The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-01-02

homely little thing, with no sugges-
ton of beauty except in her large dark
eyes. These may have resembled my
sisters eyes. but | think it was the
Childs mute sympathy that went like
balm TO my mothers sore heart We
brought the little girl to our home,
where. with my fathers consent and
approval she was introduced as an
orphaned relative. It is no untruth,
said my gentle mother TO me, the sons
and daughters OF sorrow are bodnd
together by d tie stronger than the
ties Of blood The child seemed to be
about three years old. She knew only
the pet name, 'Lassie.> by which her
mother had called her, and we gave
her no other She was known as Las
sic Hamilton, and grew up to believe
herself the niece of my father and
mother She called them uncle and
aunt. but her warm little heart must
have yearned for a closer tie of kin
ship. for she always called me bro
Their, and on me she layished that
wealth of self-sacrifcing love which
we sometimes see little sisters give to
brothers older than themselves. | was
five years older than Lassie, a big boy
with willful temper which was not
improved by those conditions of life
which surrounded me as the only child
and the heir to a large fortune. Poor
Lassie was often the victim of my
temper. though I think | loved her as
much as if she had been my own sis
ter Al the time | am going to tell
YOU OF she was about IL years old, out
wardly unattractive, but remarkably
intelligent, and high spirited enough
TO have been a princess. Mother had
died two years before. and my father
had married a beautiful and imperi-
Gus young woman, who conceived a
strong prejudice against this adopted
child Of our house, though she never
knew that the object OF her dislike
was not my fathers niece. Lassie
would have gone away had it not been
for her devotion TO me. How poorly
was it repaid. One day we had dis
pute over a game Of chess, and 1 flew
into rage My temper, which had
known no restraint since mothers
death, on this occasion passed all
bounds. | told her not to call me bro
Their. that / was not even her cousin
and she had no right TO the name of
Hamilton; that she was the child of a
pauper and had no name. Many times
since | have wished God had stricken
me blind before l saw the look that
came into her face. but | was too an
gry to think of it then.
"Lassic was not at supper that
evening, or at breakfast the next
morning. Father inquired about her
and heard a servant say she had
gone into the city to visit school
mate | was quite willing. by this
line. TO acknowledge myself in the
wrong and beg her forgiveness. but
was ashamed TO meet her and confess
nat I had broken a promise to my
lead mother So a week passed be
lore ] went to bring her home But
she vas not with her friend. and had
been there only one day and night
Greatly alarmed. went to my father
and found him reading a letter post
marked Cincinnati. Ii was from Las
-ie She thanked him in her frank
childish way. FOR all his goodness, and
hoped he wouiu not feel troubled by
@er @oing away; she had found a stu
alton with a lady travelling north, and
h.,
sHue would be better for her better
Tor us all There were tears in fathers
yes when he laid the letter down. but
he said, She is RIGHT poor child; it
|il be better for MS all far better for
her. But We must find her. | cried
We don't know how she is situated;
she may be working for living Toll
is better than strife he answered sad
~. In justice to my stepmother. con
fessed that my cruelty. not hers, had
driven the child from home His dis
pleasure was very great, and the pun
ishment imposed was heavier than
had thought his kind nature could de
wise. 1t was that should take no
step toward finding and recalling my
adopted sister, thai | should not even
mention her name in his presence
Thus | was cut off from even the hope
Of hearing from her until my father
should choose to speak. Years passed
and | had learned the hard lesson of
self-cOntrol before he told me that he
had traced her to Philadelphia, and
found her in training school for
purses She was quite happy, and i'm
movable in her determination to make
nursing the sick her life work | went
TO Philadelphia to beg her forgiveness;
but she had gone abroad to remain in
definitely, and did not hear from her
again That this is she there can be
no shadow of doubt: but so entirely
is she changed that | did not even sus-
pect the truth until tonight. The eyes
did remind me of Lassie but ! had
never thought of her except, as the
thin, plain child grown taller If my
remOrse was bitter before, can you
think what it is now. that | owe her so
much? | am unworthy of her remem-
brance, but that she does think of me
and recall my cruel words, YOU know.
No name" Oh il the entire devotion
Of my life can win her confidence and
affection, she shall have name-her