Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-02-24
TRUE HEROINE.
BY FRANCIS (. FRAZER, MARrINsBuRG.

BY FRANCIS l.. FRAZER, MARTINSBURG.
Jessie Deane was poor fisherman
daughter and lived with her parents
in one of the many huts that composed
the little fishing village near TO the
sea. John Deane, like his neighbors,
was away from home most OF his time
plying his craft, and very busy man
he was, for the support of u delicate
wife and six children fell upon his
broad shoulders.
Jessie, my lass" John would say,
Il must be up and ava early the
morning lest my neighbor gets the
luck that would be mine.
"All right, father" Jessie would say,
your breakfast shall be ready in
time.
Jessie" her mother would say, in a
complaining voice, Il wish you would
take the baby to sleep with you to-
night; he coughs as if he might have
the Group before morning, and you
can tend to him without disturbing
me; and, Jessie, after you put the
children to bed you will have to mend
Johnnys and Bart's pants, or they
will have none to put on in the morn
ing: and, Jessie, while | think Of it,
your fathers coat sleeve is nearly rip
ped out: you may as we'll sew that in
before you put your needle away.
Yes, mother" Jessie would say;
but no one noticed the little sigh that
escaped her. 1t was only after all her
days duties were over, and Jessie
kneeled to pray, in her bare little
room. that she told the dear Lord how
tired she was, and asked Him TO give
her strength to bear the weary load
that at times seemed almost too much
for her. Jessie was not an ordinary
child; though scarcely twelve years
old, the neighbors would say she had
womans head on her shoulders. No
one but Jessie prepared the frugal
meals, no needle but Jessie's mended
the rips and the rents that came un-
asked in the children's clothes, or
meuded fathers net after the day
fishing; no hand like Jessie's 10 smooth
the pillow of sick neighbor, make
u bowl Of Cruel, gather the drift-wood
on the beach, or amuse the children,
ever willing, ever cheerful and help
full. Her face was brown, and her
dress was coarse, but she was always
tidy and clean. and through her deep
set gray eyes could be seen the soul
that dwelt within her and the noble
purposes that guided her actions. 1t
must not he supposed that because she
was good she was born good. She had
had quite as many faults TO correct as
the usual children of her age, but she
was strong of will and firm ofpurpose,
and only after many battle, which
she had fought bravely, had she be
come mistress Of herself nor could she
then have retained the victory if she
had not known of the great Fountain.
where she could go and get her supply
of grace each day for her needs.
At one OF the summer hotels which
stood not far from the little village the
AllisOns were staying. They had come
early in the season and were spending
u. 10 i,,t 4 liiEn,
wealthy man, and his two daugh-
ters. Violet and Lillian. aged respec-
lively twelve and fourteen. were vain,
proud girls. without a mother. Their
father having been engrossed in bust
ness. they had been left almost entire
" TO the care of French governess.
who had given them an exterior pol
ish, and taught them to attach more
Importance to fine clothes and money
than 10 the cultivation OF their minds.
consequently they were vain and su-
periicial.
They spent much of their time on
the shore and frequently met Jessie
Deane, for one of her duties was 10
come each day to gather drift-wood
for fuel and also to bring the smaller
children 10 amuse them afterher days
duties were done. At these times vi
olet and Lillian would draw their rich
clothes about them and look at Jessie
with scorn, and when one of the small
er children came near them they
would brush rudely past or push them
away. a if they feared TO be contain
mated
All this was very aggravating 10 oJes-
sic, and at times it seemed almost
more than she could bear. but the
well-springs Of her heart were fed from
a higher source. and when smitten on
one cheek. Jessie was enabled 70 turn
the other
One day these vexations almost
reached TO violence Jessie, a usual,
had taken the children TO the shore.
and directly little Mary espied very
beautiful shell. Itwas very large and
its inner pearly surface was exquisite
ly tinted.
''Oh, sister, cried Mary, picking il
up and running to Jessie, hasn't this
dropped right down from heaven
You say that God lives in such beau
tiful place. and / never saw anything
so pretty as this before. Maybe the
angels dropped 1t.
Jessie took the shell without answer
inc, the child and for n LONG time fea ST