Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-08-30
NJ A Il Y,
THE BiIGHTED BLOSSOM.


but not Tor love- | shall not attempt to con.
! lrovert the old maxim by labored argument, it
may, or ii may not be tru, aud yet the story
that am abou, to tell, will GO far to show that
the triumph of high moral sentiments over long
cherished affections, may work the slow yet
sure decay ola gentle nature. in the old
Church Yard where have SO often stroled
during the Sabbath moons in summer and su-
tumn, sleeps the once lovely form of Mary.
Often have read on her tombstone her name,
age, and death, and the simple couplet that ex.
pressed the love and sorrow of those who laid
her in her last dark chamber Her history
was often tehcarscd by the ncghbors, who had
admired and loved her. but the old man who had
acted the part ofa father to the grntle orphan,
was never Weary of recalling every virtue
, and grace with which memory cncrclrd her
character. When an infant, her dying mother
, had commended her TO the care Of his wife,
who was an early friend, and as she had no
children OF her own, she bestowed all her ntiec-
tions on her adoplcd daughter. No pains
spared TO render her lovely. and her uncommon
docili'y OF disposition made her general
favoritc.
1 Among her sch,oiclows was boy Of few
years older than herself. whose neglected train
ing. and consequent ungracious manners, won
the hearty dislike OF all but Mary. She felt
that want of Kindness made his heart evil. and
always s'rove Ia make him gentle and happy
hv winning words and pleasant smiles. The
! consequence was that he became gentle and
: ob'igipg to her. and looked up to her ss his
only and best friend. He was child Of un.
common beauty. and under gentle Influences,
became even fascinating and refined hnt a
sense or wrong of shame f,r the misdrcds ot
those 10 whom he owed his being. and feel
ing that he was degraded in the eyes Of the
world on that account, Ind so embitered hi.
spirit that her love alone could soften and sub
due its nsprri'ies. As they grew older. the
ties tha, bound their hearts seemed to strength
en- but the evil influence too often prevsil:
over the good and when he became . man anC
saw how superior was the pure and gentle Mar,
to his own dark. wild spirit. he dared no: hop,
Ia unite her drstay with his own She viii
all the hope and long suffering OF a refined onC
Christian character sought to restrain and lea,
him back whenever she saw him overcome b,
temptation, little dreaming even then that he
heart was 50 much interested in his behalf In
deed their sphere. seemed too widely separate
ed tor them ever to hold intercourse with eacl
other beyond the school room. Nor did the
for some years often meet after those day wer
:, past, for Mary felt that his character was sue
i that it would bring dshonor upon those sh
loved, were she 10 encourage his addresses
She saw that he became weaker in moral prin
ciple a. her influence Mas less felt. She eve
} knew that her rejection made him hopelcs
and desperate. Often, very often, did she fee
that she was the only human being who coul
lead HIM into the paths Of virtue aud peac,
We, she feared the force of early neglect an
subsequent irregularities would be even siron!
81 than her influence" and yet her heart wou
hope that he would emerge into higher ii
and he the ir companion ofa refined and VI
's ;uous spirit A mysterious sympathy SCENE
=, to unite them, yet each felt that the diN'ant
'" between them was immeasurable, For mon,i
she watched his course, vsclla,ing betwee
hope and fear until she learned that he hi
taken to the fatal bowl, and then her hrn
} sank She could no longer sing as she d'
she grew pale and weak, and her anXu'
friends blamed the damp east wind for treatlr
81 rudcly the tender blossom. Physicians Ia