The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-07-19
MRS. RAYS LoDGER,

"What became Of my little Miss LIZ
Why, my dear, do you remember herr
Yes, know you did meet her, but only
once-that was the day you spent with
me when you were going east, through
from Dakota.
"Well, / need not wonder that you
do remember her. Twas aface to make
an impression on one, am sure. A
dear, sweet, tender face, indeed. or
course, my dear, am only too pleased
to tell you about her.
"Let me seel" We were In that
cosy fat on the North Side then, and
1t was altogether the most desirable
place l have lived in since we left Chi
cago, six years ago. was sorry, in
deed, to make a change.
"Oh, my dear, many things happened
then which would interest you to hear,
i am sure. Wetook dodgers, you know.
No. not to make money, but to help
about rent, and ] like to have people
about me. You see, Mr.. Ray and l
are growing old. Yes, old it will be
soon IL we are inclined to cling to mid
dle-aged as our rightful title. And
not dear child of our own have We
ever had. So we have room IN our
hearts for all who come under our roof,
and sooner or later all my dodgers have
come TO seem like our ewn family.
Why, there were those three boys who
had the north room for two years. No
BILE lads, and away from their homes
and their mothers, ina great city. ms
boys always called them, and think
of them as my boys to this day
Those are their photographs on the man
tells, my dear, and one of them wa
quite an artist. will show you SOM
!. bits of his work, by and by.
"But about little Miss L. alway
called her that, and came to love hel
dearly; did, indeed.
"She was in my house almost year
K you see, and she crept into my heart
and l had no reason to regret 1t.
liked her the very first time l saw her
and the little parlor and bedroom pleas
ed her 50 much that she engaged ther
at once, and brought her few belonging
:, in the very next day. 1 was pleased
! see her as she went about putting he
= ck.knacks here and there in quit
S way of her own.
n' "Quiet contentment there seemed t
be in her face, and yet saw shade
of something, could not tell what,
her eyes, which came too long to driN
away. WANTED to see her merry. Sh
le was not old enough to be so quiet, al
nothing she told me afterward abol
herself seemed to explain it to me. b
iR don't think she seemed unhapp
How well ] remember her saying aft
i only two or three days: 'Dear MI
Ray, haven't been In so homelike
= place for years. You have no idea no
contented l am That pleased m
m don't you seep That was what l wan
ed it to seem, my dear-homelik
n Well, the light Housekeeping helped Il
l. to get acquainted quickly. Yes, n
ny dear, she had her little oil stove al
r cooked for herself, and eoaxed her
use my oven whenever she liked.
deed was only too pleased to have h
do so. Then began to think she d
IS. not eat enough hearty food, and tri
%. to persuade her to eat more meat. No
" you need not laugh my dear. My he
byp Well, better meat than medicin
- anyway, l shall always say. l want
her to grow bright and merry, dol
81 you seer
- 'But no, in spite Of fresh air a
hearty food there was the same qui
and almost knew it wasn't her mai
% raj manner. To be sure, there we
reasons for her to be sad sometime
She was all alone. She told me abo
her dear, dear MOTHER and how tt
-, derly she said it.
u "Her mothers picture was in lit
frame on bracket, and there was
tiny bunch of pressed yiolets pinn
against 1t.
Mamma died when was twelv
,ns she said one day, 'and after awhile pa
married again Then she waited
- a moment, and then said with fl
) look coming around her mouth, "A
feel happier to take care of myself.
"And she earned enough money
Z dear, to do it. There were the piG
~ pupils-almost every day she was av
down here on the South Side, giving
lessons. Then, between times,
painted the prettiest little things, d
they sold, too, though hardly for W
they were worth, am sure. Yes,
was always busy. Plenty to do,
strength to do it,, said to her on
Surely, little Miss L., that ought
make you happy
'She looked up and smiled at !
and said, Il am not unhappy
''No, my dear, aud she wasn't,
she was not what felt sure she mi
be, and had been, and that was bri
and merry. Why, she never sangl A
,he had a voice, for she had told me
singing here and there in years &c
Us Now, know where there is Ieall
happy heart, song comes bubbling
from it now and then-a little humm
), over the work, you know, my dear
least But l never heard it for Sc
Or eight months. Then, a Sun
;. morning remember it was, and l