The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-08-08
BhCRE'- JEOr.
[ChicsgO Tripune.I


Little Bruno Middleton, pretty girl with
a trim waste, bright dark gray eyes, brown
complexion and still browner hair, q mouth
and brow thst sho we'd q thoughtful chsrac-
ter, stood leaning against q large oak tree on
the summit Of one of the many hills eneir.
cling her fathers homo. Bruno had been
reading strOng-minded woman's opinion of
"Aimless Lives" and now, as she gazed
down upon the windn river, the undulst-
ing hills, and grove .embosomed house. she
was filed with self-reproach that she WAS
merely living, and enjoying it too, without
knowing why or doing any spprecisble
good TO any one. It had been made very
clear to her thst she had been put here for
some use-but for what2 To eat, drink, and
be merry7 no, that wasn't enough; thst
was only for self.
Her spirit rose impstient, and her hands
burned to be doing "with their might
but there was nothing, absolutely nothing
for them 10 fall upon.
The tears rose TO her eyes aud she bitterly
exclaimed: I'm nothing bat cumb3 rer
Of Gods busy earth" Il must be admitted
thst BIuDes range Of thought was rather
circumscribed, for, save through books and
papers, she knew nothing of the great world
outside her own ill-surroundei country
home. Prof. Middleton, an abstrsctet,
though kind hearted man and devoted ge0lo
giss, II following the aim Of his own life hsd
broken through msny an outer crust sai
looked deeply into the inner nature of Moth
| er Earth, but it had never once occurred 10
him that there was more IN the character OF
his children than was shown upon TIA SUI
face, ard he knew absolutely nothing ofthen
beyond their names ard their faces. Mrs.
Middleton sometimes wondered by what To-
tuition ne knew that much As TO Bruns.;n
whom he might have found study WORTHY
of himself, he regarded her rs perfect child.
snd sbsently remarked to his wife one day
CHOW large Bruno grows"
"Yes, cried Mrs. Middleton, fastening 10
speak while MS mind was of his rocks and
pebbles. Eyes, indeed; she is well-gro w
and pretty, and l wish very much sne nigh
see more of society. Mademosells will have
no more Of her IN the school-rOom and there
is absolutely nothing here to employ her
time ne it should be"
But the hint fell upon unhesding ears; the
Professors thoughts we're in the fourth ssra.
tum s,ready, mammals were called to the
nursery, snd meanwhile Is yesrs-old Bun
stood holding out empty, longing hands To-
: ward an object to I've for 4" Sweet, fair
Mrs. Middleton, whose loving heart and
busy hands were al devotion to her little
hcck, scarcely fsncied the half that passei
in BTune's active mind. She ssw her kind,
afeciionete, and eonsi1erete to all, apparent
ly happy and interested in all about her.
Melt the bright influences OF her sunny nature.
and only half realized th&s greater var lsty
than their quiet home life afforded was Scr
ually necessary to her daughters develop
ment and happiness Although she had not
yet forgotten the bright days of her own
youth, and would have wished for Brune a
glimpse Of such gayeties as belong to girl
hood, she failed to urge il upon her husb md
that Bruno should have companions of her
own age. Had the Middletons been 10 less
prosperous circumstances than they we're, 80
that some daily household duties might have
FALLEN upon Bruno, / don't think We should
have found her musing IN this dissatisfied
wsy upon her lot. But beyond amusing
herself Is was most agreeable to her, and en-
pertaining her merry little brothers and SIS
ters when they sought from her song, OF
story, or comfort for come childish sorroW ",
she found nothing for her hands to do.
She possessed far too much o. her fathers
talent and her mothers energetic spirit not
TO have already felt distressed at her forced
inaction. This appeal frlm the strong.
minded woman had aroused her whole ma
ture, 90 now she stood claspiog the might
body of her fayorite tree "a
tisbing that it might develop TIE
faculty Of speech like the. "islking
oak" or at least with waving branche.