Lucy Raymond; Or, The Children's Watchword

iss

his simpl

rought pe

the old,

rs need

luded in the invitation, which she privately thought a great omission. It would have been such a good opportunity for showing the Ashleigh people how they dress in the city, and she f

nd her any of her ornaments which she fancied, felt somewhat ashamed of her own condemnatory feelings toward her cousin, since it is a

riority to any of her cousin's more stylish dresses. But, to please Stella, she accepted the loan of a sash pressed upon her by her cousin, who took a considerable amount of trouble in the arrangement of her toilet, and in weaving, with innate skill, a graceful wreath of delicate pink rosebuds and green leaves, which she fastened on L

ught the very ideal of a bride in her simple bridal dress. Its simplicity, indeed, would probably have scandalized Stella, but Miss Preston was not going to be rich, or mingle in gay society, and she wisel

ook Lucy apart to say a fe

emember, a Christian who does not work is only half a Christian. Now I think if you tried, you

hing I could," said Lucy; "b

go to school. But suppose you were to get her to come to you for half an hour a day. I think her moth

her friend added: "I don't mean that you should not teach her better things also. You could, little by little, teach her a good deal about Christ in the course of your daily lessons. But sometimes we may

arting words with the members of her own family. Lucy watched by the gate till she saw the carriage drive off, and then, overcome by the reaction from

ss. That the parting from a Sunday-school teacher, a friend so much older than herself, could have called forth suc

ied and goes south, a great deal farther away tha

as of her realizing for the first time Miss Preston's departure. And Stella, finding her attempts to soothe h

after satisfying Stella's curiosity. "

as crying so, it was no use to sp

I don't wonder at her crying on losi

ght Stella as she accompanied Mrs. Steele up-stairs. Lucy had fallen asleep, but awoke on t

la reproachfully. "And the wreath too! It might have been fresh all

ng treated the result of Stella's labour with more respect. "But I shouldn't have

wood? What are you going to s

o get her to come to learn to read, if papa and Au

, partly from curiosity, and partly from having nothing better to do, she acceded to Lucy's invitation to accompany her; and aft

house, when they encountered Nelly herself, struggling up the hill with a heavy pail of water. Her brown, weather-tanned face lighted u

it all up from the

p," replied Nelly, wi

rn to read?" asked Lucy, plun

ss," was the rath

ble to read that nice hymn Miss

e able, but I don't know

did Stella also,

it without learning, don't you t

must hurry now, or she'll be angry at me k

g, rushing down the hill

hear from infancy, "there's all my water spilt;" and seizing her pail, she

nor, a tall, bony, discontented-looking woman, had come to the door to look for Nelly. Not seeing the young lad

this time, keeping me waitin

But before she could finish her sentence she was rou

waiting for you. There, be off, and mind the baby;" and Nell

y, and her own prudent resolves, she announced her presence by exclaiming, in a voice unsteady with emotion: "Mrs. Connor, it's a shame to beat Nelly

tors of her violence; but she did not betray any shame sh

If young ladies hain't nothin' better to do than meddle

quite loud enough for her to hear. "Lucy

ined not to be easily moved from her object; and having by this time

e to see if you would let Nelly come to our house every day

what you've got to do with it, whether it's a pity or not. The child's lazy enough already, wi

onnor's quick eye followed her, and she half muttered to herself, "A city gal!" Then, taking up the pail which Nelly had set down, she we

"I remember one of Sophy's friends once wanted her to go visiting poor people with her, and papa said he wouldn't

do good to, and she can't help what her odious stepmot

elly herself didn't seem to

ucy. "But what should you or I have done if we hadn

ll enough without learning to read. I know mamma was always complaining that our servants w

n them something better

ng what up-hill work doing good was, and how hard it was to know how to do it. Suddenly she remembered her motto; she had been forgetting that the difficulties of the way were to be met in a strength not her o

st hardly a passing glance at it, in her sorrow for her teacher's departure. On their way home they overtook Mrs. Steele and Alick, to whom were soon related the particulars of their mission, Stella imitating Mrs.

s. What can she turn out, brought up under such a termagant? Suppose

r, and promise to give her a day's work once a fortnight, provided she will let Nelly come h

where any one is kind to her, she has so

e fixed upon the time which Lucy would least have chosen for the task. The only time when she could spare Nelly, she said, was in the evening, after the children were in bed. It was the time when Lucy most enjoyed being out, watering her flowers, or ta

il, reciprocal kindness and gratitude helped on the task, and before many weeks had passed Nelly wa