Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-02-01

entered with eager zest INTO all the en-
loymehts scattered with such lavish
prolusion around her. Scarcely pas
scd the threshold Of childhood. she was
still child IN lcrvency Of purpose, III
iinpetuosi,y of feeling, aud IN that un-
questionable reliance on the motives
aud professions %! others, whose aban-
donment is one Of the worlds earliest
and harshcst lessons. And now, too,
the first entrance Of new and more
cna sossing tie, had tlug.t her 10 re- iiect
more deeply, aud already the giIl was
passing, through love, to thoughtful and
earnest womanhood.
There are dcstinies which fate ap-
rears to delight To Gid ; on whose
guarded precincts, for awhile at least,
trial is forbidden to trespass and for
which experience has no offering but
It's sweetest and fa,rcsi flowers. Few
and brief are such enchanted lives, but
very beautiful while they last, and Ger
trudc's young career was full of promise
that even such lot would be hers
All that accomplishment and refine
ment could impart, had combined II"
aid aud elevate the sunny loneliness Of
her person aud character and well
might the gay enthusiast question the
reality of cares she had never fell, oi
woes whose very echo had never reach
ed her pathway ,and from whose iaintes'
know ledge she had been carefully shield
ed. How different had been the con-
viction Other to whom that letter was
addressed
, Hester Dalton was widows only
child, the eldest and last of many. One
by one the } younger blossoms had droop-
ed and faded beside the household
hearth, until only a solitary tie lingcr-
ed, where several had been wont tn
bind. The sweet mirih Of childhood 5
presence had ceased to shed its Joys
and music, and the widow had grieved
over that sad stiffness, till her heart
like her home, had grown silently sor-
,rowful. Mrs. Dalton's circumstances,
though not opulent, were independent,
but she had survived her taste for So
ciciy, and avoided the gonc.aI inter
course, that, for her, had long lost its
charm. Her pleasures were all serene
and Tranquil, and she lived apart from
socia! gayctes in a calm and quie
world, haunted by mothers memories
Yet there was nothing of gloom in he
nature or conduct, and she constanti
urged l!cstcr's participation in th'
amusrments congeniai 10 her age bu
tor herself, the power Of illusion wa'
over, and enjoyment had ceased to at
tract or deceive Hester had little tast,
for the common pleasures around her
and in the thoughtlulness Of placiC
and intellectual retirement, she had &C
CURED philosophic serenity of feeling
and firmness Of character, unusual IL
| her years and sex Gifted, both men
tally and personally, there was some
thing in the proud, tranquil beauty o
that pale, reflective face, that spoke o
! a mind secure in IT'S reliance OF
heart sad, it might be, III its experience
! but strong aud answering in It's trust
/ Perhaps the early demand upon he
! syDpaihics, the premature and cOntinu
! al exercise Of all that tenderness am
| gentleness could bring to comfort AM
| cheer the beloved, and that deep con
! sciousness Of bereavement, which
/ Heaven be thanked, is not often sen
! the young, had shed over her intellcc
more than its own sweetness, had i'm
planted n scll-control and seli-forgctlul
ness which nothing can Impat but trou
!, bles that have sought and found di
i vine consolation. A soft smile was %
her lip as she read Gertrude's letter
il may be the warm affection IL go con
iesscd, bro't nearer the pleasant memo
ry Of her own ties, and perohance th
conhding love her cousin painted ha
already gained an entrance into he
own bosom Al beautiful with th
starry holiness of better world, is tn
, devotion of a spIllt, tried and chastenc
and perfected, like hers aud thong
the happy, unthlnking enthusiasm OF
, being like Gertrude may summon
! smiling sympathy, we look with grave
, and deeper kindness on the tested fee
/, lngs of ono, whose emotions, from the
f very permanence, awaken our though
p iul reverence.
p CHAPTER a.
u i.