Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-05-02
The DefOrned Girl.
BY &c. WHITTIER.


spirit-hauurer and accuser OF the guiliyl--un-
escapable presence! Lingering through every
vicissilude, and calling US back 10 The past
back TO the dim aud sepulchral images of de-
parted time opening new the deep fountain
of early passion- the thrilling aspirations OF al
Ter years. While the present is dark with an
guish, and the future sladdened by the sun-bew
of anticipation, invoke thy spell of power
| Unrel before me the chart of vanqulshed hours;
let me gaze once more on their suElig ht and
shadow
! | am an old man; the friends Of my youth
are gone from me. Some have perished on the
/ great deep others on the battle field, afar off
in the land Of strangers---and many---very ma
ny, have been gathered quisly 10 the old
church-yard Of our native village. They have
! left me alone eren as the les. survivor of a
fallen forest-the hoary representative of de-
parted generations. The chains which bound
me to existence have been broken---Ambiton
| Avarics, Pride; even all that awskcs into pow
| er the inlolerable thirst of mind. But there are
some milder lhoughts-some brighter passages
in The dream Of my being, yet living al the foun-
lain of Memory thoughts, pure and angelic
| communion; linked by a thousand associations
10 the paradise of love.
! There was one-a creature Of exalted intel
1 lec,--a being whose thoughts went upward like
| the incense Of flowers upon Gods natural al
lars--they were so unlike the earth. Yet she
was no, proud of her high gift. With lhs high
est capacities of an untounded spirit, there was
something more han woman's meekness in her
1 demeanor Ii was the condescenson of se-
raph lntellect---,he forgiveness and tears Of con-
sclous purity, extended to the spring and pas
sionate of earth. tr
She was not being 10 love with an earthly
affection. Her person had no harmony with
her mind. |, was no, like The bright realities
of being, the wealth Of beauty which is some
times concentrated in The maichless form of
woman |. was deformi,ystrange, peculiar
delormity, relieved only by The intellectual glo-
ry of dark, soul-iks eye.
] Yet strange 1t may seem, loved her,
deeply, psssionately, The young heart can
love when i, pours itself out as an oblaion to
It's idol There were gentle ones around me-
creatures of smiles and bushes, soft tones and
melting slances, but their beauty made Ro last
ing impression on my heart. Mine was intel
leciua Iove---yearning after something inyisi-
BILE and holy something above the ordinary
standard of human desire, sci apar, and sanctl-
fed as ii were by the mysteries of the mind.
Mine was no, to be revealed in the ihronged
circle of gayeiy and fashion, il was avowed un-
dernealh the bending heaven; when the perfect
stars were alone gazing upon US. 1t was re-
jected; but not in scorn, in pride nor anger, by
that high-though.ed girl. She would ask my
friendship--my sympathy; but she besoughi me
.--aye, with tears she besought me, TO speak GO
more of Love- obeysd her. fed from her
presence | mingled once more in the busy
tide of being, and ambition entered my soul
Wealth came upon me Unexpectedly; and ths
voice Of praise became familiar sound re-
turned al las, with the impress OF manhood upon
; my brow, and sought again the being of my
dreams.
She was dying mp,ion---rale, ghasty
; consumption was taking hold on her existence
The deformed and uniting tenement was yield
ing TO the impulse of The soul.
Casping her wasted hand ben, over her il
speechless agony. She raised her eyes II
/ mine, and in those beautiful enlbleris of tn
, soul, read the boarded affection of years
r the long smohered emoicn oi a smolhere
, heart. 'Henry," she said, bent lower L
$ catch the lallsrlng loDes Of her voice---"I hav
. loved long and ierv4nrly. feel that am dy
ing. | rejoice at il, Earth will cover thl
wasted aud unseen.ly form, bu The soul will re
turn TO that promised and better land, wher
I no change of circumstances can mar ihs com
nunlcaIion of Spirit Oh, Henry, had II bee
permitted: bu, will not murmur. You wer
Y created with more than manhood's beauty. an
| de1orned-- wre,ched as am, have dare
0 10 love you.'
n | knell down and kissed the pale brow {
lhe sufferer A smile Of more than earthly Ter
derness stole over her features, and fixed lher
like an omen of the spirits happiness Sh
h was dead. And they buried her on the spt
s. which she herself had selecied--a delghItt
k place of slumber, curained by green young WI
g lows. | have stood there thousand times
n quiet moonlight, and fancisd that | heard !
j. every breeze that whispered among the brsnchs
i the voice Of the beloved slumbsrer.
Desosd girl Thy beautiful spirit hath neve
abandoned me in my weary pilgrimage. Gen
IF y and sooihingly thou csmsst 10 watch owe
o my sleeping pillow---lo cheer midst The irla
N of humanl,y---IO mlnple Inv heavenly symp;