The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1836-02-18
LAWRENCE BAYLEY'S TEMPTATION
by the Hon. Mrs. Norton.l


beauty, for oveliaess which has naddened one
viii be viewed with GOODNESS and indifference BY an
otheri Is not in TALENT for the weakest and slliest
women have controlled the actions and governed the
understandings of wise and iaIeect al men lit is not
in amiabity of disposition for many and many
time we groan IN species Of slavery, the CALLING
that II dnnnishes our comfort and self-respect to-
gether. Some strange and unaccountable sympathy
draws US towards persons comparatively strangers,
while repugnance, equally incomprahensibe, renders
the society Of others dsagreeable inloerabe; and
we struggle to explain 10 souls, what is perhaps,
after all, dependant the mechanism Of bodies.
There Is a little wihered old maid residing al the
village OF Albury with cold, anwinning manners and
grey dark eyes, in which sadness and suspicion
striving for mastery. No succeeded in
convincing her OF the innocence of accused indy
dual yet the severity OF her opinions does prevent
such acts OF kindness as her means will permit; ILL
natured report traced her the village
gOssips always ascrbe their stories To her authority
She children, and has a large grey cat
constantly with her, besides old setter spaniel,
tblind of one eve who engras more Of her attention
than most other objects. . y mantelpiecc of her
formal little sitting .eral cups and saucers
of old china, and above them aang small miniatures
IN black polished frames; one of these represents
grave-leokIng young IN the dress OF clergyman,
and is i'll painted it Is possible conceise the
other is exquisiley finished portrait of beautiful
girl, whose face is shaded by profusion of what the
poets call sunny hair, and the richness of whose
dress beokens far higher rank than that of the in
mate OF thu cottage. IL is reported Il know with
what accuracy, that the village posiman, having occa
SION TO deliver letter at the cottage, and finding the
servant maid somewhat tardy in answering his sum
mons looked in al the parlour window discover if
any one were al home and that he there the old
maid, With the first of these miniatures in her lille
withered hand-thai she looked at it-wiped away the
dust from Its Frame aud showed IL TO the dog, who
whned piteOusy, If partakng her feelings and that
finally, she dropped her knees by the sofa, and
hiding her face with hand while the other rested
The spanels neck she appeared be convul svely
ssbbing. The story was heard ia the village with
little interest flor whoever interested themselves the
sorrows of old maid p but to me-to me il brought
bitterness and mournful thoughts, and yearnng for
other DAYS; for the spnser's is Miss Mary Es-
dale, and Irenember Mary Esdae-ihe sweetest-ihe
lovelest-the most oveable of human creatures. Yes
hers the power TO charm lat least il seemed to
mel beyond all that ever was granted 10 woman. Her
soft grey eyes and broadpencilled brows-her gentle,
cheerful Voucher gliding siep-her welcome smile,
sweeer than any smile | saw, coming like the
sudden burst of morning light and dying along those
full red bps slowly the sunset dies along the sky
all had separate, an intoxicating charm-and yet
Poor Mary
Mary Esdale's father died when she was very Young
and her mother thrown without money or friends on
the desert world, came back TO the place Of her YOUTH
and foua shelter bsneah the same roof that had fos-
tered her infancy, deyong the remainder of her young
DAYS 10 the education Of her little girl and the society
al her father, the agrd minister of NJ. Sur
rounded by blessings, and the idol of a small circle,
Mary Esdale grew up IN unconscious beauty and I'M
disturbed happiness, and when length The rosy child
was transformed into the meek and gentle girl, Law
for her grandfather when his failing health required
assisance,) was accepted her future husband
So Tar her life had gded like quiet stTeam--ts
sameness had not made her sigh for change the
element of the worlds pleasures-the knowledge of
the worlds yices--all that makes existence fever,
a toll, and curse, her a sealed book and a
mystery. The blessed ignorance which alon- give
purity Of hearI-the peaceful rssi-ihe JOYOUS waking
of chdhOOd's earliest years now,
she's smiling in the glowing light of autumn her
hand claspeh that Of her dOaling grandfather, and
her sweet lifted the face of her betroted he
supported her mother the rustic bench in the recorv
garden, whore IL their custom spend the latter
hours Of the day. year pass before the yeung
couple be united, 10 give Lawrence time TO
obtain an expected curacy, perhaps something bet
ter and il ever year of perfect happiness al
lotted 10 mortal creature, ii allotted 10 Mary Es
dale. Autumn wore away-the wind whiSiled through
the little valley, and the cold red sunlight cleaned
fainter the bark of the frees, and shone without
warmth the ehoked sireamt, where their brown and
wiihered leaves driied. Winter came on-the sheeted
snow covered the desoate earth, and the grey smoke
from the cottages curled upward scarcely distinguish
able from the dull skvabove. Spring-thr green and
lovely spring. with its bursting buds aud universal
bling, insensibly gave way the glory of majestic
Seasons in their rolled roupd, and Ma
lures beautiful face changed beneath their sway, bat
the same love and the same happiness still blest the
inmates oi the owy reeOTy. The seasons brought no
change for them; they loved-ihey were ogeiher-
Their evening srolls in the reciorv garden
changed, indeed, for seat by the reShe and
the winters dav aiary's cheek glow with brighter
pnk in her tlose bonnet she quickly through
the village missions of charity, Than the summers
sun, which III the leaves when Lawrence aud she first
rambled together, and talked of their future home. But
the same voices spoke and answered-the same smiles
on every face-the same deep-seated content in
every heart.