The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-02-28
THE ORPHAN.
" His laerymis ritnm danas, ct miseresei
mnS mtro.n

with hair dishevelIed and in tallered gar.
ments, sunk To the ground as she Journey
ed over the Heath.
She had wandered Ear from her home.
home alas she had none she was nm
Orphan Long had n mothers voice ceas-
ed to instruct her by its precepts--a ia
theirs arm 10 protect and administer by its
labor, 10 her necessities fate had cousgn-
ed them both 10 the grave, aud Emma,
was left without friend on whom to de
pend for counsel or assistance.
She was then heauleous her form and
graceful movements, were those of Diana I;
the health of Ilygeia bloomed upon her
cheek, and the llly's spotless whtrness
lent its complexion to her neck and bosom.
Her mind was intelligent though not learn
ed her heart, "A compound of virtue and
credulity Never had Emma performed
an act that was wrong, knowing il To be so
never suspected guile or treacllcry in a.
mother, judging the world, as il were, by
the standard of her otcn honesty aud truth.
Thus acting-belleviug- -unskllled in the
deceptive character of mdl,-- lorlorn and
needy--she was approached by youth,
whose prepossesslng form aud manners,
soon engaged her a1ections.-WitlI the
malice and cunning Of the arch fend of
old, lie wood, won and deserted her!
Wretched Emma virtue was once thy
richest pride and solace--pntue And is
it then but name, which the uneharitablc
look at Art thou mt, Emma, still yrtn-
ous2 Shall thu fell Vaccinations Of vii.
lain, east that opprobrium upon thy purer
nature, which only his infamy deserves p
Vel IL may he said that, thou too, art in
famous mo, not so.-Thou art wrctched,
but not Infamous! Ii was not fault To
believe as thou hast believed il was a mis-
fortune. That innocence, which should
have been thy protection, is nevertheless
| thy apology You saw the tears trickle
from eyes, while those eyes beamed in
rapture upon you you heard n voice, sill
very and sweet, which formed itself 10
your situation, declare It's passion and
pledge It's unalterablc truth. Could You
doubt it No. That heart which had ne.
| yer deceived that heart, which had 80 Of
ten throbbed with sympathetic emotions
at the bare recital of "past tales ofsorrow,p
| could not suspect deception in another,
when at its feet it laid, in duplication, pro-
misses aud vows?
Who then, Emma, brands you infamous ?
You that have fell the mad'ningsha ifs of
love, burning in your hearts you that have
sighed for the indulgence of a passion, pure
aud ardent, though restricted by custom,
or those incidental occurrences which arise
| ever aud anon by fate's inyidi0us command,
to embiIter our enjoyment and harrass our
existence, nil not.
You whose bosoms ase cold whose
! hearts, nor passion nor persuasion, nor
sympathy, ever yet pcrvaded, who are yir-
tuous from deficiency Of natures genial
fires, ShouR not. And ah you that have
felt the tender emotions you that believed
love had no lying tongue; you at whose
misfortunes and erehuity, the Implying
world has pointed the finger of derison ;
on whose name, impressed the signct OF
disgrace, will drop tears Of COMMUNICATION
for poor Emma and believe though one
error made her wretched and an out.
cast it should not make her intamouS--nor
| has il.
"What voice of sorrow breaks upon my
| ear, giving 10 the nights loud gusts a vii
der and more appalling accent" enqui-
red IIorsenan, as he cautiously ap-
preached the spot where the wretched or
plan lay.
"A being disgraeed; prosecuted by the
world aud forsaken by Heayenp she re-
piled. Three days have passed since
these furnished lips have tasted Of the
coarscst food aud many long night,
| since the roof Of hospitality sheltered me
| from the pitiless storm. ! am a woman !; !
| am an orphan9
why have you been prosecuted by the
world2 Why should you be forsaken by
| Heaven"
Il thought not of the opinions Of the
| one, and have violated an ordinance oil
the other. loved too we'll and was un-
done = take thy miserable fate, Interrupt
ted the Horseman and galloped forwards,
He was .Mordist!!
Next came rolling on, guarded by a pu-
merous train with torches in their hands, a
Coach, in which were seated Father and
his Daughter. The miserable sufferer was
soon discovered.
Though stlfcned by the cold and ex.
hausted by fasting, yet at the sight of her
own sex at the sight of face in which
the noble attributes ofth female character
appeared to be euthroned stimulated by
despair and hope alternately prevailing
with conyulsve effort, the orphan threw
herself at the feet of the young virgin, who
had now approached her, recounting hen
offences, her contrition, and her suffer.
ings. But this appeal for pity was inef-
lcctual; those who have never known
misery themselves, cannot sympathize
with il.
Miss, had been educated in principles
innexible to all extenuation of error. She
had been taught To believe that, the will o.
Providence proportional the punishment
to the offence, in this life as well AS in tn,
life To come and that an interference in Of
an alienation Of the creatures suffering
would be in direct opposition to the de