Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-07-24
LUCY LARCOM,S LUCK.

VI lhICO SdJ III SIM
parlor one afternoon. Lucy La
com, the eldest, an interestir
blonde of eighteen, was coloriu
photographs. Tom, a curly-heaC
ed boy of fourteen, was surrept
tiously taking her portrait i
pencil, as surprise, for this was he
birthday; while little crippl
Charlie, the younger brother, wa.
copying music.
'There is knock at the door.
said charlie, whose quick ear wa.
the first to catch the sound.
"C-ome in" cried Lucy, who had
an impeachment in her speech.
Presently the door opened, and
a small ragged messenger put in his
head.
"Mrs. Leslie says she wishes to
see you partickler to-day"
every well. Say that l shall be
there soon,' said Lucy.
AS the door closed, Lucy arose
and put away her palette and the
miniatures she was tinting, prepar-
atory to fulfilling her promise.
"Oh, bother it, Lucy ~ cried i'm
pulsive Tom; "let Mrs. Leslie wait.
She can't expect you to be running
after her all day long.
"Don't talk nonsense, Tom. i
only see her once or twice a week"
"And that is too often. Why
don't her friends look after herr"
because she is poor, l suppose.
Think how lonely she is and bed
ridden. She is very grateful, poor
creature"
81 dare say" said Tom.
"You won't be gone long, Lucy,
will you r asked Charlie.
"No, dear. But what are Won
copying!" said Lucy, taking up his
music.
81 call it 'Lucy's Welcome It's :
for you and my own composition"
Every pretty and sparkling" said
Lucy, approvingly, after trying the
juvenile, but promising first efforts G
OF the precocious hey. P
at was the brook that first sug-
gested the melody" said Charlie, fl
delighted at having pleased his e
sister, who readily remembered
finding him one day listening in L
tently to the purling rill, from n
which the budding genius had Il
drawn his inspiration and elaborat- Of
ed his music. n
"And this is my present" said a
Tom handing his portrait to his N
sister. h,
swell done, Tom. you have e
caught the expression. But how he
sly you both have been," said Lucy NJ
as she kissed her brothers, of whom
she was as fond as she was proud. L,
'You shall be an artist yet, Tom. to
And Charley may study music to 1t
his hearts content. Mr.. NAVAL in
has raised my prices, and promised co
me as much work as I can do. We D,
shall prosper yet. Only have pa ad
tiencc. Meanwhile l must 90 to mi
zee Mrs. Leslie" at
And Lucy left her brothers TO mt sh
he finishing touches to their arts ed
ic compositions. lee
The Larcoms had seen better
Jays. The boys were too young to ly
emember this, but Lucy was not. an,
he had been schooled 10 affection. tin
the most impressionable age lar
bat OF early womanhood-and the Do
nal, instead OF souring, had devel- ed
ped all that was loving and good ed
her womanly nature. Her father law
rs prosperous merchant, until bis
e subtitle allurements Of drink led one
his ruin. Lucy could recollect was
S gradual downfall, until health. rea
cd looks, self-respect, fortune. SOU
'rital and parental ELECTION we're her
thrown away. When, at last. viii
verify stared them in the face, her bus
'ther died of broken heart inv,
70 father followed soon after, de- cres
Dyed by his enslaver, leaving valu
cy, little more than a child, al sess
st penniless and friendless, 10 was
vide for her two little brothers. and
The children inherited talent see
~ would have become teacher. ness
could not leave her Young III
theirs; and her stammering cons
och was another impeachment ed.
inst accepting position. She irm