Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-11-17
MISCELLANEOUS
From the Young Peoples Book for Nov.
5ke S0,yr,3 qBa2a.
Fact Not Fiction.
ny MRS. m. ne+E-xrr

u VI IL N A II G Z Mt.
! Fl was on one of thnse calm beautiful
evenings at the close of spring. that sea
son when every thing in nature assumes
Il tcnderer, softer aspect, when every
| man acknowledges an influence over his
! passions and feelings, communes with his
own heart, and feels the unworthiness
with which he receives those benefits 81
iavtshly bestowed by beneficent Crea-
tor. that Emily Harrington hung. in
speeches. agony over the bed of her
child. The last link that bound her ia
the worl. was to be forever broken her
earthly affections were all gardered up
in this one object, this perishabIe flow
er. ON which her eye now gazed with such
deep, deep despair, where not one ray of
hope was left to cheer that dceping gloom
which momentarily grew darker and dar-
ker around her. The child slept not
calmly, not quietly, as heaitliful inno-
cence always sleeps. but with that per-
turbed heavy breathing which generally
precedes hasty dissolution. The mo-
theirs hands were clasped over those of
the child. her eyes were raised to hea-
ven, anil though 10 sound escaped her
lips. there was an eloquence in her mute
language. which said, suffer this cup to
pass from me-. Sorrow had been the
portion of Mrs. Harrington from her ear
hest recollection j: deprived not only of
her parents but all her relations at a Pc
Rod when she most required their foster
ln9 care. she had been dependent upon
strangers for al! those little sympathies
which are the sweetness If life. and had
arrived It womanhood without finding
one object'to expand a heart upon, which
was feelinsly alive so all those endear-
ments constituting the happiness Of eve
~ being endowed with social affections.
In married life her prospects had been all
blasted; she had cast her whole hopes of
happiness Oh that one chance, and had
lost. = report secretly circulated by
those who felt it their duty not to aban-
don her entirely. of her being the pos
SCISSOR of great wealth, hat! made her the
victim If a fortune hunter, who no SOON
erdiscovered the deceit that had been
practlced upon him, than he determined
to revenge 'himselfin some degree for his
credulity BY treating her with every in
dignity in his power. often leaving her
for weeks together:o her own bitter re-
Elections and melancholy lut. She had
been the motherof four children. all of
whom. except the present. had died in
their infancy; the last had just. attained
her elsth year. and was one Of the lowell
est that ever parent had been tlest with.
Mother said the silvery voice of the
dying child, at the same time making an
effort to clasp her feeble arms around her
neck, although this little act of tender
ness appeared to exhaust her remaining
strength. do not weep, mother; why
should you? am [ not going to my little
brother and sisters? to that dearbrother
of whom you have spoken SO often ? to
that God to whom you always taught me
daily and nightly to pray? to that beau
tiful place where sorrow never comes,
and where the good Saviour dwelIs who
has said. suffer little children to come
unto me 20 she continued, her look and
tone assuming deeper solemnity,
where there will be no father to say he
hates me. and wishes I had never been
born. oh mother, let me 60, for in this
worId i could never be happy
Not with me, my child;?' gasped the
agonised mother; 'oh, could you not be
happy, my Ellen, with me p a sweet
smile passed over the child's face. YES:
she said -'with you everywhere; but mo,
Their, it would not have been long before
Ella would have been alone. Kiss me.
dear mother; lay your hands upon my
head, it does ache so! Oh, mother, how
it does ache!;
With a strong offort the mother check
ed the tears that so evidently DISTRESSED
the suffering child, and as she pressed
her hands upon her throbbing temples.
the object of her solicitude grew more
composed, and sank gradually into per-
turbed sleep.
How wretchcdly were passed the hours
of that dreadful night by the heart
ken mother. She omitted no act of ten
derness calculated to mitigate the suffer-
ings of that cherished child, who every
moment, her heart told her. drew nearer
and nearer to that period which was to
separate them in this world forever. -
Those words altered by the dying child,
how often had they occurred to her in the
silent vigils Of that lonely night-'There
will be no father there!' How did it
strike a chill through her frame. as these
words again and again obtruded them
Selves he would not let me love him.
she said, mentally, while tears OF anguish
fell from her eyes; he would not accept
that treasure to me above all price, the
love OF all affsctionate heart. Oh, how
often has he repuIsed the advances she
made in seeking his Affections. and not
only repealed them with coldncss, but