Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-11-28

iuS shuu taat itckeFs IN tue socket. keS-
toratives were resorted TO, but in vain--the
sufferer had reached that peaceful cline
where the weary are ut rest" The
dead was committed to the tomb, and her
orphan child found home in the family of
the charitable Letour.
Clara was now in her eighth year, and
was taken by Mrs. Letour into her nur-
sery TO assist her in taking care of her
young children. She had received from
her mother some elementary instruction,
and was able to read with considerable
ease. Madame Letour had been educa.
ted in Paris, and was woman OF hand.
some requirements, having, besides a
knowledge of the modern languages OF
Europe, an acquaintance with the ancient
classics, together with the belles-let,res.
She spent the half of each day in the nur.
sery with her children, instructing them.
The sprightllness and good sense of Clara
soon attracted her notice; she made her
u pupil with the class of her own daugh.
tiers, and in the different studies 10 which
she directed her attention she was pleased
to see her make astonishing progress.
During five years Clara continued in the
family, doing service half the day, and
devoting the residue to study, and in that
time obtained an education such as few
young ladies' had then an opportunity of
getting. She was tall and well grown
for her age, and her countenance was
ever lit up by intelligence and cheerful.
ness. If she had any faults they were
those of excessive energy Of character,
and OF her mixing with the world in her
infancy; confidence bordering on for
wardness; a lively perception of the ludi.
crous, and keenness Of wit and satire
that, while it excited wonder, created
fear.
About this time, certain Miss Marga-
rette Lawson, and antiquated maiden Ia
dy on the wrong side Of fifty, the eldest
and only surviving sister of Clara's father,
came over from England. She found
out her interesting niece in New York,
and took her to reside with her in one of
the little villages in the western part ofthe
State, which for sake of convenience, we
will call Bloomngville. How much So
ever Miss Marguerite might resemble her
brother in features and national preiudi.
ces, she certainly had nothing of his ex-
travagance-for a more sparng house.
wife never lived and, by rigid stinting
of table and wardrobe, she had not only
kept unbroken the principal of small
bcquest made 10 her in her more grlish
days, but had laid up also some guineas
of the intaroct Soma {au Jrnesa. ar
coarse grey stuff, comprised all her every
day wearing apparel-while a rusty silk
gown, venerable enough in cut and color
to have belonged to her great. grandmoth
er, with black silk-hooded mantilla,
made unsher dress of state for extraord-
nary occasions.
-Four years passed away in the village
of Bloomingville, and Clara had grown
up to womanhood, and beautiful and
interesting girl she was, truy-yet she
seemed flower destined to "wasto its
| sweetness on the desert air - for her
high. toned sentiments and mental acqui-
sitons were i'll understood by the inhabi-
tants of the village in which she lived,
who were noted for planness and SIM
plcity bordering on stupidity. Reader,
take an example, and "er uno disco ON
nes." Shortly after Clara came to Bloom
ingville, she asked one Of the rustic
beaux of the place if he liked novels.
"Novels Novels!" responded the in
terrogated, "can't say, for mover eat
any, but III tell you what, Pm tremen-
dous at young 'possum." The reader,
no doubt has met with this anecdote TWEEN.
ty times but as there is the same inter-
est in determining the place of origin of
good story, as of fixing the birth place
of a great man, am sure he will feel in
debted to me for establishing ITS locality,
although it is not likely that as many CT.
ties will strive for the honor as contended
for the glory of giving birth to Homer
The school-master of the place, q tall
handsome parsonage Of twenty-four, was
the only one, in any degree, able to ap-
preciate Clara's abilities: yet Reading,
Writing, and limited knowledge of fig
ures, Grammar, and Geography, were the
radius that described the cyclopcedia OF his
lore. The slight professions which Her.
man Lincoln had to learning, established
something like a community Of feeling
between them, which soon grew into u
warm attachment.
hope my readers will not hastily con-
clude to despise my humble hero of the
birchen-rod-but will recollect that, in
1900, Ito which date the above history
belongs,) the village school master who
could read Dilworth's Spelling Book and
the Psalter, and cypher through Coughs
Arithmetic, was no uncomfortable person
and if, in addition to these, he had
smatterinp Of Grammar and Gaopraphy.