The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1841-02-24

attending TO her duties; the other in ornament
ing her person, and eularging the circle Of her
scsuainiances. Lucinda had always been
strongly attached to her father. and perhaps il
was from him her mind received its early bias.
il might be possible. however, that a care
fuI observer would have traced il 10 another
source.
As we mentioned before. the two sisters in
their childhood and ea,ly youth, attended the
public schools Of their native village; such
schools as are ever open To rich and poor in
happy New England In the one they attend
ed was talented. high spirited youth. older by
year OF two than Lucinda Hale. He was the
only son Of virtuous aud sensible farmer in
the ueighborhood, and was destined by his pa
rents to follow the plough, and procure his live
llhood from the same grounds which had been
owned in the family through three or four gen.
erations. His intelligent eye. cheerful counle-
nance, aud native intellect. made him the favor.
lie Of every new teacher, and many a gentle
mans son found himself outs,ripped in his stud.
les by the industry OF Nelson Newhal. Ade-
line, his sister. IN many respects resembed him,
and both were beloved by their companions and
commended by their instructors.
With the children of the laboring elsss in
general, Mrs. Hale conirved TO prevent her
daughters from associating too freely, but in the
case Of the two Newhalls il was a little beyond
her control. Squire Hale. who fel, an interest
IN every thing connected with the rising gener-
alton. frequently spoke of the promising chill
dren of his iownsman, aud cxpres ID a wish
lha, has children might be equally credit to
the school. and equally bonored among their
companions. His wife rather suerrcd At the
so Lucinda and Caroline were ailowcj TO treat
the Newhalls with a little moge respect than
they were wont TO do the children Of farmers
in general hdeline aud Luoind, sat ia the
same form at school; attended to the same
studies; were assisted by Nelson to find the an.
swcrs to difficult questions, aud at playime were
indebted to his ingenuity FOR one half their a.
muscments He seemed almost equally broth
or TO both, and IN the thousand sports and oc.
curatIons Of their innocent years. was their ad
wiser and constant companion.
! As they grew towards womauhood, the two
gi,ls became still more intimate. the one prob.
ably influenced by pity. the other by gratitude.
The lovely, interesting Adcllne had become au
invalid. She was still able TO occupy her usu-
al seat in the scLsol room, but the peculiar del
icacy OF her look aud Iausuor her appearance,
led her friends to fear that the blossom was wilt
/ ing on its native stem.
! Al tie close OF that school Lucinda and her
sister were sent to the academy in B. When
the first quarter ended they visited home. and
Lucinda, true 10 her schoolday friend, made
her frs, call at the farmhouse OF the Newhals.
Mrs. Hale rather encouraged her than other
wise, for even she had learned to look with in.
terest upon the stricken Girl. She saw that
She was waning TO the tomb.
The worm Of death was in her bloom:
And her naturally kind heart led hor to pity
both the parents and the child. IL never once
occurred TO her mind 'ha, daughter Of hers
could look with pdrtiaity on the handsome Mel
son therefore Lucinda was suffered TO spend
as many hours with Adeline ~ she chose. Mel.
son was Tho idolized son and brother. and when
his occupations permitted was ever in the house
To cheer his mother or amuse his suffering SIS
ter.
Perhaps Lucinda's frequent calls made him
more attentive than he would have been other.
wise, for notwithstanding he was little more
than seventeen. lac regarded her with feeling
very different from the usual partialilies Of boy
hood. That feeling was reciprocaied. and tho
never snalized and never spoken, was daily
gaining strength on both sides.
IL was in hd0linc's sick room that Lucindas
mind first received the impress OF early piriy.
The NewhalIs were not only descended from
our Puritan fathers, but ih.y felt 10 themselves
that trust in God which had comfored their
ancestors while inhabitants Of a vildcmesa-
Adeline had been taught to worship the God
Of her paren,s, and even at an early age. had
soueh and found the Savior whom 10 know
aright is life eternal" She frequently eonvcn-
cd with her friend upsu the realities Of The un.
seen world, and upon the strong eonsolsti"ns
granted her when heart and flesh we're falling.
Lucinda saw her patience under suffering and
her willingness, TO leave the world when all
wa. brish around her, and she was led TO re-
f.c, upon the value Of that faith which could
90 buoy up the spirit in day Of trial.
Tb. vacation was over, and she returned to
school II was with deeper feeling than 10
common 10 her age ,hs, she looked back upon
her native village. aud though, how long 1t
would be ere her return. She felt for the first
time that the world before her offered usthing
to compensate for the deprivation she vas a
bout to experience. Every object around
home vas clothed With new interest her pa /
r.pts seemed more than ever dear to her; and
the vine covered farm-hou where Adeline
va, fsdiug and Nelson springiug into manhood
-. .a..,,.I r,nxlt.ns ,rnra ihan al Ell n