Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-06-19
From the New Yorker.


would not bow a stainless soul
Beneath its dark and foul eclipse"
Lucy, my child,' said Mrs Carroll edo
you know it is whispered that George Dur
wood is forming habits of dissipation! |
would not griove you Lucy, yet it is well to
warn you of danger; and when Durwoods |
friends are forced to acknowledge that he
is altered, we have reason to fear that our
ingenious and high-minded friend is indeed
listening with 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, and certainly as beautiful,
as the most exquisite statue. Lifting her
moistened blue eye to her mother while an
unwonted energy kindled it, she answered.:
Eyes, mother, Durwood's enemies have
not been slow in coming such reports for
my ear. | know have heard them all
but do not believe them"
"Lucy--the innocent, the lovely, the
confding Lucy, spoke as she thought In
her heart of hearts she could not believe
that he whose nature was SO noble, so gen.
erous-who evinced so many correct feel
ings and principles, and who possessed in
an eminent degree all manly qualifications
she could not believe that he, by any
possible temptation, could yield to the bane-
full insinuations of the destroyer, and de-
grade the dignity of manhood below the
beasts that perish.
And why was it, that amid the censures
and harsh judgement of the world, the
nd off lie Of
Lucy shrined deeper in her heart the i'm
age of her lover! She loved hin-and her
heart, enshrouded in the mantle of devo-
ton, chung with increased tenacity to its
object; and light affection shown warmer
and brighter as the shadows of evil 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 surpass-
inc strength. 1t has nothing gross OF
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 1t is seldom worthy of its offerings
But | was present at that bridal; fol-
Lucy dill become the wife of George Dur.
wood. l marked the smile of conscious
and exulting love, as before Gods altar he
plighted that deep VOW to be her husband
comforter and protector forever. And she
gentle being by his side-l saw her lool
of trust 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, wher
she gave up her only darling to an untriec
guardianship. There was sorrow in the
tones of her fond and fearful blessing or
that fair young bride, who was thus in hel
tenderest years, leaving the shelter ant
guidance Of mothers love forever, and
heard too, the solemn Injunction she gave
as she committed her precious charge into
other hands-that he should deal truly anc
kindly with her as he hoped Gods blessing
heard all, and turned aside to conceal the
tears that were unconsciousy creeping into
my eyes. An ill-omened melancholy came
over me but | strove to Danish it, for why
should dim that fairy Of happiness with
my tears!
have said that Lucy Carol became the
wife of Durwood-and alas! she became
his victim also. The blight fell early or
the rose, and the worm revealed amid it.
leaves. We need not trace George Dur
wood on his erring path of folly and dissi
patton; enough that he did bow down hi
high spirit at the unholy shrine of intern
perancc.
But Lucy-she who, in the trustin!
earncstness of pure heart, had thrown OIL
all the venture of his vow,"-was mad,
to feel the perishing of all that was bright
noble and elevated-it was hers to feel il
its most refined bitterness the keen anc
whitening blight of disappointment whel
she looked on him she called her husband
For long time Lucy's believing spiri
sustained her under her heavy trial; TO
one hope chung even as an anchor to he
soul-the hope that he would reform-fo
he loved her too well, she thought, to maxi
her unhappy. Alas, deceived woman
Love may be strong, but the love of thu
wine cup hath mightier power. But thu
truth came at last. That which Lucy hac
thought it a sin to think on, now stood be
fore her lamentable and sure reaIity-hel
husband was an irrecaimabIe drunkard!
Lucy died early-but not before the las
ray of hopeiwas.qucnched in that stricken
bosom, and a death like whitening came
over her heart-not until every beautiful
flower of affection had dropped and with
cred away, and all her generous and devo
ted feelings had given place to loathing anC
Indifference. Her last moments were un
soothed by the voice Of husbands affec
tlon-though at times, indeed bloatin!
visage, with haggard, expressionless eye
would bend over her cold couch and NUT
ter words of inebrety and disgusting fond
ness; but with a look of adherence shC
nOtiOned him away who had once been he