Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-08-04

dress" And now what a bright pic
ture had been formed by her ardent and
uncultivated imagination Yes, she
would so 10 Lowell and earn all that
she possibly could, and spend those
earrings in beautiful attire; she would
have silk dresses, one of grass green,
and another of cherry red, and another
upon the color Of which she would de-
eide when she purchased it, and she
would have new Narvarino bonnet,
far more beautiful than Judith Slater's;
and when at last she fell asleep, it was
to dream Of satin and laces, and her
glowing fancy reveIled all night in a
vast and beautiful collection Of MILL
ners' fnery.
But very different were the dreams
of Abby's mother, and when she'awoke
the next morning, her first words TO
her husband were, Mr.. Atkins, was
you serious last night when you told
Abby she might go to Loyell' Ltho't
at first you were vexed because in-
terrapted yon and said it to stop the
conversation.
eyes, wife, was serious, and you
did not interrupt me, for | had been
listening to all that you and Abby
were saying. She IS wild thoughtless
Girl, and | hardly know what to do
with her; but perhaps it will be as well
to try an, experiment, and let her think
and act for herself, | expect she will
spend all her earnings in fine clothes,
bat after she has done so, she may see
the folly of it; and at al! events, she
will be most likely to understand the
value ofmoney when she has been OBJ
liged to work for it. After she has
had her own way for one year, she may
i-posslbly be willing to return home and
become little more steady, and be
willing to devote her active energies
flor she is very capable girl to house
hold duties, for hitherto her services
have been principally out of doors,
where she is too old to work. | am
almost willing that she should see
little Of the world and what is going on
in it, a-d hope that if she receives no
benefit she will at least return 10 US I'M
injured"
| 90, husband, I have many fears for
her,' was the reply of Mrs. Atkins;
she is so very giddy and thoughtless,
and the Slater girls, are as hair Drained
as herself, and will lead her on in all
sorts of folly. / wish that you would
tell her that she must stay at home.''
Il have made promise, said Mr..
! Atkins, ''and will keep it; and Abby,
trust, will keep hers"
Abby few round in high spirits to
make her necessary preparations for
her departure, and her mother assisted
with a heavy heat.
CHAPTER II.
The evening before she left home hel
father called her to him, and fixing up
on her a calm, earnest, and almost
mournful look, he said, +" Abby, do you
ever think?' Abby was subdued and
almost awed by her fathers look and
manner. There was something unu-
sual in it-something in his expression
which was unexpected in him, bu
which reminded her OF her teachers
look at the Sabbath School when she
was endeayoring to impress upon hel
MAD some serious truth" Yes, ia
ther,'' she at length replied, 81 have
thought great deal lately about going
to Lowell y
"But | do not believe, my child
that you have had one serious though
upon the subject, and fear that ! hay'
done wrong in conserving, 10 let yo'
go from home. If I was too poor t;
maintain you here, and had no employ
ment about which you could max
yourself useful, | should feel no self
reproach, and would let you go, trust
ing that all might yet be well; but nov
have done what | might at some fu
ture time severely repent Of; and
you do not wish to make me wretched
; you vii! return to US better, mlldel
/ and more thoughtful CIR"
That night Abby reflected more Sc
riously than she had ever done IN he
/ lie before. Her fathers words, rem
, dered more impressive by the look an,
! tone with which they were delivered
sunk irto her heart as words had neve
; done before. She had been surprises
at his ready acsuiescence in l.er wish
es, but it had now new meaning.
E She felt. that she was about to be aban
: doned to herself, because her parent
/ despairecl Of being able 70 do anythliin!
for her; they thought her too wild
: reckless, and untameable to be softene
! by aught but TIE stern lessons OF cxpe