Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-06-30
VOLUME III.
OR, THE PERILs OF WOMAN.
II saw a stream whose waves were bright
With mornings dazzling sheen,
But tempest clouds, ere fall OF night
Had darkened DER the scene;
How like that tide my spirit sighed
u,I.,n LIZ. ~, me haIb larn.tO


How like that tide, my spiri, sighed
This life TO me hath BEEN
4, was stormy night in December: the wind blew
fariousy against little hut which, from It's decayed
state and its approximation the sea- whose al
most washed H. appeared unit for the habation Of
human being Yet there poor melancholy creature
lived The howell was divided into two rooms, one of
which was quite empty, and the other contained
chairs. low STOOL and table of the very APP
pearance. Although intensely cold, there but
few dying embers IN the CRATE opposite to which
seated the living mhabant old woman very old and
poor Still, bowed down as she was by age, and want
and sorrow there about her that indication of in
ward gentlity which prosperity give, msor
trne take away She a strange, hayward being
and would wander sometimes for days together, with
regard to weather, upon the rocks and
take notice Of thing that might be said herr and
other times she wowld sill rocking hersefun the low
wooden gazing upon vacancy and muttering in
tervals few low indistinct words. Her appearance
heightened her sngularity she had been tall and beau
tful, but her features had hard harsh outline and
except in her eyes, which large, black, and pier
eng, there trace of beauty left
She had Internationally inspired the corragers dwell
ing near her with degree Of awe, which gradually
deepened into superstition Ii seldom that any
addressed her She stunned them all, and the of
Old Mary sufficient terrify the children into
good behaviour there Tor this fear for she
gentle and even kind to those who did speak TO her
but she unfortunate, which is sufficient for
her of friends. She had lately however, been
lvened by the visits of young girl whom she had
known in infancy she had left her native village while
a child and returned to blooming girl. Almost her
first inquiry was for Old Mary, who, when she came
received her with welcome such only those give
whs feel that they deserted and dreaded by all be-
side.
But to return The old woman had sat in her desc
late home with companion but her gloomy
thoughts, when she heard gentle tap the door; she
unaccusomed to visitors, and her question of who
is there z asked sharply. "Only me, only Rose"
the answer, and the girl entered Its dreadful
stormy night and thought you would feel lonely,
have come sit with you she continued she took
SCI "
They conversed for few minutes, when sudden gust
Of wind louder than any that had preceded it. caused
Rose draw 20 her companion and cling TO her
as though in fear Old Mary put her arm round her
and said, DO not fear gentle you are quite safe
A pause ensued Mary gazed upon the beautiful face
of the maiden and broke the silence by saying, You
have often asked me to tell you my tale Rose, and you
shall be gratied IT'S tale fit to be told only
night like this.
There another pause for moment, and the old
i was but child when married to-no mat
ter whom. Suffice it, rrevocably offended
friends on both sides Most severely was punished
for my dsobedience. had been wife but two years
when the playmate of my infancy the object of my girl
hood-the husband of my youth-was snatched from
in the flush of youth, and health and pride To be call
ed away so soon but think OF il. He died,
and with him all my happnesseven the wish for IT, My
life despared Of. cared not for life, but hoped
and prayed for death But it mocked me-death is on
" for the happy and the gay. He is satisfied to vi
sit those who daily hourly long tor his approach. Twas
a sinful wish And great has been my punishment
After time my grief became less violent, but NOT
less sincere. had now motive to induce me TO be
careful of my health-I found that was to be-
mother Here then, something for which
Ia live. My existence would not now be blank-am mo-
sorrow. The time came at last when could
take my baby bosom, and feel that not alone.
OH the wild ecsacy OF that moment could have knelt
my unconscious infant and blessed him for the joy
felt. | was then but girl Friends had for ever
forsaken me. Fortune had none. was surrounded
by perils and temptations, butmy child was the
spell all of them, and loved him doarer and better
the more l endured for him.
We must compelled TO love those who de-
pend for protection. be il trifing. How
much then must have loved my child.
Il left my home and struggled for years with poverty
that he might for nohing we all IN all to each
other He grew in beauty well in years; 1t might
be that saw him in too fond light but have and
gazed upon him while he slept. till have tancicd him
angel With difficulty have | restrained myself from
sraning him my heart lest the bright spirit should
take wing while gazed and folded him in my
brace. But in this snned and for this also have sui
fered. Even mothers fondness must have bounds;
but mine had none IL was the only feeling III my
heart, and il grew to idolatry
NV Henry grew to manhood AT three-andt twenty
he betrothed to a maiden in village, three years
younger than himself and il seued thar she
become his wife in at~elveinonth. tried hard tn love
her for his sake but-God forgive me /! had much 10
school my heart 10 prevent its hating her. though
Henry never guessed it, About this time stranger
came from reside short time in the village.
My boy found fancied degree of GOODNESS on
the part OF his betrohed | remember well his words
evening his home after truitlessly watch
ing for her lis the second time she has broken her
engagements with this week, and have to
believe IN favor Of this stranger Mother, if Ellen
Thornton play false, l. he stopped hesitated turn
ed away. The time Of my misery drew near-Ellen
was TO be daily walking with the stranger who not
contcSed with his victory sought every opportunity
quarrel with the man he had grossly wrongcd.
1t ght like this-the rain poured in torrents
and the thunder reverberaed through the cottages but
what the commissions of nature in all her errors
compared 10 the angry passions of men but
ing rlls TO the stormy Ii his usual hour for
returning and became uneasy. Fears the most impro-
bable rushed across my mind The lightning might
have struck him he might have ventured too near the
edge of the rocks and have fallen into the sea every
thing in short but the truth found place in my marina
ton. Another hour passed away Icould bear h no
longer Regardless Of the weather | rushed ont. /
wandered in every direction but me, him NOT, Al last
easy atmy absence. almost kept pace with the light.
nings swiftncss and within sight of the cot
tage strained my sight with intensity OF feeling and
could perceive that the door partly open. had
left il and therefore concluded that he had re-.
turned and all was well. Ny heart felt though il
would burst lis cords with JOY and tears Of thankuness
and rapture sireafned from my eyes. They were the
last ever shed Since then have prayed on my bend.
ed knees, in the glare Of day ami in the dead of night
in my lonely dwelling and amid the desert waste
for the power weep but in vain My eyebals throb
with agony, my brain feels scorching but cannot
weep
The old woman Sged her hand over her brow and