The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-02-21

tue pa'Hs Vi VlTlue anu peace: YET she learr
ed the ferce of early neglec, aud subsequ0n,
irregularities would be even stronger than
her influence; and yet her heart would
hope that he would emerge into higher
life, and be the fit companion Of a refined
and virtuous spirit A mys sIereus sympa.
thy seemed 10 unite them, We, each felt that
the distance between them was immeasuras
bic. For months she watched his course
vascillagin between hope and fear,untl she
learned that he had taken TO the bowl, AM
then her heart sank. She could no lepger
siug as she did, she grew 2als and weak,
aud her anxious friends, blamed ibe damp
sast wind for treating so rudaIy the londer
blossom. Physicians said she was threat.
eneG with consumption, and advised thai
she should visit the Atlantic coast, hoping
that the ocean breeze might invigorale her
Iecaying frame.
On said the old man when rehearsing
her story, you cannot imagine how | feI'
vhen saw her wilher beneath its in1us
ance. knew that my dear child musI
soon leave us, ard how could our old heart.
ndure lie without ber!'
He soon returned, bringing his dropping
dover to fado and die among the hill:
where it had bloomed so sweeuy. Shortly
after her return, she communicated the his
lory o; her heart 10 one of her mos. intimate
friends.
Said she, Il pited the boy for those very
iaults which others blamed, for saw lha
MS heart was crushed by unkindness, aud
rendered cold and bitter by wan, Of sympa-
hy: and when | used to spea; kindly, and
noiice him in our little plays, he was s.
gentle and tender, and his clear dark eyes
expressed so much gratitude, that canno
wonder he became an object OF childish
owe. For MAT | can scarcely blame my
,eif; but as | grew Older & saw that he wa'
surrounded by such Influences tha, no Coul
,erdly become any other but vicious man
erred greatly in besiowng anything mon
,Ean feeling Of friendship upon him, anC
vet did aol regret that he was my hearts
dol until saw that he was too surely ruin
d, and lhere was lille hope thai he woul.
over be brought back to a life Of virlu'
Ny heart sank under il, not so mnch be-
cause iis earthly hopss were biasIed,as from
the conviction that in suffering such a low,
10 find place in it. had dshonered tht
kind friends who had acted the part Of pa.
rents to a destitute orphan, and more thar
II, had departed from the peace and love
If the Redeemer. Bot now the struggle i,
,ver, and feel that shall som rest it
peace in the arms of y-tHconclled Sa
' our. Ii was the struggle between love
and duly that undermined my health, and
ret, for my own sake, DO not egret ,ha
ny heart wilt soon be freed from its weak
ess: hut for these who have bestowed OF
ne such undrserved affection, / feel mos
IeepIy. know ,hat my early death vii
almost break their hearts.
You have done wrong in keeping al
MS from them said her friend; they mus
know it,
Il could not tell hem,' replied Mary =
| could not find strength to say 10 thea
,hat the weakness Of my heart had cos
Them all their suffering and sorrow on my
account; but II you think justice demands
i. tell ii them for me-
| When The old folks heard the story
how she had for ihsir sakes, aud for Iht
honor of the religion which they bad taugh
her, relrained from even encouraging hi
IIove-they expressed the deepest regret.
}, 'Oh!' said the old lady, why have yoI
done so my childl We would not think o
opposing you in any think
5 How could | lhnk Of bringing dlsgrac
RI upon these who have done SO much for me-
d inquired Mary. i knew that he was IN
e worthy, whom my foolish heart idoize'
e and that my lie would only be made wrelcl
S ed by uniting my destiny with hs.'
n NO. returned the kind friend, had "
s entertained the most distant idea OF all tn
= we would have taken him and rendert
IS him worthy of your love. And perhaps
,..,, ,oo Ioto ayau ,,nv, rontinned she