The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-09-05
CLAUDINE, THE FORSAKEN.
THE PEASANT GIRL OF LAUSANNE


There is namelcss change came DER that face
A falling off of beauty and of grace;
Like sad spirit on some haunted ground
She ghdcs with melancholy step around.
Fam would she with her usual tasks employ
The hours devoted to a dreamy ioy;
Fam would she, while apart and sad she stands,
Ply the quick needle with those listess hands:
put with that needles point she only traces
A name, which soon the falling tear effaces!
Silent SHE sits-a little space apart
Brooding DER thoughts deep treasured in her heart
| was proceeding leisurely along The vine and
iower-banked road leading to Lausanne, and with
In trlfilng distance of it, when my attention was
attracted by The pale and care worn figure of a
young girl, who. apparently overcome and ex-
haused by eXeriion, had fallen TO The ground
wheretrnm boy, of about ten years of age, was
attempting TO raise her; but the strength of the
niue fellow was not equal to The task and as
approached, he turned his eyes towards me i'm
porngly, and without saying word made most
powerful appeal TO my compassion. The little
fellow was too tmld to ask for assistance, and |
needed not asking, for. observing the condition of
the poor gill, ran toward her. and in another mo.
ment she was again upon her feet, and leaning
upon the shoulder of the boy, too feeble prop to
support her. The girl thanked me as we'll as she
was able, and the boy also added, that heaven had
sent me to save his sister from perishinn on the
highway. "Oh!" said he, and his eyes spark
ling with gratitude, Z" poor Claudine would have
died but for you'll"
" VIII Claud!ne accept of my assistance in con
Quoting her into the town?" said adding, 90 Lean
upon me, my poor girl, am better able to support
your fragile form'
Claudne murmured her thanks and accepting
OF my Profiered service, we entered Lausanne to.
gether.
The boy conducted US to small but neat cot
age where he stopped, and observed, "this is our
home, sir, and then calling for his parents. tyo
and nnL
and with tears and ouicres embraced their divine
child, and led her into the cottage They were
all too much occupied with themselves to heed
me, and as did not wish to be overwhelmed with
their gratitude, silently gided away.
g Alas" ] exclaimed mentally, {" here is life
in all lis mingled brillancy and gloom. Hap
Py parents, miserable child % There was some
thing IN the demeanor Of the girl that led me to
believe that she was the victim of unreoniled aC
lection. ] don't know what il was. bntJ cnnld
not dlspossess myself Of the notion and it gave
rise to train Of reflections which continued to
occupy my mind until arrived at nv inn.
AS passed the house with CIaudine upon nv
arm had noticed my good hostess looking out
upon US; so when entered | made inouiry for
the good woman of the inn, and when she came.
asked OF her whether she could give me any in
formation concerning the girl she had seen me
with.
NO said the hostess, " but believe her
names ClaudIne, and that her parents are poor,
bat creditable people enough"
And what is the occasion of Claudine's i'll
ness ~
" Oh, some love stuff, believe" replied mine
hostess, IN such tone and with such an air, that
had been more curious about Claudine's history
than ] was, would not for all the world have
heard it from such lips. They scandalzed hu
manity.
Go thy ways my good woman" said I, and
the good woman, who seemed only to require
buI 10 turn her back, departed with alaoriiy.