The Beautiful Garment and Other Stories

You'll find our Lydia a child after your own heart, Martin, said Captain Neill, a retired officer, to his elder brother, who had lately returned from India. "She seems to be a quick, intelligent girl," answered Mr. Neill, in a less enthusiastic tone. "She is that, and a great deal more!" cried the father. "It is wonderful to see the good that child does! From cottage to cottage she goes, reading, talkingreally like a grown-up woman; it would surprise you were you to hear her." "Perhaps it would," said his brother, a pale, reserved man, with dark, thoughtful eyes, and a face on which love to God and good-will to man seemed to have set their stamp. "Certainly, dear Lydia is a very uncommon child," lisped Mrs. Neill from the sofa, to which long and tedious, though not dangerous illness had confined her for several months. "You see," pursued the captain, "we've no child but Lydia, so we've devoted all our care to our pet." "An only child runs some danger of being spoilt," observed Mr. Neill, with a smile. "Yes, yes, but we never spoil ours," answered the father, quickly. "Oh, dear, no!" said the lady, from the sofa. "We have always from the first taught Lydia her duty; and I must say that we've found her an apt pupil," continued the captain. "Would you believe itthough she is just twelve years old, that child has twice read through the Bible, and has started on the third reading of her own accord!" The partial father looked into his brother's face, expecting to see depicted there admiration and surprise. There was, however, no expression of the kind. Perhaps Mr. Neill was thinking that one verse of the Holy Scriptures, treasured in the heart, might do more for the soul than the whole Bible read hastily over for the sake of boasting that so much had been done. "And then her charity," recommenced Captain Neil; but he was interrupted by the entrance of a fine-looking girl, who came in with a quick step and self-possessed manner, her checks glowing beneath her white hat from the exercise which she had been taking.

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