Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-02-06
5elcrtc0 Gales.
A HIGH HEART,
IN Low STATIONS.
Bp @rs. HpoIa y. S)lerson.

lT was bleak, boist'rous evening in
early Spring the Wild winds wrcs;lcd
with the lcaAcss forests, and made rude
entrance through many widasaperture
into the low long dwelling Of Mrhorse
Those who have never visited tho dwell
ings of the wilderness, can form but
faint conceptions Of the rude log house
built OF unhewn trunks of trees with
their rough bark adhering to them,
piled to Il requisite heighth I; the inter
stices between rudely chincked with
split timber, and the homely raliers
covered with hemlock bark while the
windows are probably openings, with a
board fitted to close them a. night, or
when the storm drives in and the floor
Of split logs, or possibly Of earth. Yet
many who are now glitterng in high
stations in our western states, sol ourn-
ed for years in such habita,ions. 1t
was one Of the rudcst of these huts to
which we introduce the reader, and
with the inmates Of which we would
now make him or her acquainted.
In an arm chair, before an immense
fire OF hickory wood, sat middle aged
woman, very delicate in her appear
ance, grading in her arms a young
babe and Oh a stool beside her, "A
young girl Of sixteen, fair, blooming,
and sylph-like, was busiIy plying her
needle by the light Of the fire. She
drew her hand across her eyes, and
then shook her golden curls more pro-
fusely over her forehead, as If to screen
her face from the intense heat.
mira, said the elder lady, you had
best lay by your work, you will injure
your sight by sewing so much by fire
light
My eyes do not complain at all,
she replied, looking up smilngly, 'but
the fire burns my face, and occasions a
pain in my head. can see better by
night than by day, now that we mus,
keep the windows shut, and | want to
finish all the childrcn's clothes before |
leave home
ooh, Mira cried the mother, show
can part with you. How will the
children do without you =
Il do not like to 60, mother, was the
reply, 'but you know it is unavoidable, |
can be earning something, aud we have
need of all we can obtain.
yes, it is true. But necessity is "a
hard master when it takes my children
from me-
'But mother, | shall be home often,
and shall not be far away
There is some comfort in that, Mira,
bu, | dread to have you go out amidst
an envious, cold-heartcd world You
will be wounded at every step. a
school teacher is always considered
game for malice and animadversion.
'Well, mother, | will do as well rs |
can, will inlure no one, and if any
find it in their hearts to injure me, |
will endeavor 10 bear it patiently. My
father idolizcd me IN his prosperity, and
gave inc every possible opportunity OF
acquiring a good education aud now
that his circumstances are altered, shall
| not cndeavor TO make that education a
fund for ais relief or at least Tighten
his burden by earning my own subsls-
tcnce p
Heaven bless YOU, Mira. You arc
a generous girl
The fair creature took the babe,
nursed Il tcnderly till her mother was
in bod, thon with fond kiss laid it Oh
her bosom, and having arranged tho
room, and taken care OF the fire, she
clilnod up the ladder to hcr sleeping
place. a poor bed chamber it was, il.
which the winds held high reyclry, and
through the roof of which the moon aud
stars looked Oh the unshcltcrcd slcepcrs,
whose couches during the winter were
often buried in the Grilled sEow that
found the warped bark roof slight OBJ
struction. She went To the bed whore
her two young brothers were sleeping
aud having nsccilained 10y feeling that
they were comfortably covered itom lh,
cold, she turned to her own rest. llcl
bed was laid on the rude floor, aud sh,
knclt beside it and mingled her whisper.
ed prayers with big bright tear,
that fell like rain upon her claspcd hands
Poor girl notwithstanding her horoi,m
she felt the change IN her circumstance cs
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