Daily Kennebec journal., 1878-03-15
fContinued from first page.)

she must not forget, she was homeless
stranger, teaching Minnie and Hattie
Hastings, who were surrounded with
wealth, and blessed with affection.
One day, she was sitting alone in her
room, of which the window gave a view
at once extensive and picturesque, when
Hattie knocked gently at the door; scarce
ly waiting for admittance she said abrupt
ly:
"Oh Miss Barely, we are going to
have company. DIR. Otis is coming to-
morrow; papa says so; and heard him
tell mamma, he is a self made man. WHAT
does that mean"
THAT he has conquered his fate
without assistance" Mary replied quick
ly, and unheeding the puzzled expression
of Hattie, she asked herself involuntarily,
but mentally :-"Can | ever do this ?"
Judging her powers of victory in the fu-
ture by the failures of the past, the answer
was no.n
Bonds of two-fold might were enchain-
ing her ;--she was woman, fettered by
the helplessness OF her sex, and bound to
erpresent drudgery by the circumstances
of birth and education.
The child saw the wan look on the face
of her teacher, and said
'fou are not glad, like papa and
mamma"
81 am not acquainted with your parents
FRIEND" was the quiet reply.
''But'you will be-" persisted Hattie.
An answer was prevented by the CALLING
emotion of one, who is superior to her
employees, it may be, and yet whose sta
tion precludes equality in those social dis
tinctions, often absurdly exclusive.
Hattie went away, half vexed. because
the news had not been received with due
enthusiasm.
DIR. Fred Otis was a self made man, ac-
cording to the common acceptatlon Of that
term but he ascribed all the honor OF
his career to the Giver OF every good and
perfect gift. God had entrusted him
with many talents, and he had used them
faithfully. Nurtured in home OF pen
ury, in his youth, he had spurned all Of
fers of charity, educating himself by his
own efforts. Now, he was the peer of the
noblest.
The previous year, Mr.. Hastings had
met him at Washington, and invited him
to be his guest, some time during the pres
ent summer. The invitation had been
given and received with most pleasant an
ticipations.
When Mary Barely first saw him, she
was not surprised at his compressed lips,
nor at the stern expression between his
eyes, these signs OF a strong will agreed
with her ideas OF innate genius, which
succeeds; bat she was astonished at his
perfect calmness, and ight-hearted laugh,
these were tokens OF peace within, and
outward freedom from those harassments
that fret the soul, and wrest from it the
joy of composure. There was no trace OF
conquest; he wore his laurels, as if he had
not won them in severe contest with
himself and others. Such is the guerdon
OF self discipline, at last.
"a On the next evening after his arrival,
Mrs. Hastings sent for Mary to play with
Minnie. favorite duet on the piano.
rebellious spirit might have prompt
ed the governess to refuse compliance
with request OF convenience; but she
quenched il with the timely thought, that
she was paid for such occasions, as much
as to teach.
Minnie was a natural musician, and il
was pleasure to teach her an accom-
plishment, in which she had SO much APP
tltude. Mary and Minnie practised togeth-
! or frequently. At the present time, they
were soon too intent ON their music to
heed aught beside, not even the critical
attention of DIR. Ots.
Duets were repeated, until Minnie de-
clared she could play no more, then Mrs
Hastings asked Mary to sing; finally,
she swept her fingers over the KEYS in a
tremulOus prelude, in accord with the sad
air she sang so admirably, and with her
own soul; declining second invitation,
she arose from the instrument, and left
the room. When she had closed the door.
for the first time in her life, she regretted
SO wonderful voice had been given her
TO amuse others, when they did not care
for her; she needed some one to pity.
rather than upbraid, her for faults, result
ing more from constant brooding over her
Loneliness, than what was inherent in
her nature.
DR.. Otis spoke of Miss Barely, as a pro-
ficient in her art, but there was no further
mention OF her. Mary did not meet him
often; she was shy, aud he was unobtru-
sive. Music was the medium OF their ac-
quaintance he never flattered her some
times she was pettishly obstinate in rel
erence to his corrections, generally al
lowing, at least, that his suggestions were
right; his Criticisms, as AN amateur, were
invaluable.
When he was gone she missed him, but
would not have acknowledged it to herself.
Dr. Gus was a skilliul physician, yet he
fonnd time, aside from the demands of
his profession, to WELD a iacie pen. that
indicated Dy turns, humorous, scathing and
sclentihc articles, which Mary Barely read
Win much interest, Judging his mind from
nus Writings; 10 the present instance, a
sure test, since he was not biased by
those preJudices, which influence SO per
manehtly the motives oil authors, some
times.
Continued tomorrow