News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1892-03-24
Clover Leaves and PanSiGS.
BY JUDITH SPENCER.

"Oh, it is so dull and dreary, |
wish they had let me die"
y young girl lay in an invalid's
chair, in the shade of "a fine old tree;
on a table beside her were some
books which she had been too weak
or too listless to open.
The youngg grass ofthe lawn seemed
like velvet in the sunlight, the low
box hedge emitted a spice-like frag-
rance, and all the roses in the garden
were nodding in the soft sweet breeze
of June. Allnature was at her bonni-
est and best, and yet herein theshad-
ow this fair girl lay like a dropping
flower, ana her moan was, "lt is so
dull and dreary, wish they had let
me dieP
The winter before, Rebe Forester
had been sick unto death, and only
the physician's $ watchful skill and her
mothers never wearying care had
saved her life after many long anX-
ious weeks; but her recovery had
been slow and tedious, and her
strength had never returned.
So as soon as the first warm days
offspring hadcome, hephysician had
said that Rebe must be taken to
some quiet place in the country,
where from morning to night she
could lie in the shade of the trees and
breathe the pure life-giving air.
II had been impossible for Mrs.
Forester to leave her husband and
the younger children just at that
time, so after seeing that Rebe was
comfortably settled in The pleasant
home of some elderly relatives who
had consented to take care of her for
the summer, the mother went away
cOmfOrted in spite of her daughters
languor by the first faint tinge OF
color she had seen on her cheeks for
months.
But Rebe had found her existence
here unbearably lonely and dull.
That winter before her illness she had
begun to enjoy some of the first inno-
cent gayeties of young girls life,
and they had been so suddenly and
cruelty ended. Her mind dwelt con-
stantly upon those happy days, and
she thought jealously of all the little
attentions the other girls might b.
receiving while she was so weak and
wretched in her exile,
Her cousins, indeed, were very kind,
but a frail deaf woman of seventy
was hardly a congenial companion
for a girl ofseventeen, and even cousin
Jane was fifty, at the very least, and
so busy with the cares of hOuse-keep-
ing and of her delicate mother that
she had only time to provide for
Rebels physical comfort, which she
did with scrupulous care.
But Just now Rebe was longing for
companionship; forsQme one to read
to her and to talk with her, and be-
cause no one was at hand she grew
unreasonably cross and irritable
From the vine-wreathed porch of
the cottage beyond the hedge, "a little
woman had been watching Reba with
kindly interest, and now, as if divin-
ing the girls loneliness, she arose
and slowly crossed the narrow strip
of sunny lawn which lay between
them.
Through her half-clOsed eyes Rebe
saw the heapproaching figure, hesmall
bent woman between whose crooked
shoulders rose a hideous hump, whose
face was thin and drawn, and whose
dark eyes shQne as if alight with in
ward fire.
The little woman came close to the
hedge by Rebels side, aud spoke in
voice of extraordinary sweetness:
My child, it must be lonely for you
here; would you like me to read to
you for awhile?"
1t was just what Rebe had been
longing for, yet now, with an unac-
countable feeling of irritation and
perverseness, she murmured nngra-
ciously: 81 don't want to beread to-"
and closing her eyes to shut out the
small, mishapen figure, she turned
her face away as if to sleep.
In the silence that followed her i'll
humor slowly gave place to a feeling
of shame, which finally mastered her,
and she turned with a stammering
apology for her rudeness, but with
noiseless steps the little woman had
departed, and Rebe found herself
alone.
By-and-by cousin Jane came out
with a glass of milk for Rebe, and as
she stood looking down at the girl
she said: 81 saw our little neighbor
speak to you, and l hoped she would
stay with you awhile. You do not
know how lovely she is"
Lovely" The word escaped
Rebels lips invOluntarily as she
thought of the hideous little Great
ure with her piercing eyes.
Yes, lovely" cousin Jane repeat
ed with a smile; "her character is
the exact opposite OF her poor body.
You must have guessed that from