trials"
But Mrs. Ardenham was mistaken;
Amy had tasted the bitter cup--nay, she
had drunk it to the very dregs
II
There was a vein of poetic appreciation
somewhere in the jumble of fun and SEN
timent, good humor and sarcasm that
constituted Fralk Ashley, as he lay lazi-
ly on the sofa, playing with two or three
golden headed-children, who were tod
ding about the room.
an tell you what, Lizzie" said he to
his sister, who sat embroidering, ''you
spoil these young imps about as complete
ly as any mamma of my acquaintance.
"As if you didn't spoil them, ten times
worse" retorted Mrs. Jay, laughing.
when succeed in obtaining a govern
ess, perhaps they will be put under some
sort Of discipline. But, really, Frank, l
have always wondered that you have
never married."
"Indeed Wby?"
"You would make such nice, domes-
tic sort of husband--you are SO fond of
home. know that that maneuvering
Miss Roland laid desperate siege to the
rocky citadel of your heart, but /
thought you disliked her.
"You were right" he replied "sae
was indescribaly repellent to me-
Then why
"Why did l never marry anybody
else Well, listen, Lizzie,a and III tell you.
was once in love with one of the sweet
est girls, ! believe. that ever walked this
earth. 1t was when l was staying at
Brighton; she, too, was spending the
Winter there. At first | thought she en-
couraged my suit, but all at once she
grew cold and distant. determined at
all hazards to know my fate, for felt
how wretched life would be without her.
But the very evening, that had resolved
to submit my suit to her--we were both
invited to a party at Miss Roland's - !