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

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! home, my father shall never ask me if
I thifsL. Yes, ] know what their fears
are, and I will let them see that | can
take care of myself, and as good care
as they have ever taken care Of me. |
know that I have not done as well as |
might have done, bat ] will not0, and
when | return, they shall see that | ON
better, miIder, and more thoughtful
girl. And the money which | intend
ed to spend in fine dresses shall be put
in the bank; I will save il all, and my
father shall see that can earn money
and take care Of it too. O how differ
ent [ will be from what they think ]
am; and how very glad it will make
my father and mother to see that am
not SO very bad, after all.
New feelings and new ideas had be-
gotten new resolutions, and Abby's
! dreams that night were of smiles from
her mother and words from her father,
such as she had never received or beg
ged.
When she babe them farewell the
next morning, she said nothing Of the
change which had taken place in her
views and feelings, for she felt slight
degree Of self distrust in her own firm
ness Of purpose.
Abby's self-distrust was commenda-
bic and suspicious, but she had a prom
inent Development in that part Of the
head where phrenologists locate the Or
gan of hrmness, and when she had
once determined a thing, she generally
went through with it. She had now
resolved to pursue course entirely DIFF
ferent from the one she had first mark
ed olt for herself. This was more diff
fcult on account of her strong propen-
sity for dress, love Of which was free
| ly gratifed by her companions. But
when Judith Slater pressed her to pur-
chase this piece of beautiful silk, or that
splendid piece of muslin, her constant
reply was: sNo, I have determined
not to buy such things, and will keep
my resolution.
| Before she came to Lowell, she Won
dered In her simplicity, how people
could live where there were so many
stores, and not spend all their money !;
and it now required all her frlnness to
resist being overcome by the tempting
display Of beauties which met her eyes
whenever she promenaded the illumina-
ted streets. 1t was hard to walk by
the milliner's shops with an unwaver-
ing step, and when she came to the
confectioner's she could not help stop
ping. But she did not yield to the
temptation-she did not spend her mo-
ney in them. When she saw fine straw
berries, she said to herself, 81 can ga
Their them in our pasture next year"
when she looked upon the nice peach
es, cherries and pluns which stood in
tempting array behind their crystal bar
riers, she said again, I" | will do with
out them his SUMNER" and when APP
pies, pears and mats were offered to her
for sale, she thought she would eat
none of them till she went home. But
she felt that the only safe place for hel
earnings was the saving bank, and there
they were regularly deposited, that il
might be out ofher power to indulge III
momentary whims. She gratifed nc
feeling bat newly awakened desire
for mental improvement, and spent he
leisure hours in reading useful bool.s.
Abby's year was one Of perpetual
self-coRtest and self-denial, but it was
by no means one Of unsnitigated mise
ry, The ruling desire of years was moi
to be conquered by the resolution of ;
moment, but when the contest was o
yer, there was for her triumph Of victo-
ny. If the battle WAS sometimes dea.
perate, there was more merit in being
conqueror. One Sabbath was spent ii
tears because Judith Slater did no
wish her to attend their meeting viii
such dowdy bonnet, and anothe
{ feflow-boarder thought her gown mus
have been made in "the year one. -
The color mounted to her cheeks, ant
the lightning flashed from her eyes
when asked if she had just ccnae Gcun
!, and she felt as though she should b
glad to be away from them all, whel
she heard their sly inuendoes abou
ebush wackers.'' Still she remainet
mistaken. It is but for a year, sal,
| she to herself, and the time and none,
: my father thought should spend = in fol
ly, shall be devoted 10 better pur
pose.
CHAPTER III.
: AT the close Of a pleasant April day
Mr.. Atkins sat at his kitchen firesid,
with Charley upon his knees. "Wife,
: said he to Mrs. Atkins, who was bus.