Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-06-08
THE HEIRESS.

tl'h'IA sPi'huOuli anu sHIN |IlIL
lustre on the rich landscape that opencc
before the terrace III front of Hazel.
wood, the ancient residence Of a iamil,
distinguished for the emincnce of then
piety towards God, and lheir bcnevo.
lence To their iellow-creatures.
Mrs. Hamilton, the lady Of tho man
sion, atired in widows dress, was
leaning against The balcony in Il thought
iul attitude, sometimes raising her pen
sive eyes 10 the countless myriads OF
shining worlds rolling through the re-
glons Of untroveIlcd space, and some
Times gazing, with less awe but not less
pleasure, on the lovely scene around
her, which, though familiar for nearly
twenty years, had not ceased To awaken
her admiration. In his unerring proyi-
dence the Almighty had removed in thp
vigor of manhood the partner other life
-'"S "SihS ""osS PleoehCc hHt W
earth its greatest charm t; but, chcered
by the consolation OF the Gospel, she
acquicsced IN the dispnnsation, and fell
this world could never be the home OF
her happiness and love.
, A servant entered the old-iashioned
wainscot dining-room, bearing in his
hands poir Of lighted candles, aud
placed them ON the table, where Mrs.
Hamilton had been reading the family
Bible that lay open.
The man approached to close the
easement, but on percciving his mistress
standing without, venturcd so far Oh the
privileges OF an old domestic, as to re-
mind her that hei health was too deli
cate for such an exposure. The cyen-
ing dew had completely saturated her
weeds, aad the Grape scarf that hung
from her shoulder was wet aud heavy.
Malcolm shut The window, drew close
the curtains, and with one blow of the
poker made the "Elgin coa' send forth
the rays of lis cheerful blaze through
tho spacious room, throwing mellow
hght on It's massy mahogany furniture,
and the numerous oil paintings THAI
adorned It's lofty walls.
Mrs, Hamilton, though now seated by
the fire, continued to pursue the train
ot her thoughts, and as she rested her
head on her thin white hand and sighed
again and again, i, might easily have
been disccrned that, like all God 5 peo-
pie, she was the sublcc OF some l.tIle
aillictlon tending To remind her of "ihe
better country where sorrow and sigh
ing shall have fled lorcver,-sin, its
fruitful source having no place there.
Mrs. Hamilton was the mother of an
only child, the hcircss Of llazclwood, .
who, along with the lincamcnls Of face
and figure, Inherited Of this her only
surviving parent, heart formed in the
soitest mould OF nature, susceptible to
Il dangerous degree, and as uususpi-.
cious as If sin aud deceit had never.
found habitution among the sons of
men. Mrs. Hamilton recognized her.
awful responsibility in the sight Of God
with respect to her daughter, but her
system of training, though based on adj
principles, crumblod into dust
IN the hands of an unstable, imbccile |,
administration, that constantly yielded to
childish solicitations, and turned like a !
vanc with every passing breeze. She
wanted the noble quality of decision in
the execution of her purposes, without
which the lolliest theories can never.
prove of any real utility, aud which
stands as the keystone oG the arch IN the
formation OF character.
In the death of her father, Corncl,a
lost an able friend aud guardian, for The
want OF whom the fond affection of her
mother could not compensate ;
aud Mrs Hamilton was soon made SEN
sibIc of her deficiency IN the due eNer-
else of that parental authority with
which the Lord had invested her, for
the wiscst of purposes.
Some weeks previous to the present
period, Mrs. Hamilton was induced by
he pcrsuaslons of Cornclia, to allow her
10 cultivate an acquaintance with some
oi the younger branches of a neighbor-
ng family, devoted to Toll y aud fashion
aud IA her visits she was introduced 10
a stranger of striking appearance and
address, who, IN the iuto-