New-York tribune., 1841-11-15
From, the Southern Lit. Messenger for Nov.
A TALE OF THE LITTLE LAKE.
gY MRS. LYDIA J. PEARSON.

tsfDed ~ - majesty, and the wid deer ned not
learned 10 fee at The sound Of the rife, neat log
dwelling stood alone By the side Of one of those
beautiful little lakes, that lie still and clear,
without visible inlet or outlet, sparkling amid the
wide forea;s like diamonds in awreath Of emerald.
This cottage vas inhabited by Yankee family
consisting Of Mr.. Edward Green, his wife and only
chid--a fitte girl of wonderful beauty boih o.
mind and person.
Mr. Green was from Connecticut, was man OF
good abilities, and upright mind but 1t 50 nap
pened, he could no get into the good grsces OF ne'
of the golden scep;re so, after wooIng ner uhsuI.
cessfully in his native valley, be made Dold push
for the west c
Mrs. G,cen was an orphan; and fancying her
self neglected bv her few relatives, wao were
wealth, and proud. felt littlr regret IN leaving
,be,r 70 at.aip. as she frmiy believed, indePend-
epce ard hcaor. in better country
They packed ~ their little all, and found room
fo- il ard their child upon one-hor'e wagon; and
or bright Aprii morning, took leave OF their ma
tve iond
Mr. Green was man Of fine sensibilites one
Of those susceptible spirits, in which the s'ings and
bruises that man unayoidaby meets with in his
intercourse with bis fellows, remain unhea!ed, and
become caskeJed seres; and many we're the rebuhs
and di-appcintpen,s over which his mind brooded
in bitterress. dis wife sympathzed wito hun out
of pure AT casn. She seemed to have 10 identity,
so entirely ,eefe her opinions on I'll subjects merg-
ed in those oe her husaaDd. Ambitious she was,
but only for him. TO see h'n honored and re-
spected and in a station 10 which those who had
sliebrcd him saoGd be obliged to !eek up to him,
was the SUN OF all her worldly wishes; while every
hope aud care that had not its centre in him, she
had gathered around his beautiful child. whom she
sought 20 render lovely Only that he might love
her the more tendsrly.
"Keep Yourself neat, Jessa, that papa may
call Won his little lady learn your lesson so as to
repeat ii perfectly to papa do your work neatly
so tnat papa may b. pleased with 1t, were her
daily words of encouragement to the child and
and "Oh, ,Jessa now papa will be worry sorry to
hear of that . was her usual reprimand
OF course all the hspes and fears OF the child,
Ike those Of It's mother, dwelt around the one dear
object MIR Green was au absolute monarch; his
slightest wish WAS law, to those over whom he
regncd with the scep're of love. Yet he was not
happy. Notwithstanding the atfectionate homage
OF thosc be loved, there days during which he
wns moody and sad. At such times, the affection
nie wife lorbore remark but her table was spread
with his favorite disbcs, and every little delicacj
which her stores afforded made its appearance.
She dressed herself md child with great care and
rs she 50, mt work, would sing in low sweet tones,
his favortc airs thus unobtrusively dispelling his
gloom, and winai0g him back to cheerfulness.-
Since their residence by the Lake, his melancholy
was pore abiding, although ii had assumed n more
softened character His thoughts seemed ever
with his white-hared parents, III his Childhood
home and in regrettDg the past, he overlooked
the blessings of the present, and neglected. 10 pro-
vide for the future.
II ,,lI L., in tho mo
low cottage, and the rude log fence was mouder-
ing around his small clearing. The many little
elegances which once gave an air OF refinement 10
his dwelling had disappeared, or were black with
smoke and dscolored by the rain, TINT found It's
way freely through the frai roof. Mrs. Green
now dressed herself and child in coarse linen
frecks walked barefoot in Summer, and had no
richer ,!aintics than the wild berries which she ga
thercd on the hills; yet all her piivations served
bur TO increase her love for her husband, for whose
unhappiness she felt the most tender pity. he had
been an industrious man. but now he went TO his
labor Us to task; aud would sill for hours upor.
fallen tree bent forward with his face concealed
in his hapds. She had longer wherewith 10
cheer him and when he came in from his work,
and looked upon his scanry meal, his appetite
would ottentimes fsrsake hrn cntr.ly; ana when
she looked Up to greet kim with her usual smile
she would detect the tear in his eye, and be would
60 hastily out. and ram5le about in siless mood,
until his locks were wet with the drops Of the
night. She re spected the morbid sensibili,y which
she colld not comprehend but her anxiety. to-
ge;hcr win the hardshps and privatons Of which
sne taoughtnot Of complaining, began TO prey aPon
her health. Mr.. Green was quc!, in Discerning
,ha, her step was SLOW, and her smile sorowiul,
and he deemed that -hc was sinking under the
a o,J .vh;cr
was the cankcr at her heart, became more
deep and abiding.
Jessa ;urocd from one TO the other-but the
stream of love that nourished her young spirit,
flowed beucath the shadow of the noXious night
shade, blending poison with lis sweetness ; and she
became creature Of pcnsive tenderness. Daily
did she strive by every little art within her power
10 dispe the shadow from her fathers brow, and
tighten the burthcn of her patient mother When
het tasks were done, and her mother had COM
mended her efforts with fond yet cloudea smile,
and her father gazed upon them both with big tears
in his clear blue eyes, then would She go out upon
the Lake shore and weep, she knew not where
fore or gazing down into the clear mirror OF Its
waters trace the reflection OF hil and forest, bow
er and blossom, and the mimic sky beneath, with
lis bright dark clouds sailing like ships far down
in the crystal deep, until her soul was filled TO
ovcrnowing with the pure poetry of nature. Her
father had taught her to rcad-but the Good Book,
aod an edition of psalms and hymns were the only
volumes in the cabin; all others having been lsfi
behind when they came TO the woods, Yet in
these she delighted TO read, and drank from their
pages pure aud living inspiration.
1t was her thirteenth birthday; and her fond
mother exertcd herself as usual to make it glad
day She ornamented the cottage with evergreen
foliage, in,crminged with sweet flowers, and pre-
pared to spread ittle feast OF all the good things
within her reach. MIR. Green smiled as he had
not smiled for many month; and as he was pre-
pa'ng 10 go out in quest of FISH, he clasped his de-
voted wife TO his bosom,
" Dear Jane, he said, ~ feel happy to-day. l,
seems as il q mountain were renewed from n,t