Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-04-11

smile in her childish eyes, and the lovely sun.
beam stealing through the hole in the old straw
hat to light as with message from Heaven,
the lovely head of the orphan girl. The beau
,iiul ray Of sht made more beautiful by its
chosen resting place, giving and receiving
grace it seemed symbol of the Fathers love
for the poor little molherless wanderer. |. was
only the hole in the hat iha, let in the suns hne
1t was her poverty and her lonely, lowly state,
that made her especially the child of His d.
vine pity and tenderness and they like the
sunbeam, changed to gold her daily care, and
smiled through every cloud lha, crossed her
liule heart,
Seven years flew by-on butterfly wings to
JOY and ,houghllessness, on leaden ones to sor-
row and hope deferred"--and our little Viz
ginia, now lovely girl of seventeen, had earn
ed money enough by her bewitchins way OF
offering matches for sale, to introduce herself
as pupil in one of the FIRST boarding schools
of the country, not to commence but to finish
her education for, with passionate love OF
books, she had found means TO cultivate her
tastes and talents in many ways.
The lovely and lonely little orphan had strug-
gled with hunger and cold and fatigue, with
temptation in its most allurng and beguing
forms, with evil in thousand shapes, yet had
she kept the heavenly sunshine of her soul
pure and unclouded through it all. She had
never taken money as gift or as bribe.--
She had assisted. from her little store, many a
child of misfortune, still humber and poorer
than herself; and with faith, truth, and purity
an angel around her---by the light of her own
innocent smiles, she glided, like star, through
the gathering clouds unframed, unstained, un-
shsdowed. In the words of our beautiful poet
Peace charmed the street, beneath her feet,
And honor charmed the air.
and musc---lhe music of her own sweet heart
and siver voice went always with her through
the world.
1t was on the evening preceding that on
which the annual ball Of the school took place.
The young ladies' were discussing, round the
school-room fire. The dresses they were TO wear
Virginia, a little apart, listened 10 them, and
half wished she had fairy god-moher, like
CinderelIa's 10 deck her for the fesiva.---
Pearls, diamonds, japonicas! Satins, laces,
velvets She. alas I! had none of these! She
had only the plain white dress in which she
had been crowned Queen of May the spring
preceding. 1t was so very plain, no, even a BIZ
of trimming round The throat"
"And what are you 10 wear, Miss Lindon 2"
said one of the arislocrais oil the school, turning
with what she fancied an imperial air, toward
the young stranger.
Virginia blushed, and said, simply, "My white
muslin"
Sand what ornaments" :"
Virginia smiled. sob, can find some bright
autumn leaves for wreath
Imogen Grey would have given her diamond
necklace for such blush and smile; for her
own saow cheek was never so illuminated; but
she sneered nevertheless at the white muslin
and the garland leaves, and designed no further
question
Virgnia's delicate and sensitive spirit felt the
sneer Intensely, and she left The room with
swelling hear, and fearful eyes. Once safe,
however, in the asylum Of her own little cham
ber, peace descended again like dove into her
SOUL and after undressing, she knel, in her
night-robc, by the side Of her bed, and said her
PRAYER, and sung her little childish hymn
OF CID III Apostle walkel the wave,
As scamen walk the land,
A power was near him strong to save,
Fer Jesus held his hand
Why should fear, When dangers near?
Pm safe on sea or land
For I've in heaven Father dear,
And He will hold my hand.
Though on dizzy height, perchance,
With faiering feet stand,
No dread shall dim my upward glance,
For God will hold my hand.
But oh, if doubt should cloud the day,
And sin beside me stand,
Then frmes,, lest lose my ray,
My Father! hold my hand
Doubt, and danger, and sin, were nearer than
she thought, hut her liule hand was held by
One w ho uovM not let her fall. As she rose
from her derolions, she saw, for the frs. time,
box on table by the bed. |. was addressed
on the cover simply to Virginia" She opened
il, wondering, and found set of exquisite pearl
ornaments, for the arms, neck and head. Her
li.fIe heart beat with yirlsh delight She hur-