The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-18
LUCY CARRCLL....A sketch.


LUCY CARRCLL..--As Sketch.
"Take back the bowl-take back the bowl,
Reserve it for polluted lips;
would not bow stainless soul
Beneath its dark and foul eclipse"
"Lucy, my child" said Mrs. Carroll,
edo you know it is whispered that Geo,
Durwood is forming habits of dissipation!
| would not grieve you Lucy-yet it is
well to be warned Of danger; and when
even Durwood's friends are forced to
acknowledge that he has altered, we have
reason to fear that our ingenious and
highminded friend is indeed listening with
a charmed ear to the voice of that syren,
the end of whose song is destruction.
You have heard these reports, my child"
A slight culver came over the lip of
the young girl, who stood silent before
her mother, as pale certainly and as beau
tful as the most exquisite statue. Lifting
her moistened blue eye to her mother,
while an unwonted energy kindled it, she
answered - "Yes, mother, Durwood's
enemies have not been slow in coming
such reports for my ear. | know-l
have heard them all, but / do not believe
Them"
Lucy, the innocent, the lovely, the
coniiding Lucy. spoke as she thought.
In her heart she could not believe that he
whose nature was SO noble, SO generous,
who evinced so many correct feelings and
principles, and who possessed in an emf
nent degree, all manly qualifications, she
could not believe that HE, by any possible
temptation, could yield to the baneful
insnuation of the Destroyer, and degrade
the dignity of manhood below the brutes
that perish.
And why was it that amid the censures
and harsh judgment of the world, the Sc
cret regrets of his friends, and open
attacks of his enemies, Lucy shrned
deeper in her heart the image of her
lover! She iored him,-and her heart,
enshroudcd in the mantle of devotion,
chung with increased tenacity to its OBJ
iect; and the light of affection shone
warmer and brighter as the shadows of
evils closed darker around her beloved.
Consistency is striking and peculiarly
beautiful trait in the character of woman,
and in love like Lucy's there is surpas-
sing strength. 1t has nothing gross or
earthly in its warnings, for its source is
in the purest fountains of the heart. Alas
for the sunless riches laid on the altar OF
love l, is seldom worthy of its fost-
ering.
Butt was present at that bridal for
Lucy did become the bride of George
Durwood. | marked the smile of consci-
Gus triumph and exultng love, as before
Gods holy altar he pighted that deep
vow to be her husband, comforter and
protector forever. And she, the gentle
being at his side, saw her look of trust
ing and entire confidence when she gave
her hand to him with whom she had
chosen to tread life's crowded path. |
watched that widowed mother. too, when
she gave her only darling to an untried
guardianship. There was sorrow in the
tones Of her fond and fearful blessing on
that fair young bride, who was thus in the
tenderest years, leaving the shelter and
guidance of a mothers love forever.
And heard, too, the solemn injunction
she gave as she committed her precious
charge into his hands, that he should deal
truly and kindly with her as he hoped
Gods blessing. heard all, and | turned
aside to conceal the tears which were
unconsciously creeping into my eyes.
An ill-omened melancholy came over me,
but sirove TO Danish it, for why should
dim that fairly picture of happiness with
my tears
have said that Lucy Carroll became
the wife Of Durwood; and alas she be-
came his victim also. The blight fell
early on the rose, and the worm revellet
amid leaves. We need not trace Georg,
Durwood on his ering path Of folly an,
dissipation; enough that he did bow
down his nigh spirit at the unholy shrin,
Of inteinperance.
! M Hut AIxucY--siic- vino in the irusiin,