Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-10-02
From the Ladies Repository.
LILY DOUGLAS.
ny MISS. SARAH G.. EDGARTON.

LILY DOUGLAS.
ny MISS. SARAH C. EDGARTON.
Sweet Lily Douglas How would thy
soft, snowy cheek be crimsoned at the sight
thy gentle name in book-thyselfa hero.
inc! Nay, Lily, far be it from me to make
thee heroine, for thy life has been peaceful
and silent-thyself as timid and lowly as
thy own sweet namesakc by some valeyfoun-
tain; but the very humility and gentlencss
have won for thee this tribute, and there
shall thy name be registered as a memorial
Of goodness and beauty.
Ever when the church bell sounded on
Sabbath morning, a little maiden might be
seen gliding gracefully down the slope in
front of an elegant little cottage, now and
then pausing to pluck wild geranium or
purple fox glove from the pathway, and al
ways stopping at the foot of the hill to break
an cglantine. She wore close straw bon
net, braided by her own little hands, and en-
wreathcd with garland of small businesses.
also wrought by her own taste and industry.
Her cambria dress was very white, and her
pink shawl always hung gracefully over her
sloping shoulders and about her slender form.
She was a lovely little maiden, and her name
was Lily Douglas.
In the village church of Elsinorc, after
the Minister had read his hymn, and the viol
had sounded, over above the green curtain of
the gallery, was seen a sweet face rising,
pale at first as young snow-drop, but soon
softly tingcd with blush of modesty to find
itself the object ola multitude Of gazers.-
And in the melting blue eyes was ever the
light of love and truth, and round the ROSY
lips ever quiet smile was resting, and from
those lips stole sweet and thrilling tones that
penetrated the hearts Of the listners, and
subducd them TO the worship of God. That
face, that eye, that smile, those tones belong
cd to Lily Douglas.
Lily was the only child of a widowed
mothcr-hcr pride and joy and only hope in
life. They enjoyed all the elegancies Of
wealth without any of its Ostentation and
vanitics. They cultivated their minds and
hearts, and awaited themselves of all the re-
fnmcnts of taste and literature. But dress,
and eqnipage, and pomp of every kind, was
equally distastctul to both. 1t was pleasant
to step into their parlor on a summer morn
ing, and witness, their cmploymcnts at an
hour when the fashionable world, is curling.
and irizzins, and rougeing at the toilet
Mrs. Douglas would be found in her rocking
chair with her cotton knitting, and Lily on
an ottoman at her side, reading the sciences,
copying poetry, or sewing her mothers
dresses. Sometimes the sweet girl would be
surrounded BY IA group of the village children
teaching them lessons of good-now from IA
flower, and now from NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
learning them simple hymns, and sometimes
making them read poetry will, feeling and
emphasis. Often her pure brow would be
shaded with roses and panzies, which the
little creatures loved to Irvine for her, and
often chcrub arms would be found encir-
cling her neck, and infantle carcsses sealing
themselves npon her lips.
Lily was loved everywhere and by every
body. BY the village maidens of her own
age AMI condition, she was atectionatcly
admired without being envicd; by the young
men her smiles were universally coveted /;
ny the poor she was blessed and PRAYED for
by the ignorant rcvercnced and cons ultcd.
Lily was kind and gentle to every thing-to
man. and brute and flower; to the young and
the aged, the rich and the poor, the wise and
the simple, the gay and the sorrowing, the
good and the evil. She sought after oppor-
t'In''lrs OF comforting blessings; she penctra.
ted the meanest huts, aud with her pleasant
smiles and tender voice, conveyed a beam
OF hope and feeling to the most abandoned
heart. She entered the circles of the cav.
and dlli''sed spirit of purity and piety every
where. She joined the worshipcrs at the
sanctuary, and every soul was iallowed by
her sweet devotional sympathy, and the beau
ty other sanctiied spirit.
BIT with all the good that Lily performed.
wrought she no mischief fear she did a
little l fear she caused some hearts TO ache
which she could not heal-somc spirits 70
sigh which she could not soothe. She went
one night to watch over a sick friend-a
young girl whom she tendcrly loved. The
unylclding hand of consumption was upon
her life cords they were soon to break.
ana their earthly music to depart for ever.
Like Lily she was the only daughter ola
widowed mother but that mother, unlike
L'iy's, had a son, and that night he was to
share her vigils at his sisters bedside.
For few moments after the patients
mother had retired, and left her alone with
the brother and the sleeping glrl, Lily felt
herself painfully embarrassed. The idea of
passing long night in situation so unusual,
brought flush of crimson to her cheek, and
her heart beat almost audibly. But the pc-
cnl'ar sanctity Of the occasion, the faint,
painful breathing of the young sufferer, the
sacredness of the relation existing between
brother and sister, the sorrow of that manly
heart and her own tender grief, all brouobt
their solemnity and reality upon her hear.
and she forgot the restraints and timidity oil
feminine reserve, and spoke to her compan-
ion as frankly as though crowds had been
around them.